Bageshwar (Kumaoni: Bāgshyār) is a town and a municipal board in Bageshwar district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is located at a distance of 470 km from the National Capital New Delhi and 332 km from the State Capital Dehradun. Bageshwar is known for its scenic environment, glaciers, rivers and temples. It is also the administrative headquarters of Bageshwar district.
Situated on the confluence of Saryu and Gomati rivers, Bageshwar is surrounded by the mountains of Bhileshwar and Nileshwar to its east and west, the Suraj Kund in the north, and Agni Kund in the south. Bageshwar was a major trade mart between Tibet and Kumaun, and was frequented by the Bhotia traders, who bartered Tibetan wares, wool, salt and Borax in exchange for carpets and other local produces in Bageshwar.Bageshwar, The Imperial Gazetter of India, 1909 The trade routes were, however, closed after the Indo-China War of 1962.
The city is of great religious, historic and political significance. Bageshwar is mentioned in various Puranas, where it has been associated with Shiva. The Uttrayani fair held annually in Bageshwar used to be visited by approx 15,000 people in the early twentieth century, and was the largest fair of Kumaon division. The fair became the epicenter of the Coolie Begar Movement in January 1921. The city of Bageshwar gets its name from the Bagnath Temple. Hindi and Sanskrit are the official Languages however Kumaoni is spoken by a large number of people.
Etymology
The name of the town is derived from the local temple dedicated to Shiva as Vagiswar (the lord of speech) or Vyaghreswar (the tiger lord). According to local legend, a Hindu saint was performing austerities in the dry bed of the Sarju river, stopping its flow. When complaints were made to Shiva, he and his consort Parvati devised a plan to resume the river's course. Parvati took the form of a cow and began to graze by the riverbank, while Shiva took the form of a tiger and pretended to spring upon her. This caused the saint to break his meditation to rescue the cow, allowing the river to resume its natural flow.
History
Mythological origins and early history
Bageshwar is closely linked to the religious and mythological significance of the Bagnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has been a revered site for centuries. According to the Manaskhand of the Shiva Purana, the temple and the surrounding town were established by Chandeesh, a servant of Lord Shiva.
Another popular legend involves Sage Markandeya, who is said to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this very spot. In one version of the legend, Lord Shiva blessed Sage Markandeya by appearing to him in the form of a tiger, which contributed to the region's strong religious and cultural identity.
Early medieval period
Bageshwar's history in the medieval period is tied to the powerful dynasties that ruled the Kumaon region. During the 7th century, Bageshwar was part of the Katyuri Kingdom and was situated near Kartikeypura, the capital of the Katyuri Dynasty. The Katyuris ruled the region until the death of Birdeo, the last ruler of the united Katyuris, in the 13th century. His death led to the fragmentation of the Katyuri kingdom into eight smaller princely states, with Bageshwar falling under the control of the Baijnath Katyurs, descendants of the original Katyuri kings.
The 10th century saw the rise of the Chand dynasty, founded by Som Chand, who displaced the Katyuris and established the new kingdom of Kurmanchal, later known as Kumaon. Som Chand's successors later moved the capital of Kumaon from Champawat to Almora in the 16th century, marking the establishment of the Chand dynasty's influence over the region.
Gorkha invasion and British annexation
A major event in the history of Bageshwar occurred in 1791 when the Gorkhas, expanding their kingdom westward across the Kali River, invaded Kumaon, including Bageshwar. The Gorkhas swiftly took control of the region and its administrative centers, including Almora, which was then the seat of the Kumaon Kingdom. However, Gorkha rule was short-lived. After the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816), the British East India Company defeated the Gorkhas and forced them to cede Kumaon to the British under the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.
Under British rule, the Kumaon region, including Bageshwar, was integrated into the Kumaon Province governed by a chief-commissioner on non-regulation system.Robert Montgomery Martin, History of the Possessions of the Honourable East India Company, Volume 1, pg. 107 In 1891, this region was administratively divided into three districts—Kumaon, Garhwal, and the Tarai. These were later reorganized again, with Almora and Nainital becoming the headquarters for eponymous districts. By 1886, Bageshwar had a population of about 500 people, as recorded in 'The Himalayan Gazetteer' by Atkinson.
Modern development In the early 20th century, Bageshwar began to see some important infrastructural and administrative developments. In 1906, a dispensary was established in the town to provide basic healthcare services to the local population. Three years later, in 1909, a post office was set up, further enhancing the town's communication and administrative facilities.
Education also began to take root in the region. In 1926, a public school was established in Bageshwar, and it was later upgraded to a junior high school in 1933. These early efforts in education were pivotal in laying the groundwork for the town's later developments.
