About Uttarakhand | Facts | Best Places To Visit
In this article, we provide comprehensive information about the geography, history, population, and top tourist destinations of Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is a beautiful state in northern India, known for its stunning mountains, serene lakes, and spiritual places. It is often called “Devbhumi,” or the “Land of Gods,” because it is home to many famous temples, including the sacred Kedarnath and Badrinath temples. The state is also known for its natural beauty, with popular destinations like Nainital, Mussoorie, and Auli, offering beautiful lakes, hills, and opportunities for outdoor activities like trekking and skiing. Rishikesh and Haridwar are famous for their spiritual significance and the Ganges River.
| About: | Uttarakhand was formed on November 9, 2000, becoming the 27th state of India after being separated from northern Uttar Pradesh. Situated at the base of the Himalayan mountain ranges, it is predominantly a hilly region, sharing international borders with China (Tibet) to the north and Nepal to the east. To the northwest lies Himachal Pradesh, while Uttar Pradesh is located to the south. The state is abundant in natural resources, particularly water and forests, featuring numerous glaciers, rivers, dense woodlands, and snow-capped peaks. The Char Dham, which includes the four most sacred Hindu temples of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, are nestled within these majestic mountains. It is blessed with a rare bio-diversity, inter-alia, 175 rare species of aromatic & medicinal plants are found in the State. It has almost all major climatic zones, making it amenable to a variety of commercial opportunities in horticulture, floriculture and agriculture. It has a vast tourism potential in adventure, leisure, and eco-tourism. Rich in mineral resources, the state has deposits of limestone, marble, rock phosphate, dolomite, magnesite, copper, and gypsum. There are 25,294 small-scale industries that provide jobs for 63,599 individuals. Furthermore, 1,802 heavy and medium industries, with an investment of Rs 20,000 crore, employ around 500,000 people. Most of these industries are based on forest resources, and there are a total of 54,047 handicraft units in the state. |
| History: | In the Puranas, Uttarakhand was the ancient term for the central Indian Himalayas. The region is mentioned in early Hindu texts as the combined region of Kedarkhand and Manaskhand. Its peaks and valleys were referred to as the Svarga loka: a temporary abode of the righteous, and the source of the Ganges. Uttarakhand is popularly referred to as “the land of the gods” (Devbhumi) owing to its huge number of Hindu pilgrimage sites. The Pauravas, Kushanas, Kunindas, Guptas, Katyuris, Palas, Chands, Parmars (or Panwars), and the British have ruled the state by turns. The region was initially habitated by Kolarian people, some scholars believed that these people were outcast by their tribes. Later, Indo – Aryans tribe began to arrive from Central Asia. The prominent among them were the Khasas, Khasas later fought with the aboriginals and finally defeated them. Khasa men married the local women in large numbers, this intermixing continued over centuries and is now verified by ancestry tests. The region formed a part of the Uttarakuru Kingdom during the Vedic age of Ancient India. It is believed that the rishi (sage) Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata somewhere in present-day Uttarakhand, since the Pandavas are believed to have travelled (and camped) in the region. |
| Geography: | Uttarakhand has a total geographic area of 53,483 km2, of which 86% is mountainous and 65% is covered by forest. The northern regions of the state are part of the Greater Himalaya ranges, featuring towering peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills were once thickly forested until they were depleted by British loggers and later by forest contractors after independence. However, recent reforestation efforts have made some progress in restoring the landscape. The unique Himalayan ecosystem is home to a variety of wildlife, including bharal, snow leopards, leopards, and tigers, as well as numerous plants and rare herbs. Additionally, two of India’s major rivers, the Ganges and the Yamuna, originate from the glaciers of Uttarakhand, nourished by countless lakes, glacial melts, and streams. |
| Country : | India |
| Region: | North India |
| Capital: | Bhararisain Dehradun (winter) |
| Largest city: | Dehradun |
| Language: | Hindi |
| Population: | 10,086,292 (2011) |
| Literacy rate: | 78.82% |
| Major Attractions to Visit: | Jim Corbett National Park Nainital Lake Kempty Falls, Mussoorie Rishikesh (Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula) Haridwar Ghats (Har Ki Pauri) Kedarnath Temple Badrinath Temple Valley of Flowers National Park Auli (Skiing Destination) Chopta (Mini Switzerland of India) Dehradun (Robber’s Cave, Sahastradhara) Mussoorie (Mall Road, Gun Hill) Almora (Bright End Corner) Ranikhet (Chaubatia Gardens) Lansdowne Tungnath Temple Tehri Lake Dhanaulti Hemkund Sahib Bhimtal Lake |