Didihat is a town and a Nagar Palika in Pithoragarh District in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the eleven administrative subdivisions of Pithoragarh district and also serves as its administrative headquarter. With a population of 6522, Didihat is located at a distance of from the state capital Dehradun.
Didihat is named after the Kumauni word 'Dand' meaning a small hillock. Didihat falls on the pilgrimage route to Kailash Mansarovar. Earlier it was known as “Digtad”. Present day name Didihat is derived from Hat Tharp village which is the heart of this town.
History
The area of present-day Didihat was ruled by Katyuri dynasty after the fall of katyuris. the region came under Malla kings of Sirakot. The ancient Shirakot Temple of Lord Malay Nath was built by the Raika Kings. Till the time of King Hari Malla, this region was under Doti principality of the katyuri dynasty. Later on in 1581 AD at the time of Chand dynasty ruler Rudra Chand, this region came under the control of Chand rulers defeating Raikas of Doti. still today some remnants of ancient fort and temples are present in Didihat.
Didihat was a Tehsil in the Almora district of United Provinces in 1947 when India won its Independence from Britain. The Didihat Tehsil, along with other north-eastern parts of Almora district were transferred to the newly created Pithoragarh district in 1960. During 2001-2011 new tehsil Berinag was created by transferring 298 villages from Didihat tehsil. The creation of a new district, Didihat was declared on 15 August 2011, by then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Ramesh Pokhriyal, however, the district is yet to be officially formed.
Geography
Didihat lies at in Northern India at above sea level, in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, India. It is located at a distance of from District Headquarter Pithoragarh. It covers an area of . The Nearest city with a population of one lakh and more is Haldwani () while the Nearest city with a population of five lakh and more is Bareilly ().
According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the town falls under seismic zone 5, in a scale of 2 to 5 (in order of increasing vulnerability to earthquakes). Didihat has been struck by Flash Flood two times; on 20 July 2003 and 13 August 2007. 4 People lost their life in both these disasters. Flash floods are very common hydro-meteorological hazards due to excessive rainfall or snowmelt, bursting of dams, cloudburst, etc. Such floods are common due to the high velocity of water with much energetic capacity to carry away everything in its way.
Demographics
According to the 2011 Census of India, the population of Didihat Nagar Panchayat was 6,522. Didihat has a literacy rate of 91.03%; 95.20% of the men and 86.44% of the women are literate. Didihat's sex ratio in 2011 was 889 women per 1000 men. Almost all of the residents of Didihat are native Kumaonis. About 20.55% of the population belongs to the Scheduled Castes, numbering over 1,340 in the 2011 census. In addition, the city is home to some 649 people, who belong to the Scheduled Tribes. Didihat is the native place of 'Rajis', a Scheduled Tribe. Approximately 1,400 people live in slums within the city. Didihat had a population of 4805 according to the 2001 Census and 3514 according to the 1991 Census of India.
Economy
Didihat had traditionally been a place where merchants from adjoining areas brought their goods for sale on a prescribed day of the week. Wool and salt from tibet was exchanged for grain here. The "Kumaon Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation" established a "Carpet Center", a "Blanket Production Center" and a "Wool Production and Sales Center" at Didihat for the all-around economic-development of the Scheduled Tribes living here.
Culture
Didihat observes a wide range of festivals. Popular celebrations and observances include Kumauni Holi, which is celebrated in different forms such as the Baithki Holi, the Khari Holi and the Mahila Holi. The festival of lights, Deepavali, is celebrated with the lighting of lamps in every house, decorating the floors with rangoli, and sharing of sweets with relatives and Friends. Kumaoni is the mother tongue of majority in Didihat; however people speak Hindi as well. The dialect of Kumaoni spoken in Didihat is called 'Sirali'.
Village Hat Tharp is famous for its Hiran Chital Festival during rainy season. This village also conducts one of the oldest Ramlila’s of the Didihat area.
People of village Hat Tharp invented a unique idea about conserving their forest by dedicating the whole forest to Maa Bhagwati of Pankhu for 10 years. No one is allowed to take their axe and cut forest, only dry wood collection is allowed.