Haldwani is the largest city of Kumaon. It is also the third most populous city and largest commercial market in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Haldwani is said to be the financial capital of Uttarakhand, having the most commercial, economic and industrial activities of the state.

Haldwani is the principal city in the Haldwani Urban Agglomeration Area, situated in the southeastern part of Uttarakhand, in the Kumaon region.

Historically, Haldwani was important because in the Indo-Gangetic plains, this was the trading post of the Kumaon region. Because of its location, even today, it is the most important revenue and goods transit post in the Kumaon region.