Chamoli | Uttarakhand State PSC (UKPSC): Preparation - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) PDF Download

 Page 1


Chamoli
Chamoli, the abode of Gods, reputed for its shrines and temples, birth place
of ‘Chipko Movement’ with its strategic significance is one of the hill district
of Uttarakhand,.
History- The region covered by the district Chamoli formed part of the
district of Pauri garhwal of the Kumaon till 1960. It occupies the nort-eastern
corner of the Garhwal tract and lies in the central or mid-Himalayas in the
very heart of the snowy range described in ancient books as Bahirgiri,one of
the three divisions of the Himalayan mountains. Today’s Garhwal was known
as kedar-khand in the past. In puranas kedar-khand was said to be abode of
God. It seems from the facts vedas puranas, Ramayna and Mahabharat that
these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand. It is believed that God
Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayas gufa situated in the last village Mana
only four km.from Badrinath.According to Rigveda(1017-19) after
Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village Mana.
Besides there the roots of vedic literature seems to be originated from
Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with
sanskrit. The work place of vedic Rishis are the prominent pilgrim places in
Garhwal specially in chamoli like Atrimuni Ashram in Anusuya about 25 km.
from chamoli town and work place of Kashyap Rishi at Gandhmadan parwat
near Badrinath. According to Aadi-Puran Vedvyasa scripted the story of
Mahabhrat in Vyas Gufa near Badrinath. Pandukeshwar a small village
situated on the Rishikesh Badrinath high-way from where Badrinath is just 25
km away is regarded as Tapsthali of king Pandu. In Kedar-khand Puran this
land is regarded the land of lord Shiva.
The authentic script about the history of Garhwal is found only 6
th
 A.D on
word. Some of the oldest example of there are the trishul in Gopeshwar,
lalitsur in Pandukeshwar. The Narvaman rock script in siroli the chand pur
Gari rock script by king Kankpal authentitcates the history and culture of
Garhwal.Some Historian believe that this land is origin of Arya race. It is
believed that about 300B.C. Khasa invaded Garhwal through Kashmir Nepal
and Kumaun. A conflict took place between these outsiders and natives. The
natives for their protection builded small forts called “Garhi’’. Later on
Page 2


Chamoli
Chamoli, the abode of Gods, reputed for its shrines and temples, birth place
of ‘Chipko Movement’ with its strategic significance is one of the hill district
of Uttarakhand,.
History- The region covered by the district Chamoli formed part of the
district of Pauri garhwal of the Kumaon till 1960. It occupies the nort-eastern
corner of the Garhwal tract and lies in the central or mid-Himalayas in the
very heart of the snowy range described in ancient books as Bahirgiri,one of
the three divisions of the Himalayan mountains. Today’s Garhwal was known
as kedar-khand in the past. In puranas kedar-khand was said to be abode of
God. It seems from the facts vedas puranas, Ramayna and Mahabharat that
these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand. It is believed that God
Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayas gufa situated in the last village Mana
only four km.from Badrinath.According to Rigveda(1017-19) after
Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village Mana.
Besides there the roots of vedic literature seems to be originated from
Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with
sanskrit. The work place of vedic Rishis are the prominent pilgrim places in
Garhwal specially in chamoli like Atrimuni Ashram in Anusuya about 25 km.
from chamoli town and work place of Kashyap Rishi at Gandhmadan parwat
near Badrinath. According to Aadi-Puran Vedvyasa scripted the story of
Mahabhrat in Vyas Gufa near Badrinath. Pandukeshwar a small village
situated on the Rishikesh Badrinath high-way from where Badrinath is just 25
km away is regarded as Tapsthali of king Pandu. In Kedar-khand Puran this
land is regarded the land of lord Shiva.
The authentic script about the history of Garhwal is found only 6
th
 A.D on
word. Some of the oldest example of there are the trishul in Gopeshwar,
lalitsur in Pandukeshwar. The Narvaman rock script in siroli the chand pur
Gari rock script by king Kankpal authentitcates the history and culture of
Garhwal.Some Historian believe that this land is origin of Arya race. It is
believed that about 300B.C. Khasa invaded Garhwal through Kashmir Nepal
and Kumaun. A conflict took place between these outsiders and natives. The
natives for their protection builded small forts called “Garhi’’. Later on
Khasa defeated the native totally and captured the forts.
