SUPPORT THE WORK
GetWiki
Uttarakhand
ARTICLE SUBJECTS
being →
database →
ethics →
fiction →
history →
internet →
language →
linux →
logic →
method →
news →
policy →
purpose →
religion →
science →
software →
truth →
unix →
wiki →
ARTICLE TYPES
essay →
feed →
help →
system →
wiki →
ARTICLE ORIGINS
critical →
forked →
imported →
original →
Uttarakhand
please note:
- the content below is remote from Wikipedia
- it has been imported raw for GetWiki
{{Short description|State in northern India}}{{Use Indian English|date=May 2024}}{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}- the content below is remote from Wikipedia
- it has been imported raw for GetWiki
| factoids | |
|---|---|
Etymology
{{See also|List of Indian state and union territory name etymologies}}Uttarakhand's name is derived from the Sanskrit words uttara () meaning 'north', and khaṇá¸a () meaning 'section' or 'part', altogether simply meaning 'Northern Part'. The name finds mention in early Hindu scriptures as the combined region of "Kedarkhand" (present day Garhwal) and "Manaskhand" (present day Kumaon). Uttarakhand was also the ancient Puranic term for the central stretch of the Indian Himalayas.Kandari, O. P., & Gusain, O. P. (Eds.). (2001). Garhwal Himalaya: Nature, Culture & Society. Srinagar, Garhwal: Transmedia.However, the region was given the name Uttaranchal by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led union government and Uttarakhand state government when they started a new round of state reorganisation in 1998. Chosen as per BJP claims for its allegedly less-separatist connotations, since the proposed state name Uttarakhand had been used exclusively in all major statehood protests. The name change generated widespread controversy among many activists and citizens who saw it as a political act meant to hijack credit from the activist party Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.Negi, B. (2001). "Round One to the Lobbyists, Politicians and Bureaucrats." The Indian Express, 2 January. The name Uttarakhand remained popular in the region, while Uttaranchal was promulgated only through official usage.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}In August 2006, Union Council of Ministers assented to the demands of the Uttaranchal Legislative Assembly and leading members of the Uttarakhand statehood movement to rename Uttaranchal state as Uttarakhand. Legislation to that effect was passed by the Uttaranchal Legislative Assembly in October 2006,NEWS,weblink United News of India, Uttaranchal becomes Uttarakhand, The Tribune (India), 13 October 2006, 22 January 2013, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130511030304weblink">weblink 11 May 2013, dmy-all, and the Union Council of Ministers brought in the bill in the winter session of Parliament. The bill was passed by the Parliament and signed into law by then President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam in December 2006, and since 1 January 2007 the state has been known as Uttarakhand.WEB,weblink Uttaranchal is Uttarakhand, BJP cries foul, Chopra, Jasi Kiran, 2 January 2007, 22 January 2013,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130510141050weblink">weblink 10 May 2013, dead, The Times of India, dmy-all,History
{{See also|Garhwal Kingdom|Kumaon Kingdom|Uttarakhand movement}}Archaeological evidence supports the existence of humans in the region since prehistoric times. JOURNAL, Bahuguna, Vijay, Joshi, Maheshwar, Prehistoric rock engravings and painting: New discoveries in Uttarakhand Himalaya,weblink 14 February 2024, 14 February 2024,weblink live, Though initially, it was believed that due to harsh climate and mountainous terrain, this was a barren and uninhabited land. But after various excavations and the study of ancient literature, it is now established that the history of Uttarakhand goes back to Stone Age.JOURNAL, Danish, Mohd, 1 January 2022, The Prehistoric Rock Shelter Paintings Of Lakhudiyar, Kumaon Uttarakhand, India-A Study,weblink Zeichen JOURNAL, 14 February 2024, 14 February 2024,weblink live, Evidences of Stone Age settlements have been found in various parts of Kumaon and Garhwal, particularly notable are the rock shelters at