During this period, the British also conducted a survey for a potential rail link connecting Bageshwar with Tanakpur in 1902. However, the project was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I, and it was not pursued further during the British colonial period. In the 1980s, following a visit from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the British-era survey for a rail link between Bageshwar and Tanakpur was revisited, though the project did not proceed in the same manner as initially planned.
Post-independence developments
After India gained independence in 1947, Bageshwar was incorporated into the Almora district of Uttar Pradesh.Times World Atlas, 1967 Edition, Plate 30. In 1951, the town had a population of just 1,740 people and was part of the Kanda development block. This was a period of gradual development, with the consolidation of nine smaller villages into the Bageshwar State village in 1948. These villages would later form the nucleus of the town's urban growth.
In 1955, Bageshwar was officially declared a town under the UP Town Area Act of 1914, and the first Town Area Committee was constituted in 1957. Over the years, the town's infrastructure continued to improve, and in 1968, it achieved the status of a Municipal Council. One of the significant developments was the introduction of a water supply scheme in 1975, which was designed to cater to a population of 6,000 people by 1997.
Education saw further progress post-independence. In 1949, a private high school was opened in memory of Victor Mohan Joshi, and it was upgraded to an Inter College in 1967. In addition, the first women's primary school was established in the 1950s, and a women's public high school opened in 1975. The opening of the Government Degree College in 1974 by Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna marked another important milestone in the educational development of Bageshwar.
Formation of Bageshwar district
On 15 September 1997, Bageshwar became an independent district, carved out from Almora, with its own administrative headquarters. The district's formation was spearheaded by the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati. In 2000, following the creation of Uttarakhand as a separate state, Bageshwar became part of the newly formed Uttarakhand state. On November 9, 2000, following the creation of Uttarakhand as a separate state, Bageshwar became a part of the new state.
Geography and Climate
Bageshwar is located at Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. - Bageshwar in Bageshwar District in Uttarakhand. It is situated 470 km North-East of the National Capital New Delhi and 332 km South-East of the State Capital Dehradun. It lies in the Kumaon division and is situated 153 km North-East of Nainital, the Headquarters of Kumaon. Bageshwar is situated in a valley of the Kumaon Hills of the Central Himalaya range. It has an average elevation of 934 metres (3,064 feet). The chief trees are the Chir Pine, Himalayan Cypress, Pindrow Fir, alder, sal or iron-wood, and saindan. Limestone, sandstone, slate, gneiss and granite constitute the principal geological formations.
Its climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. In summer, Bageshwar is largely under the influence of moist, maritime airflow from the western side of the subtropical anticyclonic cells over low-latitude ocean waters. Temperatures are high and can lead to warm, oppressive nights. Summers are usually somewhat wetter than winters, with much of the rainfall coming from convectional thunderstorm activity; tropical cyclones also enhance warm-season rainfall in some regions. The coldest month is usually quite mild, although frosts are not uncommon, and winter precipitation is derived primarily from frontal cyclones along the polar front. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).
The average temperature for the year in Bageshwar is . The warmest month, on average, is June with an average temperature of . The highest temperature ever recorded was 38 °C, recorded on 5 June 2017. The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of . The average amount of precipitation for the year in Bageshwar is . The month with the most precipitation on average is July with of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is November with an average of . There are an average of 63.6 days of precipitation, with the most precipitation occurring in August with 15.3 days and the least precipitation occurring in November with 0.8 days.
Environmental Concerns The Saryu and Gomti rivers have faced significant ecological degradation due to the unregulated disposal of construction debris and municipal waste. Reports indicate that rubble from road construction and landslides is frequently dumped into the riverbeds, particularly in the Kapkot and Bageshwar areas, which has led to the formation of artificial lakes and a rise in riverbed levels. Environmentalists and local groups have raised concerns over the increasing pollution levels and the lack of a proper waste trenching ground, which poses public health risks. Furthermore, widespread encroachment by homes and commercial shops along riparian zones and seasonal drains has significantly increased the risk of natural disasters in the town. In 2025, the Uttarakhand High Court directed district authorities to address these illegal occupations and submit a comprehensive report.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census of India, Bageshwar has a population of 9,079 comprising 4,711 males and 4,368 females. Males constitute approximately 55% of the population and females 45%. The sex ratio of bageshwar is 1090 women per 1000 men, higher than the national Average of 940 women per 1000 men. The City ranked 4th in Uttarakhand in terms of Sex Ratio. Bageshwar has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 72.1%; with 84% of the males and 76% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age. 2,219 people belong to the Scheduled Castes while the population of people belonging to Scheduled Tribes is 1,085. Bageshwar had a population of 7803 according to 2001 Census and 5,772 according to the 1991 census.