Kotdwar

Kotdwar, also spelled Kotdwara, is a city and municipal board in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India. It is part of the Garhwal region and lies in the foothills of the Himalayas. Kotdwar serves as a major commercial center for the western Garhwal plains and acts as a gateway to nearby hill towns such as Lansdowne and to the forested areas around Jim Corbett National Park.

Historically a trading town on traditional routes connecting the Garhwal hills with the plains, Kotdwar has grown into a regional market center for agriculture, forestry products, and small-scale industry. In recent decades it has expanded its educational, healthcare, and retail services, aided by road and rail connectivity.

Transport and connectivity: Kotdwar is linked by road to Dehradun and other towns through state and national highway networks. It hosts Kotdwar railway station, which provides rail connections to major cities in northern India. Regular bus services operate to destinations within Uttarakhand and neighboring states.

Demographics and administration: The town is governed as a municipal board within Pauri Garhwal district. The population is predominantly Hindu, with linguistic communities that include Hindi and Garhwali speakers, alongside smaller Muslim and other communities.

Education and culture: Kotdwar hosts a number of educational institutions, including government and private schools and colleges that serve the region. The town supports markets, cultural events, and temples that reflect the Garhwal belt’s local traditions.

See also: Lansdowne, Uttarakhand; Jim Corbett National Park; Garhwal.