Kotdwar is a city and municipal corporation located in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India. Situated in the southwestern part of the state, it serves as one of the primary entrance points to the region. It currently ranks as the eighth-largest city in Uttarakhand and is positioned 107 km from the district headquarters in Pauri.
The city's former name was Kootdwar, which translates to "the gateway of the high hill." While it was initially isolated and relatively unknown, Kotdwar gained prominence in 1890 when it was connected to the railway system by the British. A notable local landmark is the Sidhbali Temple, a site dedicated to Hanuman located approximately 2 km from the city.