Lakhudyar, Almora.WEB, Uttarakhand: ASI ने किया बड़ा खà¥à¤²à¤¾à¤¸à¤¾, लखà¥à¤¡à¤¿à¤¯à¤¾à¤° की गà¥à¤«à¤¾à¤à¤‚ खोलेंगी आदि मानव कालीन रहसà¥à¤¯, यहां जानें सबकà¥à¤›,weblink 14 February 2024, Amar Ujala, hi, 14 February 2024,weblink live, (File:Rectangle designs, Painted Rock Shelter, Prehistoric art, Lakhudiyar caves, Hindu, Almora, Uttarakhand, India, One Lakh caves, India.jpg|thumb|left|Stone Age Paintings at Lakhudiyar Caves, Almora)The region formed a part of the Uttarakuru Kingdom during the Vedic age of Ancient India. Among the first major dynasties of Kumaon were the Kunindas in the second century BCE who practised an early form of Shaivism. Ashokan edicts at Kalsi show the early presence of Buddhism in this region.Ancient rock paintings, rock shelters, paleolithic age stone tools (hundreds of thousands of years old), and megaliths provide evidence that the mountains of the region have been inhabited since prehistoric times. There are also archaeological remains that show the existence of early Vedic ({{circa|1500 BCE}}) practices in the area.WEB, Uttarakhand,weblink Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 17 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120702082101weblink">weblink 2 July 2012, The Pauravas, Khasas, Kiratas, Nandas, Mauryas, Kushanas, Kunindas, Guptas, Karkotas, Palas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Katyuris, Raikas, Chands, Parmars or Panwars, Mallas, Shahs and the British have ruled Uttarakhand in turns.Among the first major dynasties of Garhwal and Kumaon were the Kunindas in the second century BCE who practised an early form of Shaivism and traded salt with Western Tibet. It is evident from the Ashokan edict at Kalsi in Western Garhwal that Buddhism made inroads in this region. Shamanic Hindu practices deviating from Hindu orthodoxy also persisted here. However, Garhwal and Kumaon were restored to nominal Vedic Hindu rule due to the travels of Shankaracharya and the arrival of migrants from the plains.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}{{multiple image| perrow = 2| total_width = 400| caption_align = center| align = left| image1 = Sun Temple, Katarmal.jpg| caption1 = Katarmal Sun Temple constructed by the Katyuri Kings in the 9th century CE| image2 = Dandeshwar temple complex (6133874878).jpg| caption2 = Jageshwar Temples Complex are a group of over 100 Hindu temples dated between 7th and 12th century.}}Between the 4th and 14th centuries, the Katyuri dynasty dominated lands of varying extents from the Katyur valley (modern-day Baijnath) in Kumaon. The historically significant temples at Jageshwar are believed to have been built by the Katyuris and later remodelled by the Chands. Other peoples of the Tibeto-Burman group known as Kirata are thought to have settled in the northern highlands as well as in pockets throughout the region, and are believed to be ancestors of the modern day Bhotiya, Raji, Jad, and Banrawat people.Saklani, D. P. (1998). Ancient communities of the Himalaya. New Delhi: Indus Pub. Co.During the medieval period, the region was consolidated under the Katyuri rulers of Kumaon also known as 'Kurmanchal Kingdom'.BOOK, PÄṇá¸e, BadarÄ«datta, History of Kumaun : English version of "Kumaon ka itihas", 1993, Shree Almora Book Depot, 81-900209-5-1, 645861049, After the fall of Katyuris, the region was divided into the Kumaon Kingdom and the Garhwal Kingdom.File:Srinagar, Garhwal, 19th century.jpg|thumb|left|Rope bridge across Alaknanda River at Srinagar, 1784-94 – the capital of the Garhwal KingdomGarhwal KingdomFile:Fort and the capital city of Kali Kumaon, Champawat, 1815.jpg|thumb|left|Fort of Champawat, 1815 – the first capital of the Chand kings of Kumaon KingdomKumaon KingdomBy the medieval period, the region was consolidated under the Garhwal Kingdom in the west and the Kumaon Kingdom in the east. During this period, learning and new forms of painting (the Pahari school of art) developed.Pande, B. D. (1993). History of Kumaun: English version of "Kumaun Ka Itihas". Almora, U.P., India: Shyam Prakashan: Shree Almora Book Depot. Modern-day Garhwal was likewise unified under the rule of Parmars who, along with many Brahmins and Rajputs, also arrived from