About Kathgodam

Located at the foothills of the mystic Himalayas in Kumaon region of Nainital district, Kathgodam is a small town in the hill state of Uttarakhand. Serving as the entryway to all the major tourist spots in the vicinity, Kathgodam is the last railway terminus in Uttarakhand after which tourists have to take buses or hired cabs to reach their destinations like Nainital, Sattal, Kausani, Naukuchiyatal, Bhimtal, Almora, Ramgarh, Ranikhet and Mukteshwar. Kathgodam originated from the phrase timber depot; i.e. Kath=timber and Godam=depot, thus, the small village remained as a popular trade and commerce route in the Himalayas since 1901 and even before that.

History of Kathgodam

According to history books, the region (Bhabhar –Terai) originally was gifted to Gyan Chand belonging to the Chand ruling clan by the Delhi Sultanate. Since 1909, Kathgodam housed in Bhabhar region in Uttarakhand flourished as a popular tourist gateway to the picturesque Himalayas due to the initiation of railway line till here by the British. Prior to that the railway line was only extended till Haldwani. Hence, tourists travelling to Nainital have to cross Kathgodam, situated 35 kilometers from the hill station at the base of the Himalayas. Kathgodam railway station also connects Delhi, Howrah and Dehradun railway line in the North Eastern Railway.

Geography of Kathgodam

Kathgodam is positioned at an angle of 29.27° N and 79.53° E at 1,483 feet above sea level. Its vibrant beauty in the foothills of Himalayas is breathtaking. Due to the cool air flowing in from the mountains, Kathgodam experiences moderate climate even during the summer when the temperature hardly crosses 30° centigrade while the minimum temperature stays around 15° centigrade. The region experiences mostly dry climate during monsoon while winter can be extremely harsh with temperature dipping to 0°centigrade. Hence, the weather remains temperate and comfortable in the village town which tourists can visit throughout the year.

Culture of Kathgodam

Uttarakhand is known as ‘land of gods’ and the people of this region in Kumaon including Kathgodam worship nature in all its forms, religious and spiritual. The locals worship the holy River Ganga flowing through neighboring places and float diyas in the river at night. The vibrant culture, folklore and traditions of the locals make Kathgodam especially a treasured place worth visiting. Shaukas, Tharus, Buxas and Jaunsaris are the local tribes and inhabitants residing in the area. Hindus, Muslims and other communities live in peace and participate in each other’s festivities including music and dance.

Popular cuisine of Kathgodam and Kumaon region is Jhangora ki Kheer, Lesu, Aloo ke Gutke, Aloo Dal Pakore, Singodi, Sisunak Saag, Madua ki Rot, Wada, Kumaoni Raita, Kaapa, Gahat ki Daal, Mixed Dal Salad, Singal, Bhangak Khatai and Bal Mithai.

Administration in Kathgodam

Situated on the banks of Gaula River at an altitude of 554 meters, Kathgodam is also a part of twin township of Haldwani and forms a division of Haldwani-Kathgodam Municipal Corporation established on September 21, 1942. Kathgodam-Haldwani twin municipal corporation is considered the second largest after Haridwar. After the British set foot in the region, Commissioner of Kumaon, Henry Raemjay linked Kathgodam with Nainital via road in 1882 following which in 1883-1884 a railway line was built between Kathgodam and Bareilly.

Kathgodam was a small village with a meager population of 400 till 1901, after which due to the settlement of British and expansion of trade and commerce the town started to grow in area. At present the town has a population of 129,140.

Kathgodam does not have hospitals or nursing homes, hence, the residents of Kathgodam go to Haldwani and Nainital for treatment. Given below is a list of hospitals near Kathgodam town:

Hospitals in Kathgodam

Krishna Hospital and Research Center
Address: 3-136, Guru Nanak Pura, Subhash Nagar, PO Bhutia Padav, District Nainital, Haldwani, Uttarakhand -263141
Ph no: 05946284816

Brij Lal Hospital
Address: Anandi Tower, Nainital Road, National Highway 87, Haldwani, Uttarakhand -263139
Ph no: 05946 284 816

Sai Hospital
Address: Kaladhungi Road, Heera Nagar, Haldwani, Uttarakhand- 263139
Ph no: 09759414887

Bombay Hospital
Address: Thapa Colony, Haldwani, Nainital, Uttarakhand- 263139
Ph no: 05946284949

Soban Singh Jeena Base Hospital & Blood Bank
Address: Banbhoolpura, Haldwani, Uttarakhand -263139
Ph no: 04946251088

Kandpal ENT Hospital
Address: Amravati Colony II, Heera Nagar, Haldwani, Uttarakhand -263139
Ph no: 05946219916

Places to Visit in Kathgodam

The pristine beauty of Kathgodam is a paradise for tourists who prefer to stopover at the village town before heading for the hills. There are quite a few tourist spots in the vicinity like Sheetla Devi Temple and Kalichaud Temple which attracts a lot of devotees throughout the year. Devotees and tourists also throng the holy ashram at Hairakhan on a trip to Kathgodam. Gaula River which flows through Kathgodam town originates in Sattal region of Nainital is a scenic picnic spot and the dam across the river is a wonderful sight to behold. The charming view of the mountains from the foothills at Kathgodam free from chaos and the clean air which prevails there is a blessing for the tourists.

Other tourist spots close to Kathgodam are Corbett National Park, Corbett Falls, Corbett Canal and Choti Haldwani. Accommodation is not a problem in this small town for tourists visiting the hill stations.

How to Reach Kathgodam

The easiest way to reach Kathgodam is via railroad from Delhi, Howrah and other parts of India via Uttar Samparkkranti Express, Ranikhet Express, Shatabdi Express, Bagh Express and Kathgodam Garib Rath. Besides these, there are several connecting trains. Tourists can also travel to Kathgodam via car and local buses through NH-87 from Delhi which is 275 kilometers away, an 8-9 hours drive. The nearest airport to Kathgodam is in Pantnagar.

Utilities and Services in Kathgodam