Kumaon is one of the five geographical zones of the Himalaya - Nepal, Kurmanchal, Kedarkhand, Jalandharkhand and Kashmir - which are mentioned in our ancient texts. It is believed that the word 'Kumaon' is derived from 'Kurmanchal' which means the land of Kurmavatar (the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Preserver of the Hindu Trinity). In the beginning, the word Kumaon was used only for the region which is now known as Kali Kumaon.

During British rule the name was used to encompass the region of Kumaon as well as that of British Kumaon (the present districts of Chamoli and Pauri). Kumaon (21035 Sq Km.) is situated in the State of Uttar Pradesh and lies between the latitude 28º 44'N and 30º 49' and longitude 78º 45' and 81º 1' E. It is separated from Nepal, to the East, by the river Kali. To the North is the Kailas-Mansrovar region of Western Tibet. To the West, Kumaon lies alongside the Chamoli and Pauri districts of Kumaon and to the South it touches the districts of Bareilly, Pilibhit, Rampur, Moradabad and Bijnor.

Geographically Kumaon can be divided into four, almost parallel zones -

(1) Tarai - Bhabar - Shivaliks
(2) Lesser Himalaya
(3) Greater Himalaya
(4) Tethys or Trans Himalaya.

A geological fault zone, known as the Main Boundary Thrust(MBT) passes along the outer regions of the Shivalik and Lesser Himalaya, while another one known as the Main Central Thrust (MCT), passes in between the Greater and the Tethys Himalaya. These areas are extremely fragile and very sensitive and separate two plates of earth 's surface- i.e. the Indian and Asian (Tibetan) plate.

The first zone comproses of only the district of Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar which has both the Tarai - Bhabar and Doon regions. At one time the Tharu and Boksa tribals inhabited the Tarai region. The towns of Ramnagar, Kashipur, Bazpur, Kichha, Lalkuan, Haldwani, Kathgodam, Khatima and Tanakpur, of this region, are linked to the rest of the country by railways.

The second zone is that of the most populated Lesser Himalaya. This region is watered by the Kosi., Gomti, Saryu, Ramganga E., Ramganaga W. and Gagas. Their banks known as 'seras' are highly fertile. It is here that the major Lesser Himalayan settlements like Pithoragarh, Lohaghat, Champawat, Gangolihat, Berinag, Bageshwar, Kapkot, Ramgarh, Nainital, Almora, Ranikhet, Dwarahat, Chaukhutia, Someshwar and Kausani are situated.

The third zone is that of the Greater Himalaya. A major proportion of this is under permanent snow - cover. Most of the snowfed rivers originate from this region of glaciers such as the Sunderdhunga, Pindari, Kafni, Namik, Poting, Milam, Lwa,, Balati, Meola and Panchchuli etc.

The fourth zone, that of the Trans Himalayan region of the Malla Johar, Darma and Byans valleys, is called the Tethys Himalaya, although it is just an extension of the catchments of the Greater Himalaya. This dry and arid region, inhabited mainly by the Shaukas, is known in connection with the Tibetan trade, the Kailas-Mansrovar Pilgrimage and production and trade of woolen goods and herbs.