the plains.Rawat, A. S. (1989). History of Garhwal, 1358–1947: an erstwhile kingdom in the Himalayas. New Delhi: Indus Pub. Co. In 1791, the expanding Gorkha Empire of Nepal overran Almora, the seat of the Kumaon Kingdom. It was annexed to the Kingdom of Nepal by Amar Singh Thapa. In 1803, the Garhwal Kingdom also fell to the Gurkhas. After the Anglo-Nepalese War, this region was ceded to the British as part of the Treaty of Sugauli and the erstwhile Kumaon Kingdom along with the eastern region of Garhwal Kingdom was merged with the Ceded and Conquered Provinces. In 1816, the Garhwal Kingdom was re-established from a smaller region in Tehri as a princely state. In the southern part of Uttarakhand in Haridwar district (earlier part of Saharanpur till 1988), the dominance and kingship (rajya) was exercises by Gujar chiefs, the area was under control of Parmar (Panwar or Khubars) Gujars in eastern Saharanpur including Haridwar in kingship of Raja Sabha Chandra of Jabarhera (Jhabrera). Gujars of the Khubar (Panwar) gotra held more than 500 villages there in upper Doab, and that situation was confirmed in 1759 in a grant by a Rohilla governor of 505 villages and 31 hamlets to one Manohar Singh Gujar (written in some records as Raja Nahar Singh son of Sabha Chandra). In 1792 Ram Dayal and his son Sawai Singh were ruling the area but due to some family reasons Ramdayal left Jhabrera and went to Landhaura village, now some villages were under the control of Raja Ramdayal Singh at Landhaura, and some under his son Sawai Singh at Jhabrera. Hence, there were two branches of Jabarhera estate (riyasat) main branch at Jabarhera and the second one at Landhaura, both father and son were ruling simultaneously without any conflicts till the death of Raja Sawai Singh of Jabarhera in 1803. After the death of Sawai Singh total control of powers transferred to Ram Dayal Singh at Landhaura, but some villages were given to descendants of Sawai Singh and her widow to collect revenue. By 1803 the Landhaura villages numbered 794 under Raja Ram Dayal Singh. Raja Ram Dayal Singh died on 29 March 1813.BOOK, Atkinson, Edwin Thomas,weblink Statistical, Descriptive and Historical Account of the North-Western Provinces of India: 2.:Meerut division part 1, 1875, North-Western Provinces Government, en, These holdings, at least those in the original grant made by the Rohilla governor, were initially recognised by the British in land settlements concluded with Ram Dayal and his heirs. As the years passed, more and more settlements appear to have been made with the village communities, however, and by 1850 little remained of the once vast estate of the Landhaura Khübars.BOOK, Raheja, Gloria Goodwin,weblink The Poison in the Gift: Ritual, Prestation, and the Dominant Caste in a North Indian Village, June 1988, University of Chicago Press, 978-0-226-70728-0, en, 16 June 2021, 17 June 2021,weblink live, File:Ceded Conquered Provinces details.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Map of Uttarakhand as part of United Province |Uttarakhand as a part of the Ceded and Conquered ProvincesCeded and Conquered ProvincesAfter India attained independence from the British, the Garhwal Kingdom was merged into the state of Uttar Pradesh, where Uttarakhand composed the Garhwal and Kumaon Divisions.Saklani, A. (1987). The history of a Himalayan princely state: change, conflicts and awakening: an interpretative history of princely state of Tehri Garhwal, U.P., A.D. 1815 to 1949 A.D. (1st ed.). Delhi: Durga Publications. Until 1998, Uttarakhand was the name most commonly used to refer to the region, as various political groups, including the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Uttarakhand Revolutionary Party), began agitating for separate statehood under its banner. Although the erstwhile hill kingdoms of Garhwal and Kumaon were traditional rivals the inseparable and complementary nature of their geography, economy, culture, language, and traditions created strong bonds between the two regions.Aggarwal, J. C., Agrawal, S. P., & Gupta, S. S. (Eds.). (1995). Uttarakhand: past, present, and future. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co. These bonds formed the basis of the new political identity of Uttarakhand, which gained significant momentum in 1994, when demand for separate statehood achieved almost unanimous acceptance among both the local populace and national political parties.Kumar, P. (2000). The Uttarakhand Movement: Construction of a Regional Identity. New Delhi: Kanishka Publishers.The most notable incident during this period was the Rampur Tiraha firing case on the night of 1 October 1994, which led to a public uproar.NEWS, HC quashes CBI report on Rampur Tiraha firing,weblink 31 July 2003, 28 July 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121020023855weblink">weblink 20 October 2012, The Times of India, dead, On 24 September 1998, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council passed the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, which began the process of forming a new state.Reorganisation Bill passed by UP Govt {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907185215weblink |date=7 September 2009 }} The Indian Express, 24 September 1998. Two years later the Parliament of India passed the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 and thus, on 9 November 2000, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India.WEB, Bhaskar, Arushi, 9 November 2022, Uttarakhand Foundation Day: The long struggle for the hill state,weblink 31 December 2022, The Indian Express, en, 31 December 2022,weblink live, File:Uttar Pradesh-Uttarakhand.svg|thumb|right|alt=Map of Uttarakhand as part of Uttar Pradesh|Uttarakhand as a part of Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttarakhand is also well known for the mass agitation of the 1970s that led to the formation of the Chipko environmental movementGuha, R. (2000). The unquiet woods: ecological change and peasant resistance in the Himalaya (Expanded ed.). Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. and other social movements. Though primarily a livelihood movement rather than a forest conservation movement, it went on to become a rallying point for many future environmentalists, environmental protests, and movements the world over and created a precedent for non-violent protest.BOOK, Robbins, Paul, Political Ecology: A Critical Introduction, Wiley (publisher), Wiley, 194,weblinkweblink 10 January 2016, live, 9 August 2004, 978-1-4051-0266-7, It stirred up the existing civil society in India, which began to address the issues of tribal and marginalised people. So much so that, a quarter of a century later, India Today mentioned the people behind the "forest satyagraha" of the Chipko movement as among "100 people who shaped India".WEB, Agarwal, Anil, The Chipko Movement,weblink India Today, 29 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140823085113weblink">weblink 23 August 2014, One of Chipko's most salient features was the mass participation of female villagers.Mishra, A., & Tripathi, (1978). Chipko movement: Uttaranchal women's bid to save forest wealth. New Delhi: People's Action/Gandhi Book House. It was largely female activists that played pivotal role in the movement. Gaura Devi was the leading activist who started this movement, other participants were Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Sunderlal Bahuguna, and Ghanshyam Raturi, the popular Chipko poet.WEB, Chipko Movement, India,weblink International Institute for Sustainable Development, 29 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120321223139weblink">weblink 21 March 2012,Geography
{{See also|Ecology of the Himalayas|Geology of the Himalayas}}File:Nanda devi.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Nanda Devi|With the elevation of {{convert|7816|m|ft}} above sea level, Nanda Devi is the highest mountain in Uttarakhand and the second-highest mountain in India, following Kangchenjunga in SikkimSikkimFile:SHARDA SAGAR DAM 01.