Kumaon division

2021-07-09T18:45:16Z

2401:4900:468C:AF3:3032:D4D4:C121:CAA5: /* Folk Art */

{{Short description|Administrative division in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kumaon
| native_name = कुमाऊं
| other_name =
Kurmanchal
| settlement_type = [[Divisions of India|Administrative Division]]
| nickname = The Home of Gods<ref>https://www.culturaltrends.in/product/kumaon-home-of-the-gods</ref>
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Om Parvat.JPG
| photo2a = Bagnath Bageshwar .jpg{{!}}Bagnath Temple
| photo2b = Munsiari IMG 20160617 132452119 (32987221606).jpg{{!}}Gori river flowing through Johar Valley.
| photo3a = A view of Nainital lake with the morning mist.jpg
| photo3b = KGM - DDN Exp. (36636768836).jpg
| photo4a = Sunset at Himalayas 6 Panchachulli - 17.20 PM -.jpg{{!}}View of Trisul and Panchchuli peaks from Kausani
| photo4b = Katarmal.jpg
| photo5a = An_elephant_herd_at_Jim_Corbett_National_Park.jpg
| spacing = 2
| color_border = black
| color = black
| space = 2
| size = 250
| foot_montage =
}}
| image_alt =
| image_caption = '''Clockwise from top:''' [[Om Parvat]], River flowing through [[Munsiyari]], Train from [[Kathgodam]], Katarmal Sun Temple near Ranikhet, Elephant herd in [[Jim Corbett National Park]], Himalayan panorama from [[Kausani]], Navk(Boats) on [[Nainital Lake|Naini Lake]], View of [[Sarju]](Saryu) flowing through Bageshwar,
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1815<ref>Robert Montgomery Martin, ''History of the Possessions of the Honourable East India Company,'' Volume 1, pg. 107</ref>
| founder =
| seat1_type = Capital
| seat1 = [[Nainital]]
| seat2_type = [[List of cities in India by population|Largest city]]
| seat2 = [[Haldwani]]
| parts_type = [[List of districts in India|Districts]]
| p1 = {{bulleted list
|[[Almora district|Almora]]
|[[Bageshwar district|Bageshwar]]
|[[Champawat district|Champawat]]
|[[Nainital district|Nainital]]
|[[Pithoragarh district|Pithoragarh]]
|[[Udham Singh Nagar district|Udham Singh Nagar]]
}}
| government_type = [[Divisions of India|Division]]
| leader_title1 = Legislature
| leader_name1 = * [[Parliament of India]] ''[[Bicameralism|bicameral]]''
** [[Rajya Sabha]] 1 seat
** [[Lok Sabha]] 2 seats
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 21,035
| population_total = 4,228,998 <ref name="census2011-C16"/>
| population_density_km2 = 201.04
| demographics_type1 =
Ethnicity and Language
| demographics1_title1 =
Languages
| demographics1_info1 = Native: [[Kumaoni language| Kumaoni]], Tharu(Buksari), RungLo 
Official: Hindi
| demographics1_title2 = Ethnic groups
| demographics1_info2 = Kumaonis, [[Shaukas]], Rungs, Bhotiyas, Tharus([[Bhoksa people|Bhoksa]])
| population_demonym = [[Kumaoni people| Kumaonis]], [[Kumaoni people|Kumaiye]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| registration_plate = [[Vehicle registration plates of India|UK]]
| blank_name_sec1 = Highest peak of Kumaon Himalayas
| blank_info_sec1 = [[Nanda Devi]](7,817 metres)<ref name=britannica>{{Cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Kumaun-Himalayas|title=Kumaun Himalayas - mountains, India }}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec1 = Highest peak of Kumaon Division
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Hardeol]] 7,151 m (23,461 ft)
| blank2_name_sec1 = Lowest elevation of Kumaon Division
| blank2_info_sec1 =[[Sharda River|Sharda Sagar Reservoir]] (190 m)<ref>{{cite web|title=Ichthyofaunal Diversity of Sharda Sagar Reservoir in Tarai Region|url=http://oaji.net/pdf.html%3Fn%3D2017/6036-1522843486.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiM5_K5y8PkAhWGknAKHeL7B-sQFjAOegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw2vDxLKmM8imKtQxbyVI49S|format=PDF|publisher=Open Academics Journal Index|access-date=9 September 2019}}</ref>
| blank3_name_sec1 = Largest lake
| blank3_info_sec1 = [[Bhimtal lake| Bhimtal]]
| Website =
| website = http://kumaon.gov.in/
| footnotes =
}}

'''Kumaon'''({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɛ|m|ɔː
|ʊ}};[[Kumaoni language| Kumaoni]]: ''Kumāū''; {{IPA-all|kuːmɔːʊ|pron}}; historically romanized as '''Kemāon''' <ref>James Prinsep (Editor){{Google books|Y1oxAQAAMAAJ|Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume 6, Part 2 (1837)|page=653}}</ref><ref>John McClelland {{Google books|0gwKAAAAIAAJ|Some inquiries in the province of Kemaon: relative to geology, and other branches of Natural Science (1835)}}</ref>) is a [[List of divisions in India|revenue and administrative division]] in the Indian State of [[Uttarakhand]]. It spans over the eastern half of the state and is bounded on the north by [[Tibet]], on the east by [[Nepal]], on the south by the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]], and on the west by the [[Garhwal Division|Garhwal]] region. The people of Kumaon are known as [[Kumauni people|Kumaonis]] and speak the [[Kumaoni language]].

Historically known as '''Manaskhand''' and then '''Kurmanchal''', the Kumaon region has been ruled by several Hindu dynasties over the course of history; most notably the [[Katyuri kings|Katyuris]] and the [[Chand kings|Chands]]. The Kumaon division was established in 1816, when the British reclaimed this region from the [[Gorkha Kingdom|Gorkhas]], who had annexed the erstwhile [[Kumaon Kingdom|Kingdom of Kumaon]] in 1790. It was formed into a division of what was then called [[Ceded and Conquered Provinces]], later known as [[United Provinces (1937–50)|United Provinces]]. In independent India the state was called [[Uttar Pradesh]]. In 2000, the new state of [[Uttarakhand]] was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, including Kumaon.

