2401:4900:58BC:B2D:C0EF:6E7D:50BA:B60A at 07:14, 6 July 2021

2021-07-06T07:14:51Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Askot
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline =
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| nickname =
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| pushpin_map = India Uttarakhand#India
| pushpin_label_position =
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| coordinates = {{coord|29.77|N|80.35|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uttarakhand]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pithoragarh district|Pithoragarh]]
| established_title = 
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| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
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| elevation_m = 1106
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| population_density_km2 = auto
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[Kumaoni language| Kumaoni]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 262543
| registration_plate = UK
| website = {{URL|uk.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Askot''' or '''Askote''' ([[Kumaoni language| Kumaoni]]:असकोट) is a small Himalayan town in [[Pithoragarh district]] of [[Uttarakhand]] in India. It is the part of [[Kanalichhina]] development Block and [[Didihat]] [[Tehsil]].

The place is also famous for the [[Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary]] dedicated to the conservation of [[Musk deer]]. Askot lies midway between [[Pithoragarh]] to [[Dharchula]] road and located on a ridge. '[[Mount Kailash|Kailash]]-[[Lake Manasarovar|Mansarovar]] Pilgrimage route from [[Delhi]] - [[Kathgodam]] - [[Didihat]] - [[Dharchula]], passes through Askot.

along with surrounded regions the area was once part of [[Kumaon division|Manaskhand]] region<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Debroy |first1=Dipavali |last2=Debroy |first2=Bibek|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/29941922|title=The Kurma purana|year=1990|publisher=Books For All|oclc=29941922}}</ref> and came under [[Katyuri Kings|Katyuri kings]] after fall of katyuris the Rajwars dynasty which was a branch katyuri kings continued to rule the region<ref>{{Cite book|last=Atkinson|first=Edwin Thomas|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/183008777|title=Himalayan Gazetter.|date=1990|publisher=Cosmo|oclc=183008777}}</ref>,ruled by [[PALS/DEV'S (Suryavanshi Rajputsl, a clan of Katyuri's)]] [[Chand Kings|Chand]], [[Gurkha|Gorkha]], [[Doti|Raikas]] and [[British Raj|British rulers]], though [[Rajwar]]s continue to be its ceremonial Head. [[Van Rawats]] - an endangered tribe of Uttaranchal, inhabits around this area.

==Geography==
Askot is located at {{coord|29.77|N|80.35|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/39/Askot.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Askot]</ref> It has an average elevation of 1,106 metres (3,629 feet).
It is located on Gori Ganga- Kali river geographical divide. Under beautiful natural setting of trees like ''[[Pinus]]'', ''[[Quercus]]'' and ''[[Rhododendron]]'', etc., are at the backdrop of [[Chhiplakot]] and [[Panchchuli]] . The Fertile slopes of [[Garkha]] are situated on the front side, and Kali river and mountains of Nepal on its left.

The area around is under heavy tunnel mining operations. There are [[polymetallic]] mines of [[copper]], [[zinc]], [[gold]], [[silver]] and [[lead]] deposits.

==Origin of name==
The name Askot is originated from ''Assi Kot'' (Eighty Forts, as the King had eighty forts under him).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pithoragarh.nic.in/files/Gazetteer/PlacesofInterest.pdf|title=Pithoragarh District Gazetteer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801092454/http://pithoragarh.nic.in/files/Gazetteer/PlacesofInterest.pdf|archive-date=1 August 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=10 Mar 2018}}</ref> Many of these forts were in [[Darchula District]] of Nepal.