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Sharda Sagar Reservoir|With the elevation of {{convert|190|m|ft}} above sea level, Sharda Sagar Reservoir is the lowest land point in Uttarakhand.]]Uttarakhand has a total area of {{cvt|53,566|km2}}, of which 86% is mountainous and 65% is covered by forest. Most of the northern part of the state is covered by high Himalayan peaks and glaciers. In the first half of the nineteenth century, the expanding development of Indian roads, railways, and other physical infrastructure was giving rise to concerns over indiscriminate logging, particularly in the Himalaya. Two of the most important rivers in Hinduism originate in the glaciers of Uttarakhand, the Ganges at Gangotri and the Yamuna at Yamunotri. They are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts, and streams.Negi, S. S. (1991). Himalayan rivers, lakes, and glaciers. New Delhi: Indus Pub. Co. These two along with Badrinath and Kedarnath form the Chota Char Dham, a holy pilgrimage for the Hindus.WEB,weblink Chardham to get rail connectivity; Indian Railways pilgrimage linking project to cost Rs 43.29k crore, India.com, 12-May-2017, 28 February 2023, 6 November 2022,weblink live, Chard Dham Yatra {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512200341weblink |date=12 May 2009 }} – Govt. of Uttarakhand, Official website.weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140502222038weblink">Char Dham yatra kicks off as portals open – Hindustan TimesWEB,weblink Destination Profiles of the Holy Char Dhams, Uttarakhand, 18 April 2013, 28 February 2023, 9 March 2023,weblink live, The state hosts the Bengal tiger in Jim Corbett National Park, the oldest national park of the Indian subcontinent. The Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the upper expanses of Bhyundar Ganga near Joshimath in Gharwal region, is known for the variety and rarity of its flowers and plants.WEB,weblink How Valley of Flowers got World Heritage Site tag, 17 October 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130922190821weblink">weblink 22 September 2013, One who raised this was Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, who visited the region. As a consequence, Lord Dalhousie issued the Indian Forest Charter in 1855, reversing the previous laissez-faire policy. The following Indian Forest Act of 1878 put Indian forestry on a solid scientific basis. A direct consequence was the founding of the Imperial Forest School at Dehradun by Dietrich Brandis in 1878. Renamed the 'Imperial Forest Research Institute' in 1906, it is now known as the Forest Research Institute.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}The model "Forest Circles" around Dehradun, used for training, demonstration and scientific measurements, had a lasting positive influence on the forests and ecology of the region. The Himalayan ecosystem provides habitat for many animals (including bharal, snow leopards, leopards and tigers), plants, and rare herbs.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}(File:India Uttarakhand relief map.svg|thumb|right|alt=Uttarakhand Relief Map|Topography of Uttarakhand)Uttarakhand lies on the southern slope of the Himalaya range, and the climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at the lower elevations. The highest elevations are covered by ice and bare rock. Below them, between {{convert|3000|and|5000|m|ft}} are the western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows. The temperate western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests grow just below the tree line. At {{convert|3000|to|2600|m|ft}} elevation they transition to the temperate western Himalayan broadleaf forests, which lie in a belt from {{convert|2600|to|1500|m|ft}} elevation. Below {{convert|1500|m|ft}} elevation lie the Himalayan subtropical pine forests. The Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests and the drier Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands cover the lowlands along the Uttar Pradesh border in a belt locally known as Bhabar. These lowland forests have mostly been cleared for agriculture, but a few pockets remain.Negi, S. S. (1995). Uttarakhand: land and people. New Delhi: MD Pub.In June 2013 several days of extremely heavy rain caused devastating floods in the region, resulting in more than 5000 people missing and presumed dead. The flooding was referred to in the Indian media as a "Himalayan Tsunami".