Didihat

Didihat डीडीहाट
Town
View of Didihat from sherakot
Didihat Show map of Uttarakhand Didihat Show map of India Location of Didihat in India
Coordinates: 29°58′N 80°09′E / 29.97°N 80.15°E / 29.97; 80.15Coordinates: 29°58′N 80°09′E / 29.97°N 80.15°E / 29.97; 80.15
Country	India
State	Uttarakhand
Division	Kumaon
District	Pithoragarh
Area
• Total	4 km2 (2 sq mi)
Elevation	1,725 m (5,659 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	6,522
• Density	1,600/km2 (4,200/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	262551

Didihat is a town and a nagar panchayat in Pithoragarh district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the eleven administrative subdivisions of Pithoragarh district and also serves as its administrative headquarters. With a population of 6522, Didihat is located at a distance of 520 km (320 mi) from the state capital Dehradun.

Didihat is named after Kumauni word 'Dand' meaning a small hillock. Didihat falls on the pilgrimage route to Kailash Mansarovar.

The area of present-day Didihat was historically ruled by feudal Raika Malla kings of Sirakot. The ancient Shirakot Temple of Lord Malay Nath was built by the Raika Kings. Till the time of King Hari Malla, this region was under Doti Kingdom of Nepal. Later on in 1581 AD at the time of Chand dynasty ruler Rudra Chand, this region came under the control of Chand rulers defeating Raikas of Doti. Still today some remnants of ancient fort and temples are present in Didihat.

Didihat was a Tehsil in the Almora district of United Provinces in 1947, when India won its Independence from Britain. The Didihat Tehsil, along with other north-eastern parts of Almora district were transferred to the newly created Pithoragarh district in 1960. During 2001-2011 new tehsil Berinag was created by transferring 298 villages from Didihat tehsil. The creation of a new district, Didihat was declared on 15 August 2011, by then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Ramesh Pokhriyal, however, the district is yet to be officially formed.