During the 700 year rule (400 year rule of united Kumaon) of the Chands, culture and religion in Kumaon bloomed, and folk traditions and practices gained more and more importance as a popular form of folk Hinduism emerged, which is still majorly practiced.

Kumaon is believed to have been derived from Kurmanchal, meaning land of the Kurma Avatar (the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver according to Hinduism).

The paintings at  Lakhudiyar Caves near Almora are believed to represent life in the prehistoric village during the Mesolithic period.

Initially settled by Kol tribals, the region witnessed successive waves of Kiratas, Khasas and Indo-Scythians(sakas).

The kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature) was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom documented from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, located in the southern areas of modern Himachal Pradesh and far western areas of Uttarakhand in northern India and Doti in Nepal.

They called their state Kurmanchal, the land of Kurma, the second avatar of Vishnu, from which the present name is derived.

During the peak of Katyuri Dynasty the sovereigns were bestowed the title of Giriraj Chakrachudamani, and the 16 monarchs who ruled during that time are termed as Chakravarti or Emperors.

Faldakol and Dhaniyakot lay under the authority of a Khati Rajput who regarded him as belonging to Solar dynasty.

They slowly developed into a major power of the Himalayas and near after 1450 had unified Kumaon under King Ratna Chand.

Baz Bahadur Chand himself led his army through Juhar Pass and entered Tibetan territory, which was then under Khoshut Khanate.

The time period of King Baz Bahadur Chand's reign as well as that of his successors till two to three generations has been considered by many as the Golden Age of Kumaon region.

In 1707, the Kumaoni forces annexed Juniyagarh in Bichla Chaukot (Syalde), and razed the old fort at Chandpur Garhi, the capital of Garhwal Kingdom.

In early 1715, Kumaon finally captured Srinagar from Garwhal, sending Garwhali chiefs into Mughal courts.

In 1742 Ali Mohammed Khan of Rohilkhand invaded Kumaon and annexed Kashipur, Rudrapur, and two other Kumaoni parganas.

When the news of the sudden invasion reached Almora, Mahendra Chand summoned his troops and taking a contingent with him moved towards Gangolihat.

Mahendra Chand hearing the defeat and death of his uncle, Diwan (Prime Minister) Lal Singh, became nervous and fled, thus Gorkhas finding their path clear reached and captured Almora and Kumaon was annexed to the Kingdom of Nepal.

The Gorkha rule over Kumaon lasted for 24 years and has been termed as "Cruel and Oppressive"[2][3] in a number of texts.

It is to be noted that the Gorkhas were not keen on integrating Kumaon and Garhwal fully into the Kingdom of Nepal, or providing for the people there, rather they only though of the conquered territories as frontier states, to maintain distance from the East India Company.

[2][3] The Gorkhas were also involved in slave trade consisting of Kumaonis and Garhwalis, who were captured and sold in the markets.

[2] Excessive taxation, slavery and mistreatment made the Gorkhas unpopular in Kumaon and Garhwal, whose cruel treatment towards the natives is still bitterly remembered today.

[2] The Gorkhas were defeated by the East India Company in Anglo-Nepalese War and were forced to cede Kumaon to the British as part of the Treaty of Sugauli in 1816.

[16] In seventy years it was governed by three successive administrators: Mr. Traill, Mr J. H. Batten and Sir Henry Ramsay.

The post of Diwan (Prime Minister) was automatically given to the one who had majority support within the factions, although exceptions were seen many time.

Even if the kings of the Chand Dynasty were absolute monarchs, they had to consider the opinions of the factions and the elected budhas (elders) to maintain their support since they could not risk going against such influential group of people.

This constitutional system was laid out by Raja Som Chand to prevent any one certain group or individual from gaining too much power.

But this system also gave way to rivalries within factions and lessening of the power of the king, which is evident looking at the history of puppet monarchs in Kumaon.

The Maharaja appointed the Diwan (Prime Minister) officially, but the post was automatically given to whoever had the majority support within the two factions.

[2] Since the rulers were mostly religious, rajgurus and purohits were appointed to give the Maharaja spiritual and administrative advice.

Kurmanchal had been independent till the arrival of the English and the Gorkhalis and how a small mountain kingdom carried on its administration, is praiseworthy.

Bearers of asa (a staff covered with golden silver plate) and ballam (a mace so prepared), the chopdars (Ceremonial Guards) were also appointed.