Kumaon is home to a famous [[Indian Army]] regiment, the [[Kumaon Regiment]]. Notable towns of Kumaon are [[Nainital]], [[Almora]], [[Pithoragarh]], [[Champawat]], [[Bageshwar]] and [[Ranikhet]]. The region also have cities like [[Haldwani]], [[Rudrapur, Uttarakhand|Rudrapur]], [[Kashipur, Uttarakhand|Kashipur]] particularly in the plain(Terai) areas of the region. The hill town [[Nainital]] is its administrative centre and this is where the Uttarakhand high court is located.<ref>[http://indiaguide.trailofview.com/trail/Traveling_in_Kumaon Kumaon Information]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Etymology ==
Kumaon is believed to have been derived from ''Kurmanchal'', meaning land of the [[Kurma]]vatar (the [[tortoise]] incarnation of Lord [[Vishnu]], the preserver according to Hinduism). The region of Kumaon is named after as such.<ref name="History">{{cite book |last1=Gokhale |first1=Namita |title=Mountains Echoes: Reminiscences of Kumaoni Women |date=2015 |publisher=Roli Books Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5194-180-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5bJlCgAAQBAJ&q=kurmanchal&pg=PT12 |access-date=31 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gajrani |first1=S. |title=History, Religion and Culture of India |date=2004 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |isbn=978-81-8205-064-8 |page=236 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T02CC0ihCmcC&q=kumaun+kurmanchal&pg=PA236 |access-date=31 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

According to another theory the word '''Kumaon''' can be traced back to the 5th century BC. The '''''Kassite Assyrians''''' left their homeland '<nowiki/>'''''Kummah'''<nowiki/>'<nowiki/>'', on the banks of river Euphrates, and settled in the northern part of India.

During the time of the British control of the region, between 1815 and 1857 it was also known as ''Kemaon''.<ref>James Prinsep (Editor){{Google books|Y1oxAQAAMAAJ|Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, Volume 6, Part 2 (1837)|page=653}}</ref><ref>John McClelland {{Google books|0gwKAAAAIAAJ|Some inquiries in the province of Kemaon: relative to geology, and other branches of Natural Science (1835)}}</ref><ref>John Forbes Royle {{Google books|RxBJAAAAcAAJ|Illustrations of the botany and other branches of the natural history of the Himalayan Mountains and of the flora of Cashmere (1839)|page=108}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Trishul peak in the golden hour.jpg|alt=|thumb|right|287x287px|[[Trisul|Trisul Mountain]]]]
[[File:Dream_country.jpg|alt=|Kumaon Himalayas Range, [[Kausani]]|thumb|250x250px]]
[[File:Nainital Lake, April, 2009.JPG|thumb|[[Nainital Lake]], One of the four lakes of Kumaon]]
[[File:Kosi River valley near Almora, Uttarakhand, India.jpg|thumb|[[Kosi River]] valley near [[Almora]] in Kumaon]]
The Kumaon<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiavacationspots.com/kumaon-garhwal-vacation-tour/|title=Garhwal Vacation Tips - Vacation Tour Garhwal Kumaon -Family Tour India}}</ref> region consists of a large [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] tract, together with two [[wikt:submontane|submontane]] strips called the [[Terai]] and the [[Bhabar]]. The submontane strips were up to 1850 an almost impenetrable forest, given up to wild animals; but after 1850 the numerous clearings attracted a large population from the hills, who cultivated the rich soil during the hot and cold seasons, returning to the hills in the rains. The rest of Kumaon is a maze of mountains, part of the [[Himalaya]] range, some of which are among the loftiest known. In a tract not more than 225 km in length and 65 km in breadth there are over thirty peaks rising to elevations exceeding 5500 m.<ref name=EB1911>{{EB1911 |wstitle=Kumaon |volume=15 |page=945 |inline=1}}</ref>

[[File:Kumaon Garhwal.jpg|thumb|Kumaon in dark Orange]]
The rivers like [[Gori River|Gori]], Dhauli, and [[Kali River (Uttarakhand)|Kali]] rise chiefly in the southern slope of the [[Tibet]]an watershed north of the loftiest peaks, amongst which they make their way down valleys of rapid declivity and extraordinary depth. The principal is the [[Sharda River|Sharda]] (Kali Ganga), the [[Pindari Glacier|Pindari]] and Kailganga, whose waters join the [[Alaknanda River|Alaknanda]].<ref name=EB1911/> The river Sharda (Kali Ganga) forms the international boundary between India and Nepal. The pilgrim route currently used to visit [[Mount Kailash|Kailash-Mansarovar]] goes along this river and crosses into [[Tibet]] at [[Lipulekh Pass|Lipu Lekh pass]].

The chief trees are the [[Chir Pine]], [[Cupressus|Himalayan Cypress]], [[fir|Pindrow Fir]], [[Alder]], [[Sal tree|Sal]] and Saindan. [[Limestone]], [[sandstone]], [[slate]], [[gneiss]] and [[granite]] constitute the principal geological formations. Mines of [[iron]], [[copper]], [[gypsum]], [[lead]] and [[asbestos]] exist; but they are not thoroughly worked. Except in the submontane strips and deep valleys, the climate is mild. The rainfall of the outer Himalayan range, which is first struck by the monsoon, is double that of the central hills, in the average proportion of 2000 mm to 1000 mm. No winter passes without snow on the higher ridges, and in some years, it is universal throughout the mountain tract. Frosts, especially in the valleys, are often severe.<ref name=EB1911/>

==History==
Prehistoric dwellings and [[Stone Age]] implements have been discovered in [[Almora district|Almora]] and [[Nainital district|Nainital]] districts. Initially settled by Kol tribals, the region witnessed successive waves of Kiratas, Khasas and Indo-Scythians. [[Kuninda Kingdom|Kunindas]] were the first rulers of the region. They were followed by the [[Katyuri kings]] who controlled the region from 700 –1200 AD.<ref name="History"/>

Around 1100-1200 AD after Katyuri kingdom disintegration Kurmanchal was divided into eight different principalities: [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath-Katyur]], [[Dwarahat|Dwarhat]], [[Doti District|Doti]], [[Almora district|Baramandal]], [[Askot]], [[Didihat|Sira]], [[Pithoragarh|Sora]], [[Champawat district|Sui]]. Around 1581 AD, under Rudra Chand, the whole region was brought together again as Kumaon.

