Katarmal

Coordinates: 29°37′57″N 79°36′53″E / 29.632473°N 79.614682°E / 29.632473; 79.614682
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Katarmal Sun temple complex
Katarmal
Village
Sun Temple, Katarmal
Sun Temple, Katarmal
Katarmal is located in Uttarakhand
Katarmal
Katarmal
Location in Uttarakhand, India
Katarmal is located in India
Katarmal
Katarmal
Katarmal (India)
Coordinates: 29°37′57″N 79°36′53″E / 29.632473°N 79.614682°E / 29.632473; 79.614682
Country India
StateUttarakhand
Elevation
2,116 m (6,942 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationUK-01
ClimateAlpine (BSh) and Humid subtropical(Bsh) (Köppen)
Websiteuk.gov.in

Katarmal is a remote village located in Kumaon Division, in Almora District, Uttarakhand, India.

Location[edit]

Katarmal is 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from Kosi village, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the district centre, Almora[1] and 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Nainital.[2] Located at a height of 2,116 metres (6,942 ft) above sea level, it is well connected by road, 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Khairna, Garampani Nainital, Haldwani and 33 kilometres (21 mi)from Ranikhet and Kausani, the nearest connecting point being near Kosi village.[1] The G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, established in 1988, serves as a nodal agency for research and development and was established here by the government of India.[3]

Surya temple[edit]

Katarmal is known for a relatively rare Surya temple, constructed by the Katyuri Kings in the 9th century CE[1] and bears witness to the architecture of the day. Masons of the time used a mixture of lime and lentil paste to make the adhesive agent.[4] Katarmalla, a Katyuri king, constructed the temple, which has 44 smaller temples around the main deity of Surya, alled Burhadita or Vraddhaditya.[2] Other deities like Shiva-Parvathi and Lakshmi-Narayana. are also established in the temple complex. The carved wooden doors and panels were transported to the National Museum, Delhi, after an idol from the 10th century was stolen.[1] The temple, which holds other carvings on the walls and panels, was declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Sajwan, Venita (17 August 2002). "A lesser-known sun temple at Katarmal". The Tribune. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Katarmal Sun temple,Almora". Nainital Tourism. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  3. ^ "G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development". G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Visit a 9th Century Temple at Katarmal built out of the rock". Nayalap. Retrieved 8 March 2023.