Pauri

This article is about the municipality in Uttarakhand, India. For its namesake district, see Pauri Garhwal district.

Pauri Garhwal पौड़ी गढ़वाल Kund Baijrao
city
A view of the left half of the Gangotri Group in the Western Himalayas from Pauri, part of which is seen on the left. A view of the left half of the Gangotri Group in the Western Himalayas from Pauri, part of which is seen on the left.
File:India Uttarakhand location map.svg Pauri Garhwal Location in Uttarakhand, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Uttarakhand
District	Pauri Garhwal
Elevation	1,814 m (5,951 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	24,742
Languages
• Official	Hindi Garhwali
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)

Pauri is a town and a municipal board in Pauri Garhwal district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Geography

Pauri is located at . It is located 1,814 metres (5,951 feet) above sea level. Pauri provides a panoramic view of the snow-covered Himalayan peaks of Nanda Devi and Trisul, Gangotri Group, Thalaiya-Sagar, Nilkantha, Bandar Poonch, Swargarohini, Kedarnath, Kharcha Kund, Satopanth, Chaukhamba, Ghoriparvat, Haathi Parvat, Sumeru, etc. The errand across Kandoliya-Tekka stretch along evergreen deodar trees is worth walking. The town is visited by tourists, researchers and students from across the world. The place is paradise for trekkers, paragliding enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Climate

The region has a sub-temperate to temperate climate, which remains pleasant throughout the year. The climate of Pauri is very cold in winters and the region experiences low to moderate snowfall in the months of January or February. The climate is soothing in summer when flowers bloom in the nearby forests and tourists flock to town. In rainy season the climate is very cool and lush greenery covers the town.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Pauri had a population of 24,742. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Pauri has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 76%. In Pauri, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The language most commonly used in Pauri Garhwal is Garhwali.

Education

Govind Ballabh Pant Engineering College

Govind Ballabh Pant Engineering College (GBPEC) is an autonomous State Government Higher Technical Institution. It was created in 1989 to honour the great Indian Freedom Fighter Padma Shri, Govind Ballabh Pant. The institute is located in serenity and purity of the Garhwal Himalayas, at a height of 1800m (approx 5905 ft.) above Sea Level and overlooks the Great Himalayan Range on its East flank. The college offers courses like Bachelor of Technology, Master of Technology and Master of Computer Applications. The college offers Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Civil Engineering, Production Engineering and Biotechnology (from 2010).

Official website: http://www.gbpec.ac.in/

Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Central University

Dr. B. G. R Campus, referred to as the Pauri campus of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University is a full-fledged educational campus established in 1971. Pauri College is one of the three campuses of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, located in Srinagar, Garhwal. The campus offers arts, science and law courses at graduation, post graduation and research fellowships levels. Located amidst the thick forest cover, the college offers a perfect educational environment to its students.

St. Thomas School

St. Thomas School is a premier educational institution in the town, established in 1973. The school comes under the Bijnor Diocese, headed by Rev. John Vadakle. It offers education in Science up to class 12th. It is an English medium school affiliated with ICSE board. This co-educational school has the record of offering 100% pass result in its last 40 years history.

Messmore Inter College

Established in the British era, Messmore Inter College or MIC is one of the oldest schools in the Garhwal region. The school was established in 1873 and offers education in science and arts up to class 12th. This is a Hindi medium, government aided school. The school is affiliated with Uttarakhand Board and is co-educational. This college belongs to the association of Methodist churches in India.

DAV Inter College

This is a Hindi medium, government aided school. The school is affiliated with Uttarakhand Board and offers co-education.

Sri Guru Ram Rai Public School

Sri Guru Ram Rai Public School was established by SGRR education mission in the heart of the city with easy accessibility from different corner of the city. School has a magnificent school building equipped with modern aminities. It has a team of highly qualified, motivated and hardworking teachers. The school is running classes from I to XII and is offering streams science, commerce and humanities for classes XI and XII. It is to proclaim that the school is the only school in the town to offer new subject Biotechnology as an elective subject for classes XI and XII. Shri Guru Ram Rai Public School Pauri Garhwal has achieved high water mark by distinguished performance of the students in the field of academics, extra curricular activities, sports, finearts and in many other inter school competitions.

Government Inter College (GIC)

This is a Hindi medium, government aided school. The school is affiliated with Uttarakhand Board.

Girls Government Inter College (GGIC)

This is a Hindi medium, government aided school. The school is affiliated with Uttarakhand Board......

Places to visit

• Kandoliya Mandir- Kandoliya devta is the local deity, referred in the local language as the bhumi devta. The temple has been in the area for years, amidst thick pine forest. In the region, it is a custom to begin every auspicious work with the blessings of Kandoliya thakur. Every year, a bhandara (feast) is held in the month of May–June in the temple. It is attended by lakhs of devotees.
  

  Kandoliya
• Nag Dev Mandir- Nag Dev is a small temple located in the Pine and Rhododendron forest region. The temple belongs to the nag devta (the snake god). Located away, from the hustles and bustles of town, the place offers solace to the tired soul.
• Kyunkaleshwar Temple- This is an 8th Century old, Shiv temple believed to be raised by Adi Shankracharya. The presiding deity of the temple are Shiva, his wife Parvati and sons, Ganesha and Kartikeyan. The temple in itself is popular as a historic shrine and therefore visited by thousands of Shaivaites. Kyunkaleshwar temple is known for the artistic stone work done in the temple premises. The temple also has a Sanskrit Vidyalaya and Gurukul where young children come to learn Veds and Purans.
• Laxmi Narayan Temple- Located on the main Laxmi-Narayan Temple Road in the main city and is visited by locals round the day. The temple is named after Lord Laxmi Narayan or Vishnu. It also houses a Shiv temple, Hanuman temple, Durga temple, Ganesha Temple.
• Hanuman Mandir- The Hanuman Mandir in Pauri is located in the Deodar Forest. It is located around 2 km from the main city.
• Methodist Church, Chopra- The church is over 100 years old and is located in the lower chopra region of the town. The church is located a stone throw away distance from MIC Pauri.
• Catholic Church, Gadoli- The church belongs to the catholic community based in Gadoli region.
• Dhara Road- It is a flourishing market area in the city, having small and big shops selling a variety of things.
• Khirsu- It is located 15 km away from the Pauri city. This small, tourist village has Apple orchards and huge gardens which remains filled with flowers and fruits in Spring. The region is known for offering a spectacular view of Himalayas.
• Chaukhamba View Point-It is located 4 km away from Pauri and overlooks the Idwal Valley and Chaukhamba Peak. It is situated in the dense forest of oak and rhododendron.
• Ransi Ground- It is located at a distance 2.5 km from the town. One of the highest points in Pauri, Ransi is a beautiful picnic spot. It has a Sports Stadium - the second highest stadium in Asia where games and tournaments are frequently organised. An ideal picnic spot, the stadium set amidst deodar trees.
• Kandolia Ground- Most of the local sports are organized in this ground.
• District Library- The library is open round the year for enthusiasts and houses a variety of books.
• Nagdev Evergreen Forest - Pleasant walk during the whole year.

Himalaya Panorama from Pauri.

Himalaya Panorama from Pauri.

Pauri - Ramlila - Golden 100 Years

The Pauri Ramlila is one of the oldest plays, in the Uttarakhand region. The play portrays the life of Lord Rama as described in Ramayana. Pauri's Ramlila enjoys a unique place in the history of Garhwal region. It was begun by, Mr. Tara Dutt Gairola and Dr. Bhola Dutt Kala, the famous social activists. The first play of Ramlila in Pauri began in the year 1883-84.

At that time, Pauri was the administrative capital of East India Company in the Garhwal Region. Mr. Gairola and Kala organized the Ramlila and played it with the help of locals for six days at the sloppy fields of village Kandai. People supported the idea and it continued for years. During the period, some other literary persons joined the play and modified it into ‘Persian Theater". They made the script with the help of Tulsi Das's Ramcharitmanas and some of their own interpretations.

In the year 1897, the newly decorated stage and the unique style of play received appreciation by the people. In fact, the Deputy Commissioner of Garhwal also appreciated the efforts put in to execute such a play. The unusual stage decoration, use of Indian classical music, and the style of play made the Pauri Ramlila special.

In the year 1906, Mr. Purna Chandra Tripathi joined the Ramlila and expanded the Ramlila tenure from six days to ten days. From thereon, the Ramlila began to be played during the ‘Shardiya Navratras’. This format was adopted in the year 1906 and is still continued without any fuss.

Later some more changes were incorporated in 1940’s when, Mr. Mathura Prasad Dobhal, the Director of play added his own written Garhwali songs for ‘Bharat-Shatrughn' and ‘Surpnakha’. In the year 1947, he wrote a song " Swatantra Bharat Punya bhoomi me Ram Raj aaya". Interestingly, the songs are famous among localities. In the same year, the side portrait at the stage was changed by the portrait of Subhash Chandra Boss and Mahatma Gandhi instead of 'Laxmi ji" and Saraswat ji".

The Pauri Ramlila could not be played during the Uttarakahand Movement in the year 1994 to 96. In the year 1997 Mr. Prithvi Pal Singh Chauhan, the M.L.C. of U.P. led a movement for restarting the Pauri Ramlila. Mr. Adwet Bahuguna gave the headstart to Ramlila in a new avatar by adding the light, sound effects and some locomotive scenes. The ‘Gajendra Grahav’ Meghnad vadh’ and Dashavatar’ are some famous memorable direction of Mr. Adwet Bahuguna. In the year 2004 Co-Director of Ramlila Mr. Naveen Bhatt and Surendra Singh added beautiful and enchanting seen of ‘flying Hunuman over the public in search of ‘Sanjeevani Booti’.

Pauri Ramlila is also known for its communal harmony where the Hindus, Muslims and Christians were and are the part of Ramlila. Mod. Sallar, Bare Yaqb, Muddi Qureshi, Munsi Abdul Haqeem, Husen Baksh, Mr. Victor Chowfin, Mr. W.C. Chowfin and many other people are famous for there contribution in Ramlila.

Here is the list of some famous people who are known for their contribution. It begins with Mr. Het Ram Joshi, Mr. Prem Ballabh Chandola, Mr. Kotwal Singh Negi, Mr. Bhagwant Singh Negi, Mr. Dayal Singh Rawat, Pt. SadaNand Kukreti, Mr. Dalloo Babu (Mahitab Singh), Mr. Yadav Chandra Gupta, Mr. Deveswra Prasad Devrani, Mr. S.K. Chandel and several other people whose effort cannot be forgotten.

In the acting and singing domain, Mr. Daya Sager Dasmana, Govind Naithani, Durga Prasad Thapliyal as ‘Ravan", Mr. Nagmal Singh, Virendra Kasyap, Gauri Shanker Thapliyal as Janak’-Vibhisan-Dasharath. Mr. Jam Sahab, Raju Gatti, Giresh Thapliyal as ‘Hanuman’.

Mr. Gauri Sankar Thapliyal is known as a "Iron Pillar" of Pauri Ramlila. In new generation Mr. Manoj Rawat Anjul holds the command.

Media and communications

All India Radio has a local station in Pauri which transmits various programs of mass interest.

External links

• Pauri, Official website
• Pauri at wikimapia.