Kathgodam is a town in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state of India. It is part of the twin township of Haldwani-Kathgodam, and is immediately north of Haldwani. It is one of the important collection centres for forest products obatained from Kumaon Himalayas. Literally meaning timber depot, Kathgodam was a small village in 1901 with a population of 375, though its importance grew rapidly after the railway line was extended here in late 19th century, after it reached Haldwani in 1884. It was previously called 'Chauhan Patta' as it is still recorded in the land records. The advent of the residence of Dan Singh Bist nearby in Beer Bhatti, Jeolikote, and his setting up his major timber depot as the 'Timber King of India' as Chauhan Patta, led to it being called 'Kathgodam'. Similarly, Beer Bhatti is called thus as it was previously an area where the British India Corporation Limited pursued a Beer Brewery until 1924 when Dan Singh Bist purchased it from them via deed registered at Nainital. Today, it is the last station on its Indian Railways line; from this point, one must travel by automobile to the Kumaon region of the Himalayan Mountains. From Kathgodam, mountain roads lead to tourist destinations like Nainital, Bhimtal, Sattal, Mukteshwar, Ranikhet, Binsar, Kausani, Naukuchiyatal and Almora. Local attractions: Close to Kathgodam are beautiful temples called 'Sheetla devi' and 'Kalichaud' which attract large numbers of devotees from the surrounding region during festivals. Kathgodam also leads a way to one of the beautiful ashram called as Hairakhan. There is a beautiful dam which is built on the Gola River. Schools include the Maharishi school, Nirmala Convent High School, St. Theresa School, St. Paul's Senior Secondary School, Naini Valley School and Inspiration School (these arranged from katghodam to haldwani). College include Kumaun Institute of Information Technology (KIIT) on Nainital road and Pahal Institution for capacity building close to the railway station.