===Kumaon Kingdom===
{{Main|Kumaon Kingdom}}

===Katyuri Raj===
[[File:Temples of Baijnath, Uttarakhand, India.jpg|thumb|Temples at Kartikeyapura (now [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]]), the capital of Katyuri Kings]]
{{Main|Katyuri kings}}
The Katyuri dynasty was of a branch of Kunindas origin and was founded by Vashudev Katyuri. they established their kingdom and called it Kurmanchal kingdom, they dominated lands of varying extent from the 'Katyur' (modern day Baijnath) valley in Kumaon, between 7th and 11th centuries AD, and established their capital at [[Baijnath, Uttarakhand|Baijnath]] in [[Bageshwar district]], which was then known as Kartikeyapura and lies in the centre of 'Katyur' valley. Brahmadev mandi in Kanchanpur District of far western Nepal was established by Katyuri king Brahma Deo, At their peak, the kurmanchal kingdom of Katyuri kings was extended from [[Sikkim]] in the east to [[Kabul]], [[Afghanistan]] in the west, before fragmenting into numerous principalities by the 12th century.

it is believed that from king Dham Deo and Bir Deo the downfall of this powerful dynasty began. Birdeo used to collect heavy taxes and forced his people to work as his slaves, King Birdeo teased his subjects by his tyranny to the extent that he forcibly married his own maternal aunt Tila. It is said that the Kumaoni folk song ''<nowiki/>'Mami tile dharo bola''' became popular from that very day. after death of Birdeo the kingdom was divided between his eight sons and they were able to form their different small kingdoms in the region for a short period of time until Chands emerged in the region defeating most of katyuri principalities and united ''Kurmanchal'' again as Kumaon.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Atkinson, Edwin T.|title=Himalayan Gazetteer.|date=1990|publisher=Cosmo|oclc=183008777|orig-year=1882}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=November 2020}}

The [[Rajbar]] dynasty of Askot in [[Pithoragarh]], was set up in 1279 AD, by a branch of the Katyuri kings, headed by Abhay Pal Deo, who was the grandson of Katyuri king Brahma Deo. The dynasty ruled the region till it became part of the British Raj through the treaty of Sighauli in 1816.

===Chand Raj===
[[File:Fort and the capital city of Kali Kumaon, Champawat, 1815.jpg|thumb|Fort in [[Champawat]], the capital of [[Chand Kings]], 1815]]
{{Main|Chand kings}}
The Chand dynasty was established by Som Chand in the 10th century,<ref name="Chand">{{cite book|title=History of Nainital District|date=1909|publisher=The Imperial Gazetteer of India|page=324|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V18_330.gif}}</ref> by displacing the Katyuri Kings, who had been ruling the area from the 7th century AD. He continued to call his state Kurmanchal and established its capital in Champawat in Kali Kumaon called so, due to its vicinity to river Kali. Many temples built in this former capital city, during the 11th and 12th century exist today, this includes the Baleshwar and Nagnath temples.

[[File:Brooklyn Museum - Baj Bahadur of Kumaon.jpg|thumb|Baj Bahadur of Kumaon ca. 1750.]]
One of most powerful rulers of Chand dynasty was Baz Bahadur (1638–78) AD, who met [[Shahjahan]] in [[Delhi]], and in 1655 joined forces with him to attack [[Garhwal District|Garhwal]], which was then under the King Pirthi Sah. Baz Bahadur subsequently captured the Terai region including [[Dehradun]], which was thus separated from the Garhwal kingdom. Baz Bahadur extended his territory east to [[Ghaghara|Karnali river]], later Baz Bahadur invaded [[Tibet]] and captured several forts including a hindu pilgrim [[Lake Manasarovar|Kailash Manasarovar]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hāṇḍā|first=Omacanda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_Ct9gzvkDQC&q=baz+bahadur+chand+tibet&pg=PA82|title=History of Uttaranchal|date=2002|publisher=Indus Publishing|isbn=978-81-7387-134-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sen|first=Siba Pada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXUeAAAAMAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=The Sino-Indian Border Question: A Historical Review|date=1971|publisher=Institute of Historical Studies|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Man Mohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tZwRAQAAIAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=Yātrā: Pilgrimages in the Himalayas|date=2005|publisher=Trishul Publications|isbn=978-81-85384-92-4|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Vaishṇav|first=Yamunādatta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=54e1AAAAIAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=Himalayan Districts of Uttar Pradesh: Land and People|date=1983|publisher=Sri Almora Book Depot|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Sep 5|first1=Vikram Bhalla {{!}} Times Fact Check {{!}} Updated|last2=2018|last3=Ist|first3=18:11|title=FACT CHECK: Did Aurangzeb defeat China and snatch Kailash Mansarovar from them as a gift to Hindus? - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/times-fact-check/news/fact-check-did-aurangzeb-defeat-china-and-snatch-kailash-mansarovar-from-them-as-a-gift-to-hindus/articleshow/65685957.cms|access-date=18 September 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=India)|first=Institute of Historical Studies (Calcutta|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a8Q9AQAAIAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=Collection of Papers Presented at Annual Conference of the Institute|date=1971|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Sharma|first=Man Mohan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LQYuAAAAMAAJ&q=kailash+mansarovar+baz+bahadur|title=The Mystery of Rupkund|date=1986|publisher=Vanity Books|language=en}}</ref> he also built the Golu Devata Temple, at Ghorakhal, near [[Bhimtal]],<ref name="Chand" /> after Lord Golu, a general in his army, who died valiantly in battle.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chitai Temple |url=http://210.212.78.56/almora/English/indexvisitor.html |access-date=3 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413011854/http://210.212.78.56/almora/English/indexvisitor.html |archive-date=13 April 2009 }}</ref> He also built the famous Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple at Bhimtal.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bhimtal |url=http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000000883U00007000 |access-date=3 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618174145/http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO000000883U00007000 |archive-date=18 June 2008 }}</ref>

