The Syalde Bikhauti Mela is held in the small town of Dwarahat in Kumaon. Dwarahat is at a distance of about 64 km from Ranikhet (28 km from Almora). This archaeologically and traditionally-important town is famous for the illustrious Dronagiri temple. The Vishuwat Sankranti is colloquially known as Bikhauti and hence the name.

The mela (fair) is held every year in the Hindu month of Vaisakh and commences with the beginning of the Hindu new year and is held in two phases. The first one is held on the last day of the Hindu month of Chaitra at the Vimandeshwar temple of Lord Shiva, located eight km from Dwarahat, while the other is held on the first day of Vaisakh at Dwarahat market. The holy dip taken at this occasion is considered equivalent to the bath made during the Uttarayani or Kumbh. The Mela is visited mostly by people of the Almora District.

The preparations for the fair begin a month in advance in many surrounding villages. The singing of traditional Jhoda songs starts at the houses of the village chiefs.

The various traditions attached to this mela are still intact, and the cultural convergence of all folk art-forms makes it a memorable experience for both the locals and the visitors alike.

The mela once used to be a hub of economic activity earlier, but after the highly improved transportation network having come into existence, it is predominantly a cultural event. Despite worldly advances, the mela has successfully been able to hold on to its cultural richness.