After Khasa, Kshatiya invaded this land and defeated the Khasa. They
confined Garhwal of hundreds of Garhi in to fifty-two Garhi only. One
Kantura Vashudev general of kshatriya established his regime on the northern
border of garhwal and founded his capital in joshimath then Kartikeypur.
Vashudev Katyuri was the founder of Katyura dynasty in Garhwal and they
brought Garhwal under them. During this period of Katyuri regime Aadi-
Guru Sankaracharya visited garhwal and established Jyotrimath which is one
of the four famous Peeths established by Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya, others
are Dwarika, Puri and Sringeri. He also reinstated idol of lord Badrinath in
Badrinath, before this the idol of Badrinath was hidden in Narad-Kund by the
fear of Budhas.
According to Pt.Harikrishna Raturi king Bhanu Pratap was the first ruler of
Panwar dynasty in garhwal who founded Chandpur-Garhi as his capital. This
was is strongest Garh for the fifty- two garhs of garhwal.
The devastating earthquake of 8
th
 September 1803 weakened the economic
and administrative set up of Garhwal state. Taking advantage of the situation
Gorkhas attacked Garhwal under the command of Amar Singh Thapa and
Hastidal Chanturia. They established there reign over half of the Garhwal in
1804 up to 1815 this region remain under Gorkha rule.
Meanwhile the king of Panwar dynasty Raja Sudarshan Shah contacted
East India Company and soughted help. With the help of British he defeated
Gorkas and merged the eastern part of Alaknanda and Mandakani along with
the capital Srinagar in British Garhwal from that time this region was known
as British Garhwal and the capital of Garhwal was set up at Tehri instead of
Srinagar. In the beginning British ruler kept this area under Dehradun and
Saharanpur. But later on the British established a new district in this area and
named it Pauri. Today’s Chamoli was a tehsil of the same. On 24
th
 February
1960 tehsil Chamoli was upgraded to a new district. In October 1997 two
complete tehsil and two other blocks (partially) of district chamoli were
merged into a new formed district Rudarprayag.
Geography- Chamoli, lies in the Central Himalya and constitutes a part of
the celebrated ‘Kedar Kshetra’ is surrounded by Uttarkashi in North-West,
Pithoragarh in South-West,Almora in South East,Rudraprayag in South-West
and Tehri Grahwal in West. The geographical area of the District is around
7520 sq.kms.
Page 3


Chamoli
Chamoli, the abode of Gods, reputed for its shrines and temples, birth place
of ‘Chipko Movement’ with its strategic significance is one of the hill district
of Uttarakhand,.
History- The region covered by the district Chamoli formed part of the
district of Pauri garhwal of the Kumaon till 1960. It occupies the nort-eastern
corner of the Garhwal tract and lies in the central or mid-Himalayas in the
very heart of the snowy range described in ancient books as Bahirgiri,one of
the three divisions of the Himalayan mountains. Today’s Garhwal was known
as kedar-khand in the past. In puranas kedar-khand was said to be abode of
God. It seems from the facts vedas puranas, Ramayna and Mahabharat that
these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand. It is believed that God
Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayas gufa situated in the last village Mana
only four km.from Badrinath.According to Rigveda(1017-19) after
Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village Mana.
Besides there the roots of vedic literature seems to be originated from
Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with
sanskrit. The work place of vedic Rishis are the prominent pilgrim places in
Garhwal specially in chamoli like Atrimuni Ashram in Anusuya about 25 km.
from chamoli town and work place of Kashyap Rishi at Gandhmadan parwat
near Badrinath. According to Aadi-Puran Vedvyasa scripted the story of
Mahabhrat in Vyas Gufa near Badrinath. Pandukeshwar a small village
situated on the Rishikesh Badrinath high-way from where Badrinath is just 25
km away is regarded as Tapsthali of king Pandu. In Kedar-khand Puran this
land is regarded the land of lord Shiva.