Towards the end of the 17th century, Chand kings again attacked the Garhwal kingdom, and in 1688, Udyot Chand erected several temples at Almora, including Tripur Sundari, Udyot Chandeshwar, and Parbateshwar. To mark his victory over Garhwal and Doti, the Parbateshwar temple was renamed twice, to become the present Nanda Devi temple.<ref>{{cite web|title=Almora Temples Uttaranchal - Uttarakhand Worldwide - Kumaon and Garhwal - Almora Temples|url=http://www.uttaranchal.org.uk/almoratemples.php|website=www.uttaranchal.org.uk|access-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225503/http://www.uttaranchal.org.uk/almoratemples.php|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later, Jagat Chand (1708–20), defeated the Raja of Garhwal and pushed him away from [[Srinagar, Uttarakhand|Srinagar]] (in Uttarakhand, not to be confused with the capital of present-day Indian Kashmir), and his kingdom was given to a [[Brahmin]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Garhwal District|date=1909|publisher=The Imperial Gazetteer of India|page=165|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V12_171.gif|access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>

===Nepalese invasion and its defeat===
{{multiple issues|
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2018}}
{{neutrality section|date=June 2019}}
}}
[[File:View of Almora, with soldiers of 3rd Gurkha, 1895.jpg|thumb|Soldiers of [[3rd Gurkha Rifles]] in [[Almora]], 1895]]
In the latter half of the 18th century, the power of Kumaon was on decline, as the king Mahendra Chand was unable to properly administer the country. After the fall of Doti, the [[Gorkha Kingdom|Gorkha]]s decided to invade over Kumaon. The Gorkha forces, under the leadership of [[Amar Singh Thapa]] crossed the kali river, and reached [[Almora]] via [[Pithoragarh|Sor]] and [[Gangolihat|Gangoli]]. Mahendra Chand fled to the plains, and Kumaon was easily annexed to the [[Gorkha Kingdom]].

The Gorkha rule over Kumaon lasted for 24 years. The architectural advancements during the period was a road connecting kali river to [[Srinagar, Uttarakhand|Srinagar]] via [[Almora]]. Almora was the largest town of Kumaon during the gorkha period, and is estimated to have about 1000 houses.

After the Gorkhas started meddling in the territories of [[Oudh State|Oudh]], the [[Nawab of Oudh]], who was then a suzerain of the [[British Indian Empire|British Empire]], asked for their help, thus paving way for the [[Anglo-Nepalese War]] of 1814. The British forces under Colonel Nicholas, consisting of about forty five hundred men and six ponder guns, entered Kumaon through [[Kashipur, Uttarakhand|Kashipur]] and conquered Almora on 26 April 1815. On the same day, Chandra Bahadur Shah, one of the principle Gurkha chiefs, sent a flag of truce, requesting to end hostilities in the region. A negotiation was brought up the following day, under which the Gurkhas agreed to leave the Country, and all its fortified places. The war ended with Nepal signing the [[Treaty of Sugauli]] in 1816, under which, Kumaon officially became a British territory.

===British Raj===
[[File:NorthWesternProvincesIndia1857.jpg|thumb|Kumaon as a part of [[North-Western Provinces]] in [[British India]], 1857]]
[[File:Bhimtal watercolor1878BLcollection.JPG|thumb|200px|A painting of Bhimtal lake in 1878, Kumaon, British India]]
Later, the region was annexed by the [[United Kingdom|British]]. In 1815 the Kumaon region was joined with the eastern half of the Garhwal region as a chief-commissionership on the [[Non-regulation province|non-regulation system]], also known as the [[Kumaon Province]].<ref>Robert Montgomery Martin, ''History of the Possessions of the Honourable East India Company,'' Volume 1, pg. 107</ref> It was governed for seventy years by three administrators, Mr. Traill, Mr. J. H. Batten and [[Henry Ramsay (Indian Army officer)|Sir Henry Ramsay]].

There was widespread opposition against British rule in various parts of Kumaon. The Kumaoni people especially [[Champawat]] District rose in rebellion against the British during the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]] under the leadership of the members like [[Kalu Singh Mahara]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091108/dun.htm#2 |title=The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Dehradun Edition |publisher=Tribuneindia.com |access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref> In 1891 the division was composed of the three districts of Kumaon, [[Garhwal District|Garhwal]] and the [[Tarai]]; but the two districts of Kumaon and the Tarai were subsequently redistributed and renamed after their headquarters, [[Nainital]] and Almora.

The area received international attention after the publication of [[Man-Eaters of Kumaon]], by [[Jim Corbett]], the noted hunter and conservationist, describing the author's trials seeking out and killing man-eating tigers. Animals like the [[Champawat Tiger]] and the [[Tigers of Chowgarh|Chowgarh Tigers]] plagued the area for many years, with the former estimated to have killed over four hundred humans by herself, in Nepal and then Kumaon, in the years 1920-28.

[[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s advent sounded a death knell for the British in Kumaon. People now aware of the excesses of British Raj became defiant of it and played an active part in the Indian Struggle for Independence. While staying in Kumaon for 12 days, recovering from the rigors of imprisonment, Gandhi wrote ''Anashakti Yoga'', his commentary on the [[Gita]].<ref>{{cite news |title=In Gandhi's footsteps |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/business/in-gandhi-s-footsteps/cid/498321 |access-date=8 January 2020 |work=www.telegraphindia.com |date=21 February 2009 |language=en}}</ref>

{{Quote|text=In these hills, nature's hospitality eclipses all men can do. The enchanting beauty of Himalayas, their bracing climate and the soothing green that envelopes you leaves nothing more to be desired. I wonder whether the scenery of these hills and the climate are surpassed, if equaled, by any of the beauty spots anywhere of the world. After having been nearly three weeks in Almora hills, I am more than ever amazed why our people need go to Europe in search of health. |title=Almora Impressions |author=[[Mahatma Gandhi]] |source=''Young India'' (11 July 1929)<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gandhi|first=M. K.|date=11 July 1929|title=Almora Impressions|url=https://www.gandhiheritageportal.org/journals-by-gandhiji/young-india|journal=Young India|pages=2|access-date=8 January 2020}}</ref>}}

Gandhi was revered in these parts and on his call the struggle of '''Salam Saliya Satyagraha''' led by Ram Singh Dhoni was started which shook the very roots of British rule in Kumaon.<ref name="Salam Saliya Satyagraha an important chapter of the Indian Freedom Movement">{{cite web|author=рдореНрдпрд░ рдкрд╣рд╛реЬ on 5 March 2010 |url=http://www.merapahad.com/salt-kranti-an-important-chapter-of-indian-freedom-movement/ |title=Salt Kranti in Uttarakhand: An Important Chapter of Freedom Movement |publisher=Merapahad.com |date=5 March 2010 |access-date=12 July 2012}}</ref>
Many people lost their lives in the Saalam Satyagraha due to police brutality. Gandhi named it the ''[[Bardoli]] of Kumaon'' an allusion to the [[Bardoli#Bardoli Satyagrah|Bardoli Satyagrah]]. Many Kumaonis also joined the [[Indian National Army]] led by [[Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose]].

