Gangolihat

Gangolihat is a town in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. It is the headquarters of an eponymous tehsil ~ one of the 12 revenue subdivisions of the Pithorarh district.

It is said that here Adi Shankaracharya did penance to please Adi Shakti. Gangolihat is known for its Shakti Peeth of Haat Kalika Temple - Adi Shakti and Destroyer of Demon's.

History
Being situated between the Saryu Ganga and Ram Ganga rivers, the region where Gangolihat is situated was earlier called Gangavali, which got corrupted to Gangoli over the course of time. Gangolihat was the primary market and main trading center of this Gangoli region. Before the thirteenth century, this region was under the rule of the Katyuri kings.

Around the thirteenth century, Gangolihat came under the rule of the Mankoti kings, who had their capital at Mankot. In Janhavi naula at Gangolihat belonging to 1264 A.D. there is a piece of stone with the names of the Gangoli kings and also records an inscription about a possible invasion of Mankot by the Delhi Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. On the piece of stone of 1352, found in the temple of Baijnath, is written that the kings of Gangoli (Hamirdeo, Lingarajdeo, Dharaldeo) built the kalash of the temple.

The kingdom of Gangoli was invaded by the Chand king, Balo Kalyan Chand, in the 16th century. Following its defeat, Mankot was merged into the Kumaon Kingdom. In the nineteenth century, Gangoli was made a pargana of Almora district, and the pargana headquarters were established in Gangolihat town itself.

Geography
Gangolihat is located at 29.48°N, 80.05°W. It has an average elevation of 1,760 metres (5,773 feet). It is 78 km from Pithoragarh. The main town is at a hill top. The region is surrounded by two rivers Saryu and Ramganga. Which meet at Ghat at the foothill of the region. These two rivers make it like a Garland on the shoulders of mighty Himalaya. These two rivers gave the name to the region Gang (River in Kumaoni) + Awali (Garland) making Gangawali which became Gangoli later on. and Hat were the main markets/ gathering place for local people in past. Which made the name of Gangolihat.

Gangolihat is native of Mehta, Pant, Karki, Kothari, Bhatt's(at Futsil&balatari), Joshi's, Khati, Gusain, Upreti's, Pathak's, Pargai and Mahara. Dhanik, Negi's, Bisht, Rawal's, Verma's, Shah, Bora, Dasoni and Aryas are other major surnames found.

Demographics
According to the 2011 census of India, Gangolihat town is spread over an area of 7 sq km and has a population of 7,112. Gangolihat has an average literacy rate of 74.11%.

Places of interest
Gangolihat is the site of a number of ancient temples and caves, including the templates of 'Haat Kalika'in the east, 'Ambika Dewaal'in North, 'Chamunda Mandir to the west' and 'Vaishnavi Mandir'. From 'Vaishnavi Mandir' it is possible to clearly view the Himalayas. This temple is situated on a mountain that was called 'Shail Parvat', which is written in Hindu holy books.

The caves in Gangolihaat include 'Patal Bhuvneshwar' (पाताल भुवनेश्वर), 'Shailashwer Gufa' and 'Mukteshwar Gufa'. A cave has also been recently found and that is called 'Bholeshwar Gufa'. The peak Bhurgottam near village Mallagrkha is famous as place of Bhrigu who was one of the seven great sages, The Saptarshis.. Patal Bhuvneshwar cave is believed to be the abode of 33 crore Gods and Goddesses.

'Haat Kalika Mandir' was built by Adi Guru Sankaracharya for installation of one of the Shakti Peethas. It is believed that the goddess Kalika Mata, who is thought to reside in West Bengal, moved from West Bengal to North (Gangolihat). Posthumous Param Veer Chakra award winner Captain Bikram Batra was a great devotee of the goddess. The goddess Mahakali is the designated goddess of the Kumauon Regiment. The Kumaon regiment has created an Army Rest House near the Temple for Army Personnel, who come Gangolihat to get the blessing of Goddess. Several dharamshalas and gates have been built by kumaun regiment.

There are historical monuments made during 8-11th century near the temple. Which is a site preserved by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It depicts the nervelessness of the artistic creation at that time. And there is a source of water called janhvi nohla, its water comes from an oak tree. Its water believed so much pure.

The highest peak in the range, Lamkeshwar which is a temple of Lord Shiva, The view of greenery rich valleys of Kumaun Himalayas from this hilltop is memorable and heavenly. It has always been a great trekking site.