The authentic script about the history of Garhwal is found only 6
th
 A.D on
word. Some of the oldest example of there are the trishul in Gopeshwar,
lalitsur in Pandukeshwar. The Narvaman rock script in siroli the chand pur
Gari rock script by king Kankpal authentitcates the history and culture of
Garhwal.Some Historian believe that this land is origin of Arya race. It is
believed that about 300B.C. Khasa invaded Garhwal through Kashmir Nepal
and Kumaun. A conflict took place between these outsiders and natives. The
natives for their protection builded small forts called “Garhi’’. Later on
Khasa defeated the native totally and captured the forts.
After Khasa, Kshatiya invaded this land and defeated the Khasa. They
confined Garhwal of hundreds of Garhi in to fifty-two Garhi only. One
Kantura Vashudev general of kshatriya established his regime on the northern
border of garhwal and founded his capital in joshimath then Kartikeypur.
Vashudev Katyuri was the founder of Katyura dynasty in Garhwal and they
brought Garhwal under them. During this period of Katyuri regime Aadi-
Guru Sankaracharya visited garhwal and established Jyotrimath which is one
of the four famous Peeths established by Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya, others
are Dwarika, Puri and Sringeri. He also reinstated idol of lord Badrinath in
Badrinath, before this the idol of Badrinath was hidden in Narad-Kund by the
fear of Budhas.
According to Pt.Harikrishna Raturi king Bhanu Pratap was the first ruler of
Panwar dynasty in garhwal who founded Chandpur-Garhi as his capital. This
was is strongest Garh for the fifty- two garhs of garhwal.
The devastating earthquake of 8
th
 September 1803 weakened the economic
and administrative set up of Garhwal state. Taking advantage of the situation
Gorkhas attacked Garhwal under the command of Amar Singh Thapa and
Hastidal Chanturia. They established there reign over half of the Garhwal in
1804 up to 1815 this region remain under Gorkha rule.
Meanwhile the king of Panwar dynasty Raja Sudarshan Shah contacted
East India Company and soughted help. With the help of British he defeated
Gorkas and merged the eastern part of Alaknanda and Mandakani along with
the capital Srinagar in British Garhwal from that time this region was known
as British Garhwal and the capital of Garhwal was set up at Tehri instead of
Srinagar. In the beginning British ruler kept this area under Dehradun and
Saharanpur. But later on the British established a new district in this area and
named it Pauri. Today’s Chamoli was a tehsil of the same. On 24
th
 February
1960 tehsil Chamoli was upgraded to a new district. In October 1997 two
complete tehsil and two other blocks (partially) of district chamoli were
merged into a new formed district Rudarprayag.
Geography- Chamoli, lies in the Central Himalya and constitutes a part of
the celebrated ‘Kedar Kshetra’ is surrounded by Uttarkashi in North-West,
Pithoragarh in South-West,Almora in South East,Rudraprayag in South-West
and Tehri Grahwal in West. The geographical area of the District is around
7520 sq.kms.
Geology- Himalaya are the young mountains, during early Mesozoic times,
or the secondary geological period, the land mass now covered by them was
occupied by the great geosynclinal Tethys sea. The probable date of the
commencement of the elevation of the Himalayas is about the close of the
Mesozoic period, but the unraveling of the story of their structure has only
just begin, and in many cases no dating of the rocks is yet possible, though
they include ancient and relatively recent crystalline intrusive, rocks and
sediments allied to the peninsular part of India. The section of the range in
the district is deeply cut into by the headwaters of the Allaknanda river, this
trunk stream seeming to have reached a latter stage of development than its
tributaries. This much, however, is known that there has been intense
metamorphosis. In some parts uplift has been considerable since the mid-
pleistocene period, in others there are great stretches of high but subdued
topography and elsewhere there are the deepest gorges. The direction of
folding in these mountain masses is generally North to South. The geological
feature of the district form two major divisions which lies North and South of
an imaginary line extending East-South- East between the villages of Hilang
in Joshimath and Loharkhet in the adjoining District of Pithoragarh. The
Northern division, which is occupied by higher ranges and snow covered
peaks consist entirely of medium to high grade metamorphic rocks and is
intruded by later volcanic rocks. The Division to the South, occupied by
ranges of lower altitude, consists essentially of sedimentary and low grade
metamorphic rock also intruded by later volcanic rocks. Geologically very
little is known of the first division which consists of rocks such as quartzites,
marbles and various types of micaceous schists and gneisses which a few
sporadic occurrences of garnet, graphite, iron, kynite, mica and vein quartz.