=== Independent India ===
After India became independent in 1947, [[United Provinces (1937–50)|United Provinces]] were converted into the newly formed Indian state of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The princely state of [[Tehri Garhwal]] joined the [[Dominion of India|Indian Union]] in 1949, and became a district under the Kumaon division. Three new districts viz. [[Pithoragarh district|Pithoragarh]] from [[Almora district|Almora]], [[Chamoli district|Chamoli]] from [[Pauri Garhwal district|Garhwal]] and [[Uttarkashi district|Uttarkashi]] from [[Tehri Garhwal district|Tehri Garhwal]] were created in 1960. A new revenue division, named Uttarakhand division was carved out from these 3 districts of Kumaon division.

The year 1969 saw major administrative reforms in these hilly regions of Uttar Pradesh, and a new [[Garhwal division]], with its headquarter in [[Pauri]], was formed with the districts of Tehri Garhwal and Garhwal from Kumaon division, and [[Uttarkashi]] and [[Chamoli]] from Uttarkhand division. The Uttarakhand division too was disestablished the same year, and the remaining district of Pithoragarh was brought back to Kumaon division, hence giving it its present size.

Three new districts were created in the 90's, taking the total number of districts in the division to 6. [[Udham Singh Nagar district|Udham singh nagar]] from Nainital in 1995, and [[Bageshwar district|Bageshwar]] from Almora and [[Champawat district|Champawat]] from Pithoragarh in 1997. Two new districts, [[Ranikhet district|Ranikhet]] from Almora and [[Didihat district|Didihat]] from Pithoragarh were announced in 2011 by the then Chief minister of Uttrakhand, [[Ramesh Pokhriyal]], but the districts never came into existence because no official notification was ever released.

==Culture==
===Traditional attire===
[[File:Chanchari dance.jpg|thumb|Kumaoni women from Danpur(Bageshwar district) performing Chanchari wearing the traditional Kumaoni pichaura(yellow-saffron colour)]]

Pichaura (पिछोङा) is a traditional attire worn by married Kumaoni women generally for religious occasions, marriage, and other rituals. Traditionally handmade using vegetable dyes, Pichhauras are available in red and saffron. Local designs made in Almora, Haldwani and other parts of Kumaon use silk fabric and accessories made of pearl. It is also contemporarily made using machines.
In recent years its popularity has seen a rise, especially in Kumaoni diaspora in other states and countries.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Upadhyay |first1=Vineet |title=NRI pahadi brides eye Kumaoni 'Pichora' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/NRI-pahadi-brides-eye-Kumaoni-Pichora/articleshow/50163441.cms |access-date=11 January 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=13 December 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File: Boat-Man at Naini Lake.jpg|thumb|A Kumaoni man on Naini Lake wearing Kumaoni Black cap]]
Kumaoni men do wear a Kumaoni cap, which is of black colour. However, during festivals, especially during [[Kumauni Holi]] the cap becomes white in colour.

===Folk Art===
[[File:Aipan design .jpg|thumb|Aipan, the Kumaoni folk art]]
Aipan is the most famous folk art of Kumaon. In recent times its popularity has grown.
Aipan is not only an important folk art of Kumaoni community but other ethnic groups of Kumaon, like Shaukas and Rungs, as well. Hence it also acts as a cultural link between different ethnic communities of Kumaon, therefore has significant importance.

===Folk dances===
[[File:Hilljatra-festival-photos.jpg|thumb| Hiljatra in Pithoragarh]]
[[File:Cholliyar.jpg|thumb|Chholiyar performing Choliya dance]]
Many classical dance forms and folk art are practised in the Kumaon. Some well-known dances include Hurkiya Baul,<ref>{{cite news|title=बागेश्वर में हुड़किया बोल के साथ रोपाई की धूम|url=http://www.livehindustan.com/uttarakhand/bageshwar/story-planting-with-hoddia-bole-in-bageshwar-1141653.html|access-date=24 June 2017|work=livehindustan.com|language=hi}}</ref> Jhora-Chanchri and [[Chholiya]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Folk Dances Of North India|url=http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-dance/folk-dances/north-india.html|publisher=culturalindia.net|access-date=29 July 2012}}</ref> Music is an integral part of the Kumaoni culture. Popular types of folk songs include Mangal and Nyoli.<ref>{{cite web|title=Folk Songs of Uttarakhand|url=http://www.aboututtarakhand.com/Know-Abouts/Folk-Song/Folk-Songs.html|publisher=aboututtarakhand.com|access-date=29 July 2012}}</ref> These folk songs are played on instruments including [[dhol]], damau, turri, [[ransingha]], [[dholki]], daur, [[thali]], [[bhankora]], mandan and [[Bagpipe|mashakbaja]]. A famous Kumaoni folk is [[Bedu Pako]]. Music is also used as a medium through which the gods are invoked. ''[[Jagar (ritual)|Jagar]]'' is a form of spirit worship in which the singer, or ''Jagariya'', sings a ballad of the gods, with allusions to great epics, like [[Mahabharat]] and [[Ramayana]], that describe the adventures and exploits of the god being invoked.

