Bhotias of Dharchula The Bhotias inhabiting the Dharchula tract have a number of dissimilarities with those of the Munisiari tract on the basis of culture, social composition and language. There is little contact between the two communities due to the physical barrier formed by the towering mountain ranges.

Temple Complex at Jageshwar Credit: Karamjeet Singh

In winter, the conditions in these valleys become so inhospitable that the people migrate to the shelter of Dharchula where each sub-group occupies an earmarked place in the temporary encampments.

This practise of winter migration has been a traditional phenomenon for all the Bhotia communities of this region. They come in close contact with each other during this period and matrimonial alliances too are formed.

This is an excellent opportunity for these people to mix with each other. Without this, they would have been living in complete isolation from each other. They also come in contact with the people living in the villages along the traditional migration routes.

Livelihood
The main sources of livelihood of the Bhotia communities living in the cold and dry areas of Pithoragarh are animal husbandry, agriculture and allied occupations, trade and business, unskilled and semi-skilled labor.