The division to the south of the imaginary line is better known geologically
and consists of rocks such as gneisses, limestone, phyllites, quartzite, sericite-
biotite schists and slates.
Minerals- Following mineralas are found in the district
Asbestos- This is of the amosite variety and can be used for the production
of asbestos, cement bricks, laboratory asbestos sheet and paper, but is not
considered to be of economic importance.
Magnestic – This is of an average quality is crystalline in nature, and is
found associated with crystalline dolomites and sometimes with soapstone.
The Magnesium carbonate found here is also of average quality and its
Page 4


Chamoli
Chamoli, the abode of Gods, reputed for its shrines and temples, birth place
of ‘Chipko Movement’ with its strategic significance is one of the hill district
of Uttarakhand,.
History- The region covered by the district Chamoli formed part of the
district of Pauri garhwal of the Kumaon till 1960. It occupies the nort-eastern
corner of the Garhwal tract and lies in the central or mid-Himalayas in the
very heart of the snowy range described in ancient books as Bahirgiri,one of
the three divisions of the Himalayan mountains. Today’s Garhwal was known
as kedar-khand in the past. In puranas kedar-khand was said to be abode of
God. It seems from the facts vedas puranas, Ramayna and Mahabharat that
these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand. It is believed that God
Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayas gufa situated in the last village Mana
only four km.from Badrinath.According to Rigveda(1017-19) after
Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village Mana.
Besides there the roots of vedic literature seems to be originated from
Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with
sanskrit. The work place of vedic Rishis are the prominent pilgrim places in
Garhwal specially in chamoli like Atrimuni Ashram in Anusuya about 25 km.
from chamoli town and work place of Kashyap Rishi at Gandhmadan parwat
near Badrinath. According to Aadi-Puran Vedvyasa scripted the story of
Mahabhrat in Vyas Gufa near Badrinath. Pandukeshwar a small village
situated on the Rishikesh Badrinath high-way from where Badrinath is just 25
km away is regarded as Tapsthali of king Pandu. In Kedar-khand Puran this
land is regarded the land of lord Shiva.
The authentic script about the history of Garhwal is found only 6
th
 A.D on
word. Some of the oldest example of there are the trishul in Gopeshwar,
lalitsur in Pandukeshwar. The Narvaman rock script in siroli the chand pur
Gari rock script by king Kankpal authentitcates the history and culture of
Garhwal.Some Historian believe that this land is origin of Arya race. It is
believed that about 300B.C. Khasa invaded Garhwal through Kashmir Nepal
and Kumaun. A conflict took place between these outsiders and natives. The
natives for their protection builded small forts called “Garhi’’. Later on
Khasa defeated the native totally and captured the forts.
After Khasa, Kshatiya invaded this land and defeated the Khasa. They
confined Garhwal of hundreds of Garhi in to fifty-two Garhi only. One
Kantura Vashudev general of kshatriya established his regime on the northern
border of garhwal and founded his capital in joshimath then Kartikeypur.
Vashudev Katyuri was the founder of Katyura dynasty in Garhwal and they
brought Garhwal under them. During this period of Katyuri regime Aadi-
Guru Sankaracharya visited garhwal and established Jyotrimath which is one
of the four famous Peeths established by Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya, others
are Dwarika, Puri and Sringeri. He also reinstated idol of lord Badrinath in
Badrinath, before this the idol of Badrinath was hidden in Narad-Kund by the
fear of Budhas.
According to Pt.Harikrishna Raturi king Bhanu Pratap was the first ruler of
Panwar dynasty in garhwal who founded Chandpur-Garhi as his capital. This
was is strongest Garh for the fifty- two garhs of garhwal.
The devastating earthquake of 8
th
 September 1803 weakened the economic
and administrative set up of Garhwal state. Taking advantage of the situation
Gorkhas attacked Garhwal under the command of Amar Singh Thapa and
Hastidal Chanturia. They established there reign over half of the Garhwal in
1804 up to 1815 this region remain under Gorkha rule.
Meanwhile the king of Panwar dynasty Raja Sudarshan Shah contacted
East India Company and soughted help. With the help of British he defeated
Gorkas and merged the eastern part of Alaknanda and Mandakani along with
the capital Srinagar in British Garhwal from that time this region was known
as British Garhwal and the capital of Garhwal was set up at Tehri instead of
Srinagar. In the beginning British ruler kept this area under Dehradun and
Saharanpur. But later on the British established a new district in this area and
named it Pauri. Today’s Chamoli was a tehsil of the same. On 24
th
 February
1960 tehsil Chamoli was upgraded to a new district. In October 1997 two
complete tehsil and two other blocks (partially) of district chamoli were
merged into a new formed district Rudarprayag.
Geography- Chamoli, lies in the Central Himalya and constitutes a part of
the celebrated ‘Kedar Kshetra’ is surrounded by Uttarkashi in North-West,
Pithoragarh in South-West,Almora in South East,Rudraprayag in South-West
and Tehri Grahwal in West. The geographical area of the District is around
7520 sq.kms.
Geology- Himalaya are the young mountains, during early Mesozoic times,
or the secondary geological period, the land mass now covered by them was
occupied by the great geosynclinal Tethys sea. The probable date of the
commencement of the elevation of the Himalayas is about the close of the
Mesozoic period, but the unraveling of the story of their structure has only
just begin, and in many cases no dating of the rocks is yet possible, though
they include ancient and relatively recent crystalline intrusive, rocks and
sediments allied to the peninsular part of India. The section of the range in
the district is deeply cut into by the headwaters of the Allaknanda river, this
trunk stream seeming to have reached a latter stage of development than its
tributaries. This much, however, is known that there has been intense
metamorphosis. In some parts uplift has been considerable since the mid-
pleistocene period, in others there are great stretches of high but subdued
topography and elsewhere there are the deepest gorges. The direction of
folding in these mountain masses is generally North to South. The geological
feature of the district form two major divisions which lies North and South of
an imaginary line extending East-South- East between the villages of Hilang
in Joshimath and Loharkhet in the adjoining District of Pithoragarh. The
Northern division, which is occupied by higher ranges and snow covered
peaks consist entirely of medium to high grade metamorphic rocks and is
intruded by later volcanic rocks. The Division to the South, occupied by
ranges of lower altitude, consists essentially of sedimentary and low grade
metamorphic rock also intruded by later volcanic rocks. Geologically very
little is known of the first division which consists of rocks such as quartzites,
marbles and various types of micaceous schists and gneisses which a few
sporadic occurrences of garnet, graphite, iron, kynite, mica and vein quartz.
The division to the south of the imaginary line is better known geologically
and consists of rocks such as gneisses, limestone, phyllites, quartzite, sericite-
biotite schists and slates.
Minerals- Following mineralas are found in the district
Asbestos- This is of the amosite variety and can be used for the production
of asbestos, cement bricks, laboratory asbestos sheet and paper, but is not
considered to be of economic importance.
Magnestic – This is of an average quality is crystalline in nature, and is
found associated with crystalline dolomites and sometimes with soapstone.
The Magnesium carbonate found here is also of average quality and its
mineralisation has also been reported to occur in the district.
Soapstone or Steatite – This white saponaceous stone resembling pipe
clay is obtained in as lenticular body and is associated with mineral pyrites,
which adds a color to it, and in places with magnesite. it can be mined for use
as filler in soap and in the cosmetic industries. In the past various utensils
were made of it which, when polished, had the appearance of marble.
Copper – The copper mines in the district are extensive and of reputed
during the period of Hindus and The Gorkhas rules. All the rich mines have
since being exhausted and at present they do not offer a fair field for the
employment of capital.