'''Kumaoni Ram Leela''' is the oldest in the world. It is 150-year-old, due to which UNESCO has declared it world’s longest-running opera. In addition, the Kumaoni Ram Leela is now a part of the World Cultural Heritage List. With the passage of time, people have experimented with the show, yet the oral traditional has stayed as it always was. This is to say that the Ram Leela in Kumaon is not a staged performance; rather, it is a musical fest, which is made special by the beats of instruments like harmonium, dholak and table. In Kumaon’s Ram Leela, the focus is more on singing than acting.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/do-you-know-that-kumaons-ram-leela-is-the-oldest-in-the-world/as71441650.cms</ref>

'''Kumaoni holi''' is the historical and cultural celebration of the Hindu festival of [[Holi]]. It is one of the most important festivals for the [[Kumauni people]] as it signifies not only the victory of good over evil but also end of the winter season and the start of the new sowing season which holds great importance for this agricultural community of the [[North Indian]] [[Himalayas]]. It is an amalgamation of the cultural traditions of North India and the local traditions of Kumaon.The uniqueness of the Kumaoni Holi lies in its being a musical affair, whatever its form, be it the '''Baithki Holi''', the '''Khari Holi''' and the '''Mahila Holi''' all of which start from [[Basant Panchmi]].
This results in the festivities of Holi lasting for almost two months in Kumaon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euttaranchal.com/culture/uttaranchali-holi-kumaoni-holi|title=eUttaranchal - Rediscover Uttarakhand - Tourism, Culture & People|website=www.euttaranchal.com}}</ref> The Baithki Holi and Khari Holi are unique in that the songs on which they are based have a combination of melody, fun, and spiritualism. These songs are essentially based on classical ragas. Baithki Holi is also known as '''Nirvan Ki Holi''' or Holi of Salvation.

===Religious Significance===
In Kumaon, every peak, lake or mountain range is somehow or the other connected with some myth or the name of a God or Goddess, ranging from those associated with the [[Shaiva]], [[Shakta]] and [[Vaishnava]] traditions, to local Gods like Haim, Saim, Golu, Nanda, Sunanda, Chhurmal, Kail Bisht, Bholanath, Gangnath, Airi and Chaumu. Referring to the rich religious myths and lores associated with Kumaon, E. T. Atkinson has said: 'To the beliefs of the great majority of [[Hindus]], the Kumaon is what [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] is to the Christians.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uttarakhand.esiti.net/page/21278/ua.htm |title=FREE Website Creator and low cost hosting, DIY Online Easy Web Builder |publisher=Uttarakhand.esiti.net |access-date=25 August 2010}}{{dead link|date=March 2013}}</ref>

===Cultural Hubs===
*Almora- Almora is considered the cultural capital of Kumaon. It is also known as the "Heart of Kumaon".<ref name="sweet">{{cite news|last1=Pant|first1=Rajshekhar|title=The Sweet Tooth Of Kumaon|url=http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/NewsDetail/index/9/6381/The-Sweet-Tooth-Of-Kumaon|accessdate=22 July 2017|work=The Citizen|date=4 January 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Bal mithai.jpg|thumb|[[Bal Mithai]], originated in [[Almora]], and now has become a symbol of Kumaoni cuisine]]

*Nainital- Nainital is by far the most well known tourist destination of Kumaon. The city has played a major role in exporting the Kumaoni culture to the rest of India.<ref>https://www.makemytrip.com/travel-guide/nainital/culture.html</ref>
[[File:Nainital lake in the morning.jpg|thumb|Naini dwellers in the morning]]

*Pithoragarh- The city is known for its distinctive and unique culture. It has been one of the major hubs of Kumaoni culture and is the largest city in the hills of Kumaon.<ref>https://pithoragarh.nic.in/culture-heritage/#:~:text=The%20fairs%20of%20Pithoragarh%20are,fairs%20are%20primarily%20trade%20fairs.</ref>

*Champawat- Also known as Kali Kumaon, Champawat is the root of Kumaoni culture. It is from this place Kumaon got its name.<ref>https://champawat.nic.in/about-district/</ref>

*Bageshwar- Bageshwar is known as "Kumaok Kashi" (Kumaon's Kashi), because of the holy Saryu flowing through it. Bageshwar is the home to the largest Kumaoni fair "Uttarayini".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Walton|first1=H. G.|title=Almora: A Gazetter|date=1911|publisher=The Government Press, United Provinces|location=Allahabad|page=Appendix XXIV}}</ref>

*Haldwani- Though it is situated in Bhabhar, Haldwani has played a very significant role in shaping Kumaon's history and culture. It is Kumaon's largest city and has recently become a hub of artists, who are promoting Kumaoni language and culture.<ref>https://www.haldwani.co.in/art-culture-haldwani.php</ref>

*Rudrapur- Rudrapur is undoubtedly Kumaon's most cosmopolitan city, with a significant presence of Punjabi, Bengali and other migrants. However, Kumaonis form a large part of the city. Rudrapur is known as Kumaon's Financial Capital.<ref>https://usnagar.nic.in/kumaoni-culture-chachri-chapeli-was-presented-by-swaramayi-academy-rudrapur-on-the-main-stage-under-the-us-carnival/</ref>

==Economy==

Kumaon is home to the financial capital of the state, I.e., Haldwani. Kumaon has the state's most commercial, economic and industrial activities specially in Bhabar and Terai regions. Along with Industries there is a huge tourism sector. Agriculture also plays a huge role in Kumaoni
economy. It employs a large percentage of Kumaoni population.

=== Economic Hubs ===
*'''Haldwani'''- Being the largest city of Kumaon, and the gateway of Kumaon, Haldwani is the financial centre of Kumaon. It is often dubbed as the financial capital, having the most commercial activity of the state.

*'''Rudrapur'''- Rudrapur has established itself as a significant trading center within the Udham Singh Nagar district, which itself is a big trading center in Kumaon.The district exports include industrial as well as agricultural products, both of which are predominantly channeled from Rudrapur.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=District Census Handbook-Udham Singh Nagar Part: XII-A|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/0512_PART_A_DCHB_UDHAM%20SINGH%20NAGAR.pdf|access-date=30 September 2020|website=Census India}}</ref> The Basmati rice from Rudrapur is among the top crop which is produced in the region.<ref name=":4" /> Post the setup of State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL), enhanced by the broad-gauge railway network in the area, Rudrapur has developed into an industrial city with its city limits expanding to accommodate new residential demands of the workers and professionals moving into the area.<ref name=":4" />

=== Tourism Sector ===

Being a Himalayan state, Kumaon do have a huge Tourism industry. The major tourism hubs include-

*'''Lakes of Kumaon''': Nainital, Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal attract a lot of people from within the country and abroad.

* '''National Parks''': Jim Corbett National Park, is the most famous National Park of Kumaon. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary and Askot Deer Sanctuary are other protected areas of Kumaon.

*'''Hill Stations''': Nainital, Almora, Kasar, Chaukori, Kausani, Munsiyari, Lohaghat, Ramnagar, Mukteshwar, Pithoragarh, Ranikhet are some of the most famous Hill stations of Kumaon.

===Agriculture===

[[Basmati]] rice, Red rice, wheat, Ragi(Madua in Kumaoni), soybeans, groundnuts, coarse cereals, pulses, and [[oil seeds]] are the most widely grown crops. Fruits like apples, oranges, pears, peaches, lychees, and plums are widely grown and are important to the large food processing industry. '''Ramgarh''', in Nainital District, specially, is famous for its fruits. It is often referred to as the 'Fruit Bowl of Kumaon'.<ref> https://www.tripoto.com/trip/ramgarh-the-fruit-bowl-of-kumaon-7827 </ref>

Tea is also cultivated in Berinag, Bhowali, Champawat and Lohaghat. Berinag tea being specially famous for its taste. Champawat's tea is sold by the name "Kumaon Black Tea".

== Cities ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 70%; font-size: 85%; border: #999 solid 1px; text-align: lcenter; margin-bottom: 0; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
|-
! colspan="5" style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| '''List of largest cities in Kumaon'''
|-
! style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| Rank
! style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| City
! style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| District
! style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| Population
! style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| Image
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 1 ||align=left | '''[[Haldwani]]''' ||align=left | [[Nainital district| Nainital]] || 201461 ||[[File:Indira Gandhi stadium Haldwani 02.jpg|thumb|[[Indira Gandhi International Sports Stadium]]]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 2 ||align=left | '''[[Rudrapur, Uttarakhand|Rudrapur]]''' ||align=left | [[Udham Singh Nagar]]|| 154554 || [[File: Metropolis mall rudrapur.jpg| thumb | A mall in Rudrapur]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 3 ||align=left | '''[[Kashipur, Uttarakhand|Kashipur]]''' ||align=left | [[Udham Singh Nagar]]|| 121623|| [[File:Kashipur Palace 08.JPG|thumb|Palace in Kashipur of Old Kings of Kumaon]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 4 ||align=left | '''[[Pithoragarh]]''' ||align=left | [[Pithoragarh district|Pithoragarh]]|| 56044 || [[File:Pithoragarh Fort.jpg|thumb|A view of Pithoragarh town from the Pithoragarh Fort]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 5 ||align=left | '''[[Ramnagar, Nainital|Ramnagar]]''' ||align=left | [[Nainital district|Nainital]]|| 54787 || [[File:Sambar Deer in Jim Corbet National Park.jpg|Sambar deer in Jim Corbett National Park|thumb]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 6 ||align=left | '''[[Jaspur]]''' ||align=left | [[Udham Singh Nagar]]|| 50523 ||
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 7 ||align=left | '''[[Kichha]]''' ||align=left | [[Udham Singh Nagar]] || 41965 || [[File: Indira Gandhi Playground.jpg| thumb | Playground in Kichcha]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 8 ||align=left | '''[[Nainital]]''' || [[Nainital district|Nainital]] || 41377 || [[ File:Beautiful Nanital - The City Of Lakes.jpg| thumb | Naini Lake]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 9 ||align=left | '''[[Almora]]''' || [[Almora district|Almora]] || 34122 || [[ File:Kasar Devi - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Himalayan view from Kasar Devi, Almora]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:YellowGreen;"| 10 ||align=left | '''[[Sitarganj]]''' ||align=left | [[Udham Singh Nagar]]|| 29965 || [[File:Entrance to Gurudwara Nanakmatta.jpg|thumb|Entrance to Gurudwara Nanakmatta(a sacred Sikh shrine)]]
|-
<ref>{{cite web|title=Uttarakhand (India): Districts, Cities and Towns - Population Statistics|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/india-uttarakhand.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030632/http://www.citypopulation.de/php/india-uttarakhand.php|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

==Languages==
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Languages of Kumaon(2011)(Many Kumaoni speakers have listed Hindi as their Mother tongue)<ref name="census2011-C16" />
| label1 = [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]]
| value1 = 46.8
| label2 = [[Hindi]]
| value2 = 36.1
| label3 = [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
| value3 = 4.4
| label4 = [[Urdu]]
| value4 = 4.1
| label5 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| value5 = 3.2
| label6 = [[Tharu language|Tharu]]
| value6 = 1.1
| label7 = Others
| value7 = 4.3
| color1 = Indigo
| color2 = Salmon
| color3 = MediumVioletRed
| color4 = LightGreen
| color5 = Pink
| color6 = LightBlue
| color7 = Yellow
}}
The main language used in administration and education is [[Hindi]], which according to the 2011 census is the first language of well over a million of the region's inhabitants (mostly concentrated in the south). The major native language, however, is [[Kumaoni language|Kumaoni]], spoken by about 2 million people. In the southern districts there are also sizeable numbers of speakers of [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Urdu]] and [[Bengali language|Bengali]],<ref name="census2011-C16"/> while the two related languages of [[Buksa language|Buksa]] and [[Rana Tharu language|Rana Tharu]] are found in the southernmost Udham Singh Nagar district. The higher mountains in the north of Kumaon are home to the Sino-Tibetan [[Byangsi language|Byangsi]], [[Chaudangsi language|Chaudangsi]], [[Darmiya language|Darmiya]], [[Raji language|Raji]], [[Rawat language|Rawat]] and [[Rangas language|Rangas]] (the last now extinct).<ref name = "ethnologue2019">{{cite web|editor-last1 = Eberhard| editor-first1 = David M.| editor-last2 = Simons| editor-first2 = Gary F.| editor-last3 = Fennig| editor-first3 = Charles D.| year=2019|title=India – Languages|edition=22nd|website = Ethnologue|publisher=SIL International|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/country/IN/languages | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190401120331/https://www.ethnologue.com/country/IN/languages | archive-date = 1 April 2019}}</ref>

The community radio station Kumaon Vani has been broadcasting over the region since 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Kumaon Vani Community Radio - 90.4 MHz| date = 27 December 2017| url = https://www.teriin.org/project/kumaon-vani-community-radio-904-mhz|access-date = 16 January 2020}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible "
|- valign=top
! colspan=10| Kumaon division: mother-tongue of population, according to the [[2011 Indian Census]].<ref name="census2011-C16">{{cite report |title=C-16 Population By Mother Tongue – Uttarakhand |url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-0500.XLSX |publisher = Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>
|- valign=top
! rowspan=2 | Mother tongue code
! rowspan=2 | Mother tongue
! colspan=6 | District
! colspan=2 | Kumaon division
|- valign=top
!| Pithoragarh
!| Bageshwar
!| Almora
!| Champawat
!| Nainital
!| Udham Singh Nagar
!| People
!| Percentage
|- valign=top
|| 002007 || [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| align=right | 414
| align=right | 67
| align=right | 555
| align=right | 519
| align=right | 4,174
| align=right | 129,537

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 135,266
| align=right | 3.2%
|- valign=top
|| 006102 || [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]]
| align=right | 1,654
| align=right | 200
| align=right | 885
| align=right | 462
| align=right | 6,688
| align=right | 60,141

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 70,030
| align=right | 1.7%
|- valign=top
|| 006195 || [[Garhwali language|Garhwali]]
| align=right | 1,634
| align=right | 1,867
| align=right | 17,939
| align=right | 561
| align=right | 15,348
| align=right | 5,840

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 43,189
| align=right | 1.0%
|- valign=top
|| 006240 || [[Hindi]]
| align=right | 35,590
| align=right | 10,680
| align=right | 33,198
| align=right | 50,254
| align=right | 369,373
| align=right | 1,028,354

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 1,527,449
| align=right | 36.1%
|- valign=top
|| 006340 || [[Kumauni language|Kumauni]]
| align=right | 423,862
| align=right | 243,965
| align=right | 561,642
| align=right | 203,022
| align=right | 462,493
| align=right | 86,078

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 1,981,062
| align=right | 46.8%
|- valign=top
|| 006439 || [[Pahari language|Pahari]]
| align=right | 653
| align=right | 7
| align=right | 200
| align=right | 193
| align=right | 683
| align=right | 2,067

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 3,803
| align=right | 0.1%
|- valign=top
|| 010014 || [[Tharu language|Tharu]]
| align=right | 10
| align=right | 74
| align=right | 0
| align=right | 83
| align=right | 364
| align=right | 47,501

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 48,032
| align=right | 1.1%
|- valign=top
|| 014011 || [[Nepali language|Nepali]]
| align=right | 7,259
| align=right | 2,158
| align=right | 2,604
| align=right | 1,266
| align=right | 5,984
| align=right | 1,622

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 20,893
| align=right | 0.5%
|- valign=top
|| 016038 || [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
| align=right | 383
| align=right | 101
| align=right | 536
| align=right | 378
| align=right | 19,644
| align=right | 166,327

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 187,369
| align=right | 4.4%
|- valign=top
|| 022015 || [[Urdu language|Urdu]]
| align=right | 1,224
| align=right | 222
| align=right | 1,408
| align=right | 1,474
| align=right | 63,170
| align=right | 105,148

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 172,646
| align=right | 4.1%
|- valign=top
|| 046003 || [[Halam language|Halam]]
| align=right | 5,623
| align=right | 157
| align=right | 18
| align=right | 15
| align=right | 94
| align=right | 38

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 5,945
| align=right | 0.1%
|- valign=top
|| 053005 || [[Gujari language|Gujari]]
| align=right | 8
| align=right | 0
| align=right | 1
| align=right | 0
| align=right | 1,416
| align=right | 859

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 2,284
| align=right | 0.1%
|- valign=top
| align=center | –
|| [[Languages of India|Others]]
| align=right | 5,125
| align=right | 400
| align=right | 3,520
| align=right | 1,421
| align=right | 5,174
| align=right | 15,390

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 31,030
| align=right | 0.7%
|- valign=top class=sortbottom
| colspan=2 | Total
| align=right | 483,439
| align=right | 259,898
| align=right | 622,506
| align=right | 259,648
| align=right | 954,605
| align=right | 1,648,902

| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 4,228,998
| align=right | 100.0%
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Kumaonis]]
* [[Martial race]]
* [[Iris kemaonensis|Iris kumaonensis]] (Plant species of the Iris genus from the region)
*[[Garhwal division]]

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Kak|first=Manju|title=In the Shadow of the Devi Kumaon: Of a Land, a People, a Craft |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35422019|year=2017|publisher=Niyogi Books}}
* {{cite book|last=Upreti|first=Ganga Dutt|title=Proverbs & folklore of Kumaon and Garhwal|url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924089930774#page/n7/mode/2up|year=1894|publisher=Lodiana Mission Press}}
* {{cite book|last=Oakley|first= E Sherman|title=Holy Himalaya; the religion, traditions, and scenery of Himalayan province (Kumaon and Garwhal)|url=https://archive.org/stream/holyhimalayareli00oaklrich#page/n7/mode/2up|year=1905|publisher=Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier, London}}
* {{cite book |author=Raja Rudradeva of Kumaon |editor=Haraprasada Shastri |title=Syanika sastra: or A Book on Hawking|url=https://archive.org/stream/syanikasatraorbo00rudruoft#page/n3/mode/2up|year=1910|publisher=Asiatic Society, Calcutta}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
* ''A New History of Uttrakhand'' by Dr. Y. S. Kathoch

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Kumaon}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150704024946/http://kmvn.gov.in/ Official site of Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) for tourist information]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150626043133/http://www.kmvn.gov.in/contacts/aboutus/20 Brief history of Kumaon]
{{Kumaon}}
{{Uttarakhand}}

{{coord|29.6|79.7|type:adm2nd_region:IN|display=title}}

{{Historical regions of North India|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumaon Division}}
[[Category:Kumaon division| ]]
[[Category:Divisions of Uttarakhand]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Kumaon division