Types of Aipans range from variety of designs. There are lots of designs to choose from and people can select from many types of Aipans. Aipans are generally used to decorate home during a festival, puja or during carnivals. The work of designing the Aipans on the walls, floors, paper or cloths are mainly done by women of the house. Aipan or Alpana or Aepan is an art form that possesses a special place in the hearts of Kumaoni people. The word "Aepan" is actually a derivative of the word "Arpan".

Saraswati Chowki: Goddess Saraswati is generally related to learning. When a child begins education a puja is generally held to start the educational life of the child. The main feature of the Aipan is a five pointed star with a swastika flower or a diya in the centre. The artist then moves to design the centre piece with the floral designs or flowing designs.

Chamunda Hast Chowki: This chowki is actually made for "yagyas" or "havens". The centre piece of the chowki is made of two triangles interspersed with two diagonal lines running across both, with a 5-pointed star in between, enclosed in a circle. The gap is filled with Laxmi`s feet or floral design. The circle is designed with 8 petals of the lotus.

Nav Durga Chowki: This is a form of Aepan that is mainly used during the Devu Puja. The central themes here are the nine dots that represent the Nav Durgas. The people who are well versed with this form of designs make a square enclosing the dots with parallel lines running crisscross and meticulously design with the lotus petal. The easiest way to form swastika is with 9 dots, also known as Nav Swastik. Though there are many ways of drawing the same, but an easier way is by drawing three horizontal and vertical lines with a Swastik in the centre.

Shiv or Shivarchan Peeth: Lord Shiva is the reigning God in the Himalayan region. He is worshipped in the month of Savan and Magh. 28 or 108 Parthiv Lings are kept in the copper thali and Shiv is drawn on to the ground. This is a design that is done with 12 dots which are joined by 12 lines. To make the design more attractive, outside border of four plus four corners are also drawn.

The Surya Darshan Chowki: This Aipan is concerned with the birth of a new child. The baby is kept indoors for 11 days, and on the 11th day the child is brought outside for Surya Darshan. This chowki is drawn on the floor where the priest sits chanting mantras.

Janeyu Chowki: This chowki is performed during the sacred thread ceremony. The main section is formed of seven stars within a six-sided drawing. Where the seven stars actually stand for the Sapta Rishis and floral designs are drawn around it with dots.

Asan Chowki: This Aipan is mainly used during various Pujas. It is a decorated seat for follows and his wife for a ceremony Puja.

Acharya Chowki: This is a design which is specially designed for the Pandit or Acharya during a wedding. In a marriage ceremony a groom is always accompanied by his own Pandit, who is given more prominence than groom`s father. So as a result a special chowki is prepared for him. Various designs are drawn. The lotus and other favourable symbols like bell, conch shell, or sometimes even 2 birds are painted around the Swastik.

Dhuli Arghya Chowki: This is mainly done to welcome bridegroom, when we comes to marry the bride. In the olden days bridegroom usually arrived during the evening or "Godhuli", at the time of sunset or Twilight. Since the groom represent "Narayan", so he is generally greeted with devotion. His dusty feet are carefully washed before the puja as he stands on a small stool or chowkil. It closely resembles a pitcher with Trident on the top or Shiva`s Trishul. In the middle is Vishnu and at the base is Brahma. On both sides of the painting, two birds are painted and at the bottom a Swastik as well as a lotus. All three denote luck and are good omens.

Lakshmi Yantra: Goddess Laxmi is worshipped in the hills of Kumaon like in other parts of the country, Goddess Lakshmi, is worshipped during the festival of Diwali and Kali Puja. Just before the idol is kept at the spot where it will be worshipped, the floor is decorated with designs and Lakshmi Yantra is drawn on the floor with rice paste (Biswar) and ochre colour (Geru). This is the seat that belongs to the Goddess Laxmi and the centre of seat is marked with a flower or dot which symbolizes a flower. It is carefully enclosed in two triangles that form a star possessing six point, where the lower triangle represent Shakti and the upper triangle represent Lord Shiva.

The circles are enclosed by lines on four sides indicating "doors" called "Bhupur". They represent Earth. The whole painting is festooned at a variety of points with Lakshmi`s footprints.

Durga Thapa: Durga Thapa is painted by Kumaoni women on paper for two Durga Pujas that is held during the year. The pujas take place for nine days and are therefore caned Navratras. This painting is highly complicated and complex. There are many gods and goddesses that are depicted along with ten armed Goddess Durga who rides the lion. There are auspicious symbols like conch shen, ben, lamp, tulsi. rice, grain and swastika are drawn to enhance the beauty of Goddess.

Jyoti Patta: Among the Brahmin and Sah, in the Kumaon Region we have families drawing a "Jyoonti" at sacred events like thread ceremony and marriages. In the ancient times "Jyoontis" were murals inscribed on the walls of the rooms where religious ceremonies took place. Now these drawings are made of plywood, hardwood and paper. We can even get printed Jyoonti Pattas. The drawing of "Jyoonti" follows a particular pattern. The first line symbolizes Himalayas as it is the practise to send the first invitation to them. So there are lines of geometrical or floral designs. One important panel has two on either side or a tree which symbolizes the mythical Kalpavriksha. Lord Brahma, the Creator, and Vishnu, the Preserver, are said to reside in the roots of the tree, Lord Shiva, the Destroyer, in its trunk and his consort, Parvati, in the topmost part of the tree.

Below the tree, there are two parrots that are painted for luck. The main panel has three Matrikas attended by Lord Ganesha. At the centre of the panel is Krishna-Radha or even figures of the groom and bride.

On top, there are the two round faces of Ujyari Devi and Anyari Devi, the existing deities over Light and Darkness. Ranking the middle panel is a complicated design of lines and dots known as "Bar Boond". This represents an invitation as well as invocation to the gods to be there at the wedding and sanctify the couple.