Iron – Small and sporadic occurrence of iron are known to occur in several
parts of district but are of hardly any economic important. Iron ore, rich in
haematite, and magnetic ore, with haematite and siderite, also occur in the
district.
Graphite – In the past this mineral, also known as plumbago, found mostly
in patti Lohba, was used as a dye but no large deposits have been noticed for
a long time.
Gold – Although no gold mine has been discovered in the district, the
sands of Alaknanda and the Pinddar are said to be auriferous to a limited
extent.
Gypsum – This mineral is found on the bank of some river and was used in
the past for the manufacture of saucers and bowls. when ground to a fine
powder it is known as Plaster of Paris and can be used for a number of
purposes.
Lead – Deposits of this metal were fairly numerous in the past but it is
found in somewhat inaccessible places and has long since ceased to be
worked.
Slate – This dense, fine grained metamorphic rock, which is produced
froms fine clay, can be split into thin, smooth plates and is quarried
throughout the district. It is suitable for roofing purposes, the thin dark blue
slates being somewhat inferior in quality.
Limestone – By burning this mineral, lime is procured which can be used
as mortar. There are two distinct ranges of lime stone hills in the district, the
first, north of the Alaknanda in Nagpur, the second, running from Lohba patti
to the Pinddar and again to the Alaknanda in patti Bacchansyun in district
Garhwal. Reserves of dolomite exist in the district and tufaceous deposits are
Page 5


Chamoli
Chamoli, the abode of Gods, reputed for its shrines and temples, birth place
of ‘Chipko Movement’ with its strategic significance is one of the hill district
of Uttarakhand,.
History- The region covered by the district Chamoli formed part of the
district of Pauri garhwal of the Kumaon till 1960. It occupies the nort-eastern
corner of the Garhwal tract and lies in the central or mid-Himalayas in the
very heart of the snowy range described in ancient books as Bahirgiri,one of
the three divisions of the Himalayan mountains. Today’s Garhwal was known
as kedar-khand in the past. In puranas kedar-khand was said to be abode of
God. It seems from the facts vedas puranas, Ramayna and Mahabharat that
these Hindu scriptures are scripted in kedar-khand. It is believed that God
Ganesha first script of vedas in Vayas gufa situated in the last village Mana
only four km.from Badrinath.According to Rigveda(1017-19) after
Inundation (Jalprlya) Sapt-Rishis saved their lives in the same village Mana.
Besides there the roots of vedic literature seems to be originated from
Garhwal because the Garhwali language has a lot of words common with
sanskrit. The work place of vedic Rishis are the prominent pilgrim places in
Garhwal specially in chamoli like Atrimuni Ashram in Anusuya about 25 km.
from chamoli town and work place of Kashyap Rishi at Gandhmadan parwat
near Badrinath. According to Aadi-Puran Vedvyasa scripted the story of
Mahabhrat in Vyas Gufa near Badrinath. Pandukeshwar a small village
situated on the Rishikesh Badrinath high-way from where Badrinath is just 25
km away is regarded as Tapsthali of king Pandu. In Kedar-khand Puran this
land is regarded the land of lord Shiva.
The authentic script about the history of Garhwal is found only 6
th
 A.D on
word. Some of the oldest example of there are the trishul in Gopeshwar,
lalitsur in Pandukeshwar. The Narvaman rock script in siroli the chand pur
Gari rock script by king Kankpal authentitcates the history and culture of
Garhwal.Some Historian believe that this land is origin of Arya race. It is
believed that about 300B.C. Khasa invaded Garhwal through Kashmir Nepal
and Kumaun. A conflict took place between these outsiders and natives. The
natives for their protection builded small forts called “Garhi’’. Later on
Khasa defeated the native totally and captured the forts.
After Khasa, Kshatiya invaded this land and defeated the Khasa. They
confined Garhwal of hundreds of Garhi in to fifty-two Garhi only. One
Kantura Vashudev general of kshatriya established his regime on the northern
border of garhwal and founded his capital in joshimath then Kartikeypur.
