Uttaranchal is a land of dense forests, icy white glaciers, clear gurgling streams and towering mountains. It is one of the most beautiful and enchanting region of northern India. A land which is known as ‘Dev Bhoomi'- the land of gods. Carved out of the Himalayan ranges, most of Uttaranchalthe districts of Uttaranchal have an abundance of flora and fauna. Adding to the natural splendor of the state, Uttaranchal is also home to some of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country. The total area of Uttaranchal is 55,848 sq. km& out of which the hill region is 92.57%. There are mountains to climb, river to ford, deodar forests to explore and trails to trek add an extension on the beauty of uttaranchal.

Uttaranchal also has a number of pilgrim sites like Gangotri, Yamunontri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. A state with hilly regions also has a number of hill stations like Auli, Haridwar, Musoorie, Nainital, Kedarnath and many Uttaranchalmore. In Sanskrit 'Himalaya' means Abode of Snow, truly characterizing the vast permanent snow fields above the snow line.In the heart of these majestic mountains lies the state of Uttaranchal with Kumaon region in its east and Garhwal in the west. An ideal place to mix devotion with merriment, Uttaranchal is a unique place for a holiday.

History

Carved out of the state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal chiefly consists of two hilly divisions, Kumaon and Garhwal. Hindu legends name this region as Devbhoomi (Land of the Gods) and houses some of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country.

Uttaranchal was awarded the Galileo Express Award 2004 in the category for the Best State Tourism Board. The Government of India had awarded the Best Performing State to Uttaranchal in 2004 as well. Uttaranchal is also called the Land od Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of Uttaranchalits various holy places and shrines.Uttaranchal finds mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manakhand and Himavat. The Kushanas, Kudinas, Kanishka, Samudra, Gupta, the Pauravas, Katuris, Palas, the Chandras and Pawaras and the British have ruled in turns. Present day Uttaranchal was earlier part of the United Province of Agra and Awadh which came into existence in 1902. in 1935, the name of the state was shortened to United Province . In 1950, the United Province was renamed Uttar Pradesh and then in 2000 its became Uttaranchal.

The Kumaon and the Garhwal regions are quite similar in terrain, however they differ in terms of their history, culture and ethnicity. For example, the Garhwal Himalayas finds place in the mythological stories of the Puranic period. The traditional name of Garhwal was Uttarakhand and excavations have revealed that it formed part of the Mauryan Empire. It also finds mention in the 7th-century travelogue of Huen Tsang.

Kumaon has an equally intriguing history. Certain evidences of stone-age settlements have been found in Kumaon. The paintings in the rock shelter at Lakhu Udyar date back to the Mesolithic period. In the medieval years, Kumaon was the seat of the Katyuri Dynasty between the 7th and 11th centuries. Baijinath near Almora was the capital of the dynasty and a center for art. Temple building flourished under the Katyuris and the main architectural innovation introduced by them was the replacement of bricks with hewn stone.

Fast Facts of Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal the land blessed with sparking river, dense forest & towering mountain.Uttaranchal offers you an array of choices. From skiing to trekking, to camping, to rafting, to wildlife, Uttaranchal is a paradise for adventure freaks.

Major Mountain Range (Peaks)(Height in mts.):

Designed & Compiled By
Ms Reetu Chaddha

Information Brought to you by Century Yellow Pages