Garur
Encyclopedia
Garur is a town in the Bageshwar district of the state of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...

, India.

Geography and demographics

Nearby places include Kausani, Baijnath
Baijnath, Uttarakhand
Baijnath is a small town on the banks of the Gomti River in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, India. The place is most noted for its ancient temples.-History:...

, Gwaldam and Bageshwar.

After Kausani, Garur is midway between Gwaldam and Bageshwar and is a major bus station for KMVN buses and is close to 490 kilometres away from Delhi on route to Delhi-Gajraula-Muradabad-Bhawali-Khairna-Almora-Someshwar-Kausani-Garur-Baijnath - Gwaldam.

The neighbouring villages also include Gagrigol, Chitrapal, Tilsari, Salani, Mattee, Bheta, Lobanj, Dangoli, Wajula, Garhsher. Garur is about 14 km away from Kausani. From Garur about 25 km is Gwaldam which comes in Garhwal.

Some of villages nearby Garur are Silli, Darsani, Paye, Jijoli, Bhagartola, Dyonai, Motisyari, Baijnath.

Between 1955 and 1985 the Uttaranchal Hills including Garur experienced a substantial exodus to major cities.

There is very good bus service from Anand Vihar Bus Terminus in New Delhi and there are plenty of air conditioned as well as non air conditioned buses travelling between Delhi to Bageshwar via Garur or Delhi to Tharali via Garur all plying in the evening. Also train services are available up to Kathgodown from Lucknow, Jaipur, Old Delhi Railway Station and Kolkatta.

Heritage

Around 5–6 km from Garur there is a temple of Bhagwati Mata (Kot Ka Mandir), which once was a fort owned by the Katyuri Kings
Katyuri Kings
The Katyuri Kings were a medieval ruling clan of Uttarakhand believed to have descended from Shalivahan ruler from Ayodhya. This links them with Suryavansha...

. Also there is a myth that Adiguru Shankaracharya stayed on this temple overnight while enroute to Badrinath. There is widespread belief among the local populace that the goddess, (after whom the temple is named) Kot Bhramri Devi's, Goddess face should not be shown to anyone except the priest of the temple if not followed this advice the entire Katur Valley will face ill luck and massive disaster will follow hence backside of the goddess is worshipped, except during the annual festival of Nandaashtmi in September (the state government declares as State holiday) or when the Raj Jaat Yatra which takes place once in twelve year.

There is a famous Baijnath Mandir (Lord Shiva) on the bank of the river which is said to have been built by the Kumaon Katyuri king in around 1150 A.D. and it was Capital of the Katyuri dynasty of kings who ruled Uttaranchal during 12th and 13th century, Baijnath was once known as Kartikyapura. One of the most important places to visit in Baijnath is the historically and religiously significant Baijnath Temple constructed in the twelfth century. The temple holds significance because, according to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Parvati were married at the confluence of River Gomati and Garur Ganga. Dedicated to SivaVaidyanatha, the Lord of Physicians, the Baijnath temple is actually a temples’ complex built by the Katyuri kings with the idols of Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, Chandika, Kuber, Surya and Brahma. Also the town of Baijnath draws its name from the temple. Situated on the left bank of the Gomti River at an elevation of 1126 mts, the temples are constructed in stone. The main temple that houses a beautiful idol of Parvati is chiseled in black stone. The temple is approached from the riverside by a flight of steps made of stones constructed by the orders of a Katyuri queen. On the way to the main temple, just below the house of the Mahanta, is the temple of Bamani. Legend goes that the temple was built by a Brahmin woman and dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Commerce and tourism

There are not enough good lodging and boarding facilities at Garur but two kilometres away Baijnath offers good and budget accommodation at the state run Tourist Reception Centre and good rooms with all modern amenities can be availed at very cheap rates. Two kilometres further is a heli-pad facility for emergency landing for state and defence usage.

The chief occupations of its inhabitants are agriculture, retired and serving defence personnel, petty shopkeepers and tea stall owners, butchers, teaching, fix point small scale taxi services.

From Garur to Baijnath and from there to 'Song' at sub town place called Kapkot whereby thousands of foreign as well as domestic trackers come to trek on Sunderdhunga as well as Pindari Glaciers which are within a trekable distance of one hundred km (fifty by road and fifty by trek).

There is a market that provides household items, daily use goods to people. This is the biggest market place in the region after Almora, Ranikhet and Bageshwar District in Kumaon Hills uptil Karanprayag District in Garhwal.

The market of Garur is one of the oldest in the region (since pre-independence days of the British Rule in India, but the market expanded during 1970 to 2010 with the efforts of social worker and industrialist K D Pandey). In 2011 the major banks and other government services - the polytechnic, post office and the only ATM of the region are situated in the property owned by the Pandey Family. One can find modern shopping complex recently came up in Garur market build up by the Pharswan family and Naresh Pharswan is the standing MLA from Garur constituency. Primarily, Garur is the last recognised and biggest Kumaon market prior to entering Garhwal via Kumaon enroute to Garur Gwaldam road.

On 30 April 2010 Manasvi Mamgai
Manasvi Mamgai
Manasvi Mamgai is a well known Indian model who was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2010 on April 30, 2010. She also won Miss Tourism International held in Malaysia on December 31, 2008 and Elite Model Look, India in 2006...

, a well known Indian model from nearby Garsher was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2010.

A discussion is being held on laying a railway track between Tanakpur to Bageshwar which if materialised would bring this district on national connectivity. Congress as well as ruling BJP is supporting this cause.

Education

Garur also has an Intermediate school with various primary schools run by state government as well as by private institutions. A degree level college was established in 2010.Silli is nearest village form Garur bazar.There are so many sweet shops mainly dealing with BAL MITHAI ,negi mishthan,Sanik misthan are much popular.Govt Polytechnic is also avilable in garur bazar,local students now dont need to go Nainital polytech for studies subjected to qualify criatria /merrit of choice.most probabily up to 1981-82 there was no science stream Inter college in garur,compelling student to go Wajula,Kausani,Almore etc but now degree college is avilable.
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