Vashudev Katyuri was the founder of Katyura dynasty in Garhwal and they
brought Garhwal under them. During this period of Katyuri regime Aadi-
Guru Sankaracharya visited garhwal and established Jyotrimath which is one
of the four famous Peeths established by Aadi-Guru Sankaracharya, others
are Dwarika, Puri and Sringeri. He also reinstated idol of lord Badrinath in
Badrinath, before this the idol of Badrinath was hidden in Narad-Kund by the
fear of Budhas.
According to Pt.Harikrishna Raturi king Bhanu Pratap was the first ruler of
Panwar dynasty in garhwal who founded Chandpur-Garhi as his capital. This
was is strongest Garh for the fifty- two garhs of garhwal.
The devastating earthquake of 8
th
 September 1803 weakened the economic
and administrative set up of Garhwal state. Taking advantage of the situation
Gorkhas attacked Garhwal under the command of Amar Singh Thapa and
Hastidal Chanturia. They established there reign over half of the Garhwal in
1804 up to 1815 this region remain under Gorkha rule.
Meanwhile the king of Panwar dynasty Raja Sudarshan Shah contacted
East India Company and soughted help. With the help of British he defeated
Gorkas and merged the eastern part of Alaknanda and Mandakani along with
the capital Srinagar in British Garhwal from that time this region was known
as British Garhwal and the capital of Garhwal was set up at Tehri instead of
Srinagar. In the beginning British ruler kept this area under Dehradun and
Saharanpur. But later on the British established a new district in this area and
named it Pauri. Today’s Chamoli was a tehsil of the same. On 24
th
 February
1960 tehsil Chamoli was upgraded to a new district. In October 1997 two
complete tehsil and two other blocks (partially) of district chamoli were
merged into a new formed district Rudarprayag.
Geography- Chamoli, lies in the Central Himalya and constitutes a part of
the celebrated ‘Kedar Kshetra’ is surrounded by Uttarkashi in North-West,
Pithoragarh in South-West,Almora in South East,Rudraprayag in South-West
and Tehri Grahwal in West. The geographical area of the District is around
7520 sq.kms.
Geology- Himalaya are the young mountains, during early Mesozoic times,
or the secondary geological period, the land mass now covered by them was
occupied by the great geosynclinal Tethys sea. The probable date of the
commencement of the elevation of the Himalayas is about the close of the
Mesozoic period, but the unraveling of the story of their structure has only
just begin, and in many cases no dating of the rocks is yet possible, though
they include ancient and relatively recent crystalline intrusive, rocks and
sediments allied to the peninsular part of India. The section of the range in
the district is deeply cut into by the headwaters of the Allaknanda river, this
trunk stream seeming to have reached a latter stage of development than its
tributaries. This much, however, is known that there has been intense
metamorphosis. In some parts uplift has been considerable since the mid-
pleistocene period, in others there are great stretches of high but subdued
topography and elsewhere there are the deepest gorges. The direction of
folding in these mountain masses is generally North to South. The geological
feature of the district form two major divisions which lies North and South of
an imaginary line extending East-South- East between the villages of Hilang
in Joshimath and Loharkhet in the adjoining District of Pithoragarh. The
Northern division, which is occupied by higher ranges and snow covered
peaks consist entirely of medium to high grade metamorphic rocks and is
intruded by later volcanic rocks. The Division to the South, occupied by
ranges of lower altitude, consists essentially of sedimentary and low grade
metamorphic rock also intruded by later volcanic rocks. Geologically very
little is known of the first division which consists of rocks such as quartzites,
marbles and various types of micaceous schists and gneisses which a few
sporadic occurrences of garnet, graphite, iron, kynite, mica and vein quartz.
The division to the south of the imaginary line is better known geologically
and consists of rocks such as gneisses, limestone, phyllites, quartzite, sericite-
biotite schists and slates.
Minerals- Following mineralas are found in the district
Asbestos- This is of the amosite variety and can be used for the production
of asbestos, cement bricks, laboratory asbestos sheet and paper, but is not
considered to be of economic importance.
