Jhodha

Jhodha dance is the most famous folk dance of Kumaon. People belonging to different caste or creed, perform this dance, irrespective of any discrimination, in almost all festivals.

Chanchi

Chanchi is also one of the famous folk dance of Kumaon. It takes place only in fairs. Mostly this dance is based on religious songs, something related to nature etc.

Cholia

Cholia is one of the famous folk dance of Kumaon which is as old as 1000 years. Swords are being used by dancers in this dance.

Kumaon has a distinctive style of architecture, which is to be seen on the one hand in scattered settlements of the higher Himalaya and populated agricultural valleys, and on the other in the temples, naulas-bawaries (water tanks), forts and dharamshalas (inns). The temples, which have been constructed over a period of about a thousand years, follow a local style known as the “Himadri” style of architecture. The temples at Jageshwar, Almora and Katarmal Thal, Baijnath, Someshwar, Dwarahat, Gangolihat, Patal Bhuvaneshwar, Marsoli are very good examples of the local style, which is often termed as post Gupta architecture. Along with architecture, Kumaon has also had a distinctive style of sculpture.

One finds many idols in temples and even outside temples. The idols at Jageshwar, Dwarahat, Baijnath, Katarmal, Kasni and Champawat bear ample testimony to Kumaon’s rich tradition of sculpture. The bronze or astdahatu statues are also worth seeing.

During the last two decades many rock paintings belonging to the protohistoric period have been discovered in Kumaon. Among them Lakhu Udhiyar and Lwethaap are well known.

The Pahari Kalam (style of painting) probably also developed in Kumaon, when it was being practiced in some of the Himalyan regions. The Aipan (Alpana) is a popular art form of Kumaon, and walls, papers and pieces of cloth are decorated by the drawing of various geometric and other figures belonging to gods, goddesses and objects of nature. Pichhauras or dupattas are also decorated in this manner.

At the time of Harela there is a tradition of making clay idols (Dikaras) The Shaukas use their own and Tibetan knitting art form to decorate mattresses known as Dans. In these woollen goods we find the mixed influence of the Kumaoni and Tibetan styles. Kumaon also has a distinctive style of making different baskets (Doka.Dala, Tokri), wooden casks (Theki,Harpia, Naliya) for keeping curd, butter and ghee, mattresses (mosta) and ropes etc. The art of hilljatra mukhotas (masks) is also worth mentioning.