>Vijethnbharadwaj at 12:03, 21 March 2021

2021-03-21T12:03:38Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chaukhutia
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Chaukhutia bridge.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Chaukhutia town along the banks of [[Ramganga]]; Picture from Chaukhutia bridge
| pushpin_map = India Uttarakhand#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand, India
| coordinates = {{coord|29|53|05|N|79|21|05|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Uttarakhand]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Divisions of India|Division]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kumaon division|Kumaun]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Almora district|Almora]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = UK 01
| website = {{URL|uk.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Chaukhutia''' is a town in [[Almora district]] of [[Uttarakhand]]. It is located on the bank of the river [[Ramganga]], and derives its name from a [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]] word "Chau-khut" which means four feet. In Chaukhutia's context, 'four feet' means four ways or directions. The first way is towards [[Ramnagar, Nainital|Ramnagar]], second towards [[Karanprayag]], third towards [[Ranikhet]] and [[Almora]] and the fourth way is towards Tadagtaal, Kheera.

A group of small temples dating back to 9th century AD were found in Chaukhutia, during an excavation in 2016-17.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chakrabarty|first1=Arpita|title=9th century temples found in Almora district|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/9th-century-temples-found-in-almora-district/articleshow/56039705.cms|accessdate=15 September 2017|work=The Times of India|date=18 December 2016|location=Almora|language=en}}</ref> The temples, according to traditions of the architecture, were constructed around 9000 years ago.<ref>{{cite news|title=अल्मोड़ा में खुदाई के बाद दिखाई दिए 9 हजार साल पुराने शिव मंदिर|url=http://www.livehindustan.com/uttarakhand/haldwani/story-9-thousand-years-old-temple-found-in-chaukhootiya-of-almora-1340505.html|work=Hindustan Team|publisher=Live Hindustan|date=21 August 2017|location=Haldwani|language=hi}}</ref> Some of the temples didn't have roofs, but [[shivalinga]]s inside the temples were still intact. These temples were considered to be a part of a large group of temples that were buried, perhaps, by debris of landslide long back.

==Temples and history==
[[File:Chaukhutia valley.JPG|thumb|left|Vairat valley as seen from Chaukhutia-Maasi road]]
Kali Temple, known locally as Agneri Devi Temple, is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali, and is situated around 0.5 kilometres from Chaukhutia, on Jaurasi road, near Dhudalia village on the bank of [[Ramganga]] River. Every year Ashtami Mela (a fair) is organised at the temple. Lakhanpur temple is 6  km from Chaukhutia in Jaurasi-Chaukhutia road. This temple belongs to the [[Katyuri kings]]. A small fair is also held here every year in October–November(near to Krishnajanmatmi). Vaishno Devi's temple and the ancient forts and ruins of Katyuri dynasty are also in the area.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

This is also an agricultural valley, where rice, wheat and mangoes are grown. Nearby towns include [[Masi, Almora|Masi]] (13 km) and [[Dwarahat]] (22 km). Chaukhutia is also known as Vairaat. The story is that the present Chaukhutia was the capital of King Virata of Mahabharata.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}} Pandav five brothers and their wives took that place, and when they were going to heaven for [[moksha]] they stayed in the area for a few days. Bheem washed her cloth in Tadagtaal Lake but when he was leaving the taal he mark four finger hole in taal (lake) so tadag river came from there. Which meets in [[ramganga]] (the Tadagtaal Lake is a pure place in Uttarakhand). This is smaller than [[Nainital Lake]].{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

== Locality ==
There are more than 101 (gramsabha) villages in the Chaukhutia region. Chakhutia is a center of those villages, including Maal dhon, Ritachoura, Bijrani, Rewari, Gwelchora, Chandikhet, Dhudalia, Sungari, Ganai, Bhatkot, Shakle, Jhalla, Haat, Udlikhan, Digaut, Pipaldhar, Birkhumu, Jamania and Rampur. Bakhli, Baskenia, Bakhali, Baralgaw, Godi, Amsyari, Tedagaun, kotuda, Rampur, Maneyia, Taal, Kheeda, Pakhakhareek, Nawad, Jamrad, Asethi, Bhijlim, Bagdi, Prempuri, Akheti, Jukanauli, Gwali, Ghangholi, Basbhida, Dwarahat, Malla Tajpur, Naigad, Khata, Aamdai, Songau, Agargau, Jourashi, Bhalt Gaon, Bhoara Gaon, Chaani, Dang, Korni, Jaurasi, Jala, Farika, Gajar, Jairambakhal, Khadaktaya, Agarmanral, Bramaha Dev Chauri Talli Khatyari, Bichli Khatyari, Malli Khatyari and others.

==Transport==
[[National Highway 109 (India)|National Highway 109]] connects Chaukhutia to the cities of [[Almora]], [[Dwarahat]], [[Karnaprayag]] and [[Haldwani]]. Regular buses ply between Chaukhutia and [[Ramnagar, Nainital|Ramnagar]].

There have been plans to link Chaukhutia to [[Ramnagar, Nainital|Ramnagar]] with a Rail line.<ref>{{cite news|title=Harish Rawat seeks rail projects for state|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/governance/harish-rawat-seeks-rail-projects-for-state/45807.html|accessdate=15 September 2017|work=The Tribune|date=23 February 2015|location=Dehradun|language=en}}</ref> This rail line would be instrumental in bringing [[Gairsain]], the proposed capital of [[Uttarakhand]], on the Railway map.<ref>{{cite news|title=गैरसैंण तक बनेगी रामनगर-चौखुटिया प्रस्तावित रेल लाइन|url=http://www.amarujala.com/uttarakhand/almora/the-proposed-railway-line-will-form-to-garsann-ramnagar-chaukhutia-hindi-news|accessdate=15 September 2017|publisher=Amar Ujala|date=15 May 2015|location=Chaukhutia|language=hi}}</ref> There have also been speculations about another railway line, that would connect Chaukhutia to [[Bageshwar]] via [[Garur]].<ref>{{cite news|title=चौखुटिया-गरुड़ से बागेश्वर आएगी रेल: टम्टा|url=http://www.livehindustan.com/uttarakhand/bageshwar/story-chaukhootia-garuda-to-come-from-bageshwar-railway-tamta-1490570.html|accessdate=15 September 2017|publisher=Hindustan|date=11 September 2017|location=Bageshwar|language=hi}}</ref>

Construction of an Air Strip was also announced in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=चौखुटिया को हवाई अड्डे के रूप में बड़ा तोहफा : जिसका मुख्य उपयोग चीन की सीमा से लगे भारतीय सेना‌ के लिये होगा आपात स्थिति में तुरंत जिससे सेना को सहायता मिल पायेगी|url=http://www.amarujala.com/uttarakhand/almora/chaukhootia-s-big-gift-as-airport-bhatt|accessdate=15 September 2017|publisher=Amar Ujala|date=2 August 2017|location=Almora|language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=चौखुटिया को मिलेगी हवाई पट्टी की सौगात|url=http://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/almora-16486959.html|accessdate=15 September 2017|publisher=jagran|date=4 August 2017|location=Chaukhutia|language=hi}}</ref>

==Sources==
* https://web.archive.org/web/20090704061713/http://www.indiatourism.com/uttaranchal-tourism/chaukhutia-tourism.html
* http://wikimapia.org/#lat=29.8835555&lon=79.3499994&z=15&l=0&m=a&v=2

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Almora district}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Almora district]]

Chaukhutia - Revision history

>Vijethnbharadwaj at 12:03, 21 March 2021