Barthwal

Barthwal is a toponymic surname, rather a sub-caste, of Garhwali Sarola Brahmins from Bareth, a village in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Most Barthwal are concentrated in the district. The deity of Barthwals is Bhairava, who rides on the dog Shvaana.

Like many sub-castes of Garhwal, it is said that they are not native to Garhwal. One version (Rahul Sankrityayan's) has it that they descended from four brothers, each of whom settled in a different location in the Pauri district. Another version has it that they all originally belonged to the village Bareth in Dwarikhal, near Silogi.