Magnestic – This is of an average quality is crystalline in nature, and is
found associated with crystalline dolomites and sometimes with soapstone.
The Magnesium carbonate found here is also of average quality and its
mineralisation has also been reported to occur in the district.
Soapstone or Steatite – This white saponaceous stone resembling pipe
clay is obtained in as lenticular body and is associated with mineral pyrites,
which adds a color to it, and in places with magnesite. it can be mined for use
as filler in soap and in the cosmetic industries. In the past various utensils
were made of it which, when polished, had the appearance of marble.
Copper – The copper mines in the district are extensive and of reputed
during the period of Hindus and The Gorkhas rules. All the rich mines have
since being exhausted and at present they do not offer a fair field for the
employment of capital.
Iron – Small and sporadic occurrence of iron are known to occur in several
parts of district but are of hardly any economic important. Iron ore, rich in
haematite, and magnetic ore, with haematite and siderite, also occur in the
district.
Graphite – In the past this mineral, also known as plumbago, found mostly
in patti Lohba, was used as a dye but no large deposits have been noticed for
a long time.
Gold – Although no gold mine has been discovered in the district, the
sands of Alaknanda and the Pinddar are said to be auriferous to a limited
extent.
Gypsum – This mineral is found on the bank of some river and was used in
the past for the manufacture of saucers and bowls. when ground to a fine
powder it is known as Plaster of Paris and can be used for a number of
purposes.
Lead – Deposits of this metal were fairly numerous in the past but it is
found in somewhat inaccessible places and has long since ceased to be
worked.
Slate – This dense, fine grained metamorphic rock, which is produced
froms fine clay, can be split into thin, smooth plates and is quarried
throughout the district. It is suitable for roofing purposes, the thin dark blue
slates being somewhat inferior in quality.
Limestone – By burning this mineral, lime is procured which can be used
as mortar. There are two distinct ranges of lime stone hills in the district, the
first, north of the Alaknanda in Nagpur, the second, running from Lohba patti
to the Pinddar and again to the Alaknanda in patti Bacchansyun in district
Garhwal. Reserves of dolomite exist in the district and tufaceous deposits are
also found near several Nullahs.
Building Stone – Stone which can be used for building purposes is
available in most parts of the district. Sand stone is found in abundance in the
lower hills. Gneiss and chlorite schists which are available throughout the
district are frequently used for building purposes.
Sulphur – This yellow mineral, also known as brimstone is found in the
district as green sulphate of iron and is obtainable from iron pyrites and
copper mines, its presence being characterised by a small as of rotten eggs.
Sulphur springs also occur in many parts in the district.
Bitumen – The brownish white natural sulphate of alumina known as
Shilajit is found in rocks at a fairly high altitude and occur in small lumps
which generally have an admixture of red sand and micaceous stone
embedded in them. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine and during the season
when there is an influx of pilgrims, it fetches good income to those who deal
in it.
Some other minerals found in the district are Antimony, Arsenic, Lignite or
Brown Marble, Mica and silver.
Physiographically the district, which lies in a region of tectonic or folded
and overthrust mountain chains, has strata are structurally marked by
complex folds, reverse faults, overthrusts and nappes of great dimensions, all
these as well as frequent earthquake of varying intensity give region to
believe that the region is still unstable. Although any movement or tremor of
the earths crust in the district is not produced by volcanic activity, the
Chaukhamba peak a pair is a crater of an extinct volcano.
CLIMATE- As the elevation of the district ranges from 800 mts. to 8000
mts above see level the climate of the district very largely depend on altitude.
The winter season is from about mid November to March. As most of the
region is situated on the southern slops of the outer Himalayas, monsoon
currents can enter through the valley, the rainfall being heaviest in the
monsoon from June to September.
Rainfall – Most of the rainfall occur during the period June to September
when 70 to 80 percent of the annual precipitation is accounted for in the
southern half of the district and 55 to 65 percent in the northern half. The
effectiveness of the rains is, among others, related to low temperature which
means less evapo-transpiration and forest or vegetation cover. However, the
effectiveness is neither uniform nor even positive in areas where either the