Lohaghat

Settled gracefully on the banks of the murmuring Lohawati River at an altitude of 1,754 meters in the Champawat district, Lohaghat is one of the most idyllic, culturally rich, and historically captivating hill towns in the Kumaon Himalayas. Encircled by towering pine and deodar forests, historic stone temples, and rolling tea gardens, Lohaghat was historically celebrated by British chroniclers as one of the most beautiful and peaceful cantonments in northern India.

Foremost among its spiritual treasures is the hallowed Advaita Ashrama at Mayawati, located 9 km away amidst deep pine solitude. Established in 1899 by disciples of Swami Vivekananda, the ashram was personally visited and blessed by Swamiji in January 1901. Operating strictly without any external idols or rituals, Mayawati remains a world-renowned haven for meditation and introspection.

Perched high on a ridge overlooking Lohaghat stands the formidable stone citadel of Banasur Ka Kila, steeped in mythological lore from the Krishna era. With the charming colonial hill retreat of Abbott Mount just 9 km away and the sacred river confluence of Pancheshwar downstream, Lohaghat offers an unmatched blend of folklore, nature, and tranquility.