==History==
Pals migrated from possibly Ayodhya to Askot in the Kumaun Hills of Uttrakhand. Pals ruled this area for ages. Askot was ruled by a branch of [[Katyuri Kings|Katyuri kings]]. After the breakdown of [[Katyuri Kings|Katyuri Dynasty]], King ''Abhay Pal'', the grandson of Katyuri King, Brahm Deo (the Pals original last name was 'Deo' but one of their ancestors called Kunwar Abhay Pal Singh Deo, wrote his surname as Pal and the generations after him followed suit), brought a branch of [[Katyuri Kings|Katyuri Dynasty]], here as the [[Rajbar]]s, and established the state of Askot, by taking it as a grant from [[Doti|Kings of Doti]] in 1279 AD. But Dev was surname used by Katyuri's, some migrated from Joshimath to Katyur Ghati, Baijnath, & other parts of Kumoun, Pithoragarh, Askot, and then to Nepal, making temples on the same architecture as followed by Katyuris
<ref name=Askote>[http://www.uq.net.au/~zzhsoszy/ips/a/askote.html Askote] Genealogy of Indian Princely States.</ref>

Later on they came under Chand rulers. From 1279 to 1588 the descendants of ''Abhay Pal'', the [[Rajbar]] dynasty ruled over the region,

Later there is a Strong off shoot known as Mahson Mahuli Raj (Uttar Pradesh). Alakh Deo Grandson Abay Pal Deo of Askote and Great Grand son of Emperor of the Might Katyuri Bhram Deo, led an army into plains of north Eastern UP and engaged the local tribal king in a ferocious battle in which Alakh Deo and his Suryavanshi Rajput forces emerged victorious. Alakh Deo established his capital 32 in away from Basti in Mahuli in 1305. The area was covered with thick jungles and swamps and the Ghagra river in south
and Rapti river in east protected this region from heavy attacks. The feudal kingdom of Mahson and Mahuli stretched 14 Kose 47 (km).

Administratively, at that time, Askot had two regions-Malla Askot and Talla Askot. This area came under [[Gurkha|Gorkha]] control (1791-1815) but the descendants continued to fight against each other. This family feud continued even after the British defeated the Gorkhas in 1815. Before Askot became Capital, the king used to live at Lakhanpur Kot, near the now Bagarihat (Bagar means river bank) village on the right bank of [[Kali River (Uttarakhand)|river Kali]]. It was situated at the base of Champhachal mountain. The remnants of the fort and market are still here.

Source:
*''History of [[Kumaon Kingdom|Kumaun]]''

==Rajwars of Askot==

'''Rajwar''' or '''Rajwara''' was the official title of the former ruler (feudal kings) [[Zamindar|Zamindari]], of the estate of Askot.<ref name=Rajwar>

Pals then Deo/Dev, are said to be migrated from Ayodhya to Askot in the Kumaun Hills of Uttrakhand via Baijnath in Bageshwar from the then capital atJoshimath. Pals ruled this area for ages. Pals original last name was 'Deo' but one of the ancestors called Kunwar Abhay Pal Deo, wrote his surname as Pal and the generations after him followed suit. The present titular ruler is Rajwar Bhanu Raj Singh Pal (b. 1958), who is 108th in his bloodline to claim the title.

[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V06_020.gif Askot] [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]] 1909,v. 6, p. 14.</ref>

Pals migrated from Ayodhya to Askot in the Kumaun Hills of Uttrakhand. Pals ruled this area for ages. Pals original last name was 'Deo' but one of the ancestors called Kunwar Abhay Pal Deo, wrote his surname as Pal and the generations after him followed suit. The present titular ruler is Rajwar Bhanu Raj Singh Pal (b. 1958), who is 108th in his bloodline to claim the title.

==Important tourist places near Askot==
*[[Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary]]
*Ghangdhura
*Chhiplakot Or Najurkot
*Chhipladhura lake
*Narayan Ashram
*Askot Polymetallic Deposit tunnel Mines
*Bhadigad river ;Rauntishgad river
*Gurjigad river
*Confluence of Gori Ganga river with [[Kali River (Uttarakhand)|river Kali]] at [[Jauljibi]]
*Dhanlekh, which is a place near Singali. It is famous place for Hindu devotees.

==Native Tribes==
[[Van Rawats]] or Raji or Kirat are native indigenous, ethnic minority community of this area. They inhabit at high altitude. Jamtadi is their nearby village. Their other villages are situated at Ghangdhura ridge.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Pithoragarh district}}

[[Category:Tourism in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Pithoragarh district]]

Askot - Revision history

2401:4900:58BC:B2D:C0EF:6E7D:50BA:B60A at 07:14, 6 July 2021