{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}On 7 February 2021, floods emerged from the Nanda Devi mountain glaciers, devastating locations along the Rishi Ganga, Dhauli Ganga and Alaknanda Rivers, resulting in many people reported missing or killed, yet to be numbered. The damages include Rini village, several river dams and the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower Plant.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}During the last five years Uttarakhand witnessed number of forest fires. These fires include 2020 Uttarakhand forest fire and many others. Some of the consequences of these forest fires include loss of life , shrinking of forest areas , loss of biodiversity and decrease in Ecotourism in the state.NEWS, Why Uttarakhand burns: The Himalayan state has emerged as India’s most ecologically fragile. We’re to blame,weblink The Times of India, 0971-8257, 7 May 2024, 7 May 2024,Flora and fauna
{{See also|Indomalayan realm}}Moschus chrysogaster.jpg|Alpine Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster)Golden mahseer (Tor putitora) Babai River.jpg| Golden Mahseer (Tor putitora)Himalayan Monal, Male (28466143101).jpg| Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus)Davidraju Common peacock-shillong.jpg|West Himalayan Common Peacock (Papilio bianor polyctor)Uttarakhand has a diversity of flora and fauna. It has a recorded forest area of {{cvt|34,666|km2}}, which constitutes 65% of the total area of the state.WEB, Uttarakhand Annual Plan 2011–12 Finalisation Meeting Between Hon'ble Dputy Chairman, Planning Commission & Hon'ble Chief Minister, Uttarakhand,weblink planningcommission.nic.in, 3 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120515134301weblink">weblink 15 May 2012, Uttarakhand is home to rare species of plants and animals, many of which are protected by sanctuaries and reserves. National parks in Uttarakhand include the Jim Corbett National Park (the oldest national park of India) in Nainital and Pauri Garhwal District, and Valley of Flowers National Park & Nanda Devi National Park in Chamoli District, which together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A number of plant species in the valley are internationally threatened, including several that have not been recorded from elsewhere in Uttarakhand.WEB, Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks,weblink UNESCO, 3 July 2012, live,weblink 25 June 2012, Rajaji National Park in Haridwar, Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal District and Govind Pashu Vihar National Park & Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi District are some other protected areas in the state.WEB, Wildlife Eco-Tourism in Uttarakhand,weblinkweblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091123040254weblink">weblink dead, 23 November 2009, uttarakhandforest.org, 14 July 2012, Leopards are found in areas that are abundant in hills but may also venture into the lowland jungles. Smaller felines include the jungle cat, fishing cat, and leopard cat. Other mammals include four kinds of deer (barking, sambar, hog and chital), sloth, Brown and Himalayan black bears, Indian grey mongooses, otters, yellow-throated martens, bharal, Indian pangolins, and langur and rhesus monkeys. In the summer, elephants can be seen in herds of several hundred. Marsh crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris), gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) and other reptiles are also found in the region. Local crocodiles were saved from extinction by captive breeding programs and subsequently re-released into the Ramganga river.Riley, Laura; William Riley (2005):208. Nature's Strongholds: The World's Great Wildlife Reserves. Princeton University Press. {{ISBN|0-691-12219-9}}. Several freshwater terrapins and turtles like the Indian sawback turtle (Kachuga tecta), brahminy river turtle (Hardella thurjii), and Ganges softshell turtle (Trionyx gangeticus) are found in the rivers. Butterflies and birds of the region include red helen (Papilio helenus), the great eggfly (Hypolimnos bolina), common tiger (Danaus genutia), pale wanderer (Pareronia avatar), jungle babbler, tawny-bellied babbler, great slaty woodpecker, red-breasted parakeet, orange-breasted green pigeon and chestnut-winged cuckoo.BOOK, K. P. Sharma, Garhwal & Kumaon: A Guide for Trekkers and Tourists,weblink 1998, Cicerone Press Limited, 978-1-85284-264-2, 56–, 9 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130603060215weblink">weblink 3 June 2013, In 2011, a rare migratory bird, the bean goose, was also seen in the Jim Corbett National Park. A critically endangered bird, last seen in 1876 is the Himalayan quail endemic to the western Himalayas of the state.WEB, A Rare Visit of Ben Goose at Corbett,weblink corbett-national-park.com, 15 April 2015, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150415132138weblink">weblink 15 April 2015, 11 May 2012, Evergreen oaks, rhododendrons, and conifers predominate in the hills. Prunus cerasoides (pahiyya), sal (Shorea robusta), silk cotton tree (Bombax ciliata), Dalbergia sissoo, Mallotus philippensis, Acacia catechu, Bauhinia racemosa, and Bauhinia variegata (camel's foot tree) are some other trees of the region. Albizia chinensis, the sweet sticky flowers of which are favoured by sloth bears, are also part of the region's flora. A decade long study by Prof. Chandra Prakash Kala concluded that the Valley of Flowers is endowed with 520 species of higher plants (angiosperms, gymnosperms and pteridophytes), of these 498 are flowering plants. The park has many species of medicinal plants including Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Picrorhiza kurroa, Aconitum violaceum, Polygonatum multiflorum, Fritillaria roylei, and Podophyllum hexandrum.Kala, C.P. 2005. The Valley of Flowers; A newly declared World Heritage Site. Current Science, 89 (6): 919–920.Kala, C.P. 2004. The Valley of Flowers; Myth and Reality. International Book Distributors, Dehradun, India In the summer season of 2016, a large portion of forests in Uttarakhand caught fires and rubbled to ashes during Uttarakhand forest fires incident, which resulted in the damage of forest resources worth billions of rupees and death of 7 people with hundreds of wild animals died during fires. During the 2021 Uttarakhand forest fires, there was widespread damage to the forested areas in Tehri district.NEWS, PTI, 6 April 2021, Indian Air Force Battles Uttarakhand Forest Blaze, 75 New Fires Reported,weblink 7 April 2021, NDTV, 6 April 2021,weblink live, A number of native plants are deemed to be of medicinal value.JOURNAL, Rawat, Rakhi, Vashistha, D P, Common Herbal Plant in Uttarakhand, Used in The Popular Medicinal Preparation in Ayurveda,weblink International Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemical Research, 5 March 2021, 12 June 2021,weblink live, September–November 2011, 3, 3, 64–73, 0975-4873, The government-run Herbal Research and Development Institute carries out research and helps conserve medicinal herbs that are found in abundance in the region. Local traditional healers still use herbs, in accordance with classical Ayurvedic texts, for diseases that are usually cured by modern medicine.JOURNAL, Ethnomedicinal Investigation of Medicinal Plants of Chakrata Region (Uttarakhand) Used in the Traditional Medicine for Diabetes by Jaunsari Tribe, Ankit, Kumar, Sonali, Aswal, Ashutosh, Chauhan, Ruchi Badoni, Semwal, Abhimanyu, Kumar, Deepak Kumar, Semwal, 1 June 2019, Natural Products and Bioprospecting, 9, 3, 175–200, 10.1007/s13659-019-0202-5, 30968350, 6538708, File:Brahmakamal Kaluvinayak Chamoli Uttarakhand 2014-08-23.jpg|Brahma Kamal (Saussurea obvallata)File:Rhododendron in full bloom! (8620051426).jpg|Burans (Rhododendron arboreum)File:Kafal(blackberry) 2014-06-04 08-48.jpg|Kaphal (Myrica esculenta)File:Brännässla (Urtica Dioica).jpg|Kandali (Urtica dioica)File:Wild Himalaya Cherry's blooming at Doi suthep-pui national park.jpg|Paiyya (Prunus cerasoides)Demographics
{{See also|List of cities in Uttarakhand by population|List of people from Uttarakhand|Garhwali people|Kumaoni people}}{{Historical populationSocial groups
Uttarakhand has a multiethnic population spread across two geocultural regions: Garhwal, and Kumaon. A large portion (about 35%) of the population is Kshatriya (various clans of erstwhile landowning rulers and their descendants), including members of the native Garhwalis, and Kumaonis as well as a number of migrants.NEWS, Bhardwaj, Ashutosh, Uