Champawat

Champawat (Hindi: चम्पावत) is a town and a nagar panchayat in Champawat district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Champawat district.

• Mythology

Champwat is believed to the place where the Kurmavtar (the turtle incarnation of Lord Vishnu) took place.

• History

Champawat was formerly the capital of the Chand dynasty rulers. The Baleshwar Temple built by the Chand rulers in 16th century is an excellent monument with marvelous stone carving works.

The present king of Kumaon is Raja Mahendra Chand of Lamakhet, he is married to Rani Gita Chand of Rina and has three children's (Rajkumari Aakanksha Chand, Rajkumari Mallika Chand, Rajkumar Aryan Chand)

Champawat was home to the Champawat Tiger.

• Geography

Champawat is located at 29.33°N 80.10°E. It has an average elevation of 1,610 metres (5,280 feet).

• Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Champawat had a population of 3958. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%. Champawat has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 78% and female literacy of 67%. 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, is a branch of the Ramakrishna Math, founded on 19 March 1899 at the behest of Swami Vivekananda, by his disciples Captain James Henry Sevier, and Mrs Charlotte Sevier. Today it is entrusted with the publication of the original writings of Swami Vivekananda. As an ashram dedicated to the study and practice of Advaita Vedanta, no images or idols are worshipped here, not even of Sri Ramakrishna; and no images were kept in the premises according to the Ashram ideals set by Swami Vivekananda himself.

Also referred as the Mayawati Ashram, it is located at an altitude of 1940 meters, 22 km from Champawat in Champawat district,Uttarakhand, and 9 km from the town of Lohaghat.  Advaita Ashrama is a major publication centre of the Ramakrishna Order for books in English and Hindi, mainly through its branch in Kolkata, and also maintains a charitable hospital at Mayavati. Among its important publications are The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda in English and as well as a Hindi translation, The Life of Swami Vivekananda, and English translations of important Hindu scriptures.