Katarmal

Katarmal is located at a distance of 1.5 km from Kosi village and 12 km from the district centre, Almora[1] and 70 km from Nainital.[2] Located at a height of 2116 meters above sea level, it is well connected by road, 30 km away from Khairna, Garampani (Nainital, Haldwani, Coordinates: 29°29'39"N 79°28'46"E) & 33 km 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 Government of India.[3]

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 this temple, which has 44 smaller temples around the main deity of Surya, which called as Burhadita or Vraddhaditya.[2] Other deities like Shiva-Parvathi and Lakshmi-Narayana. are also established in this 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 walls and panels, was declared a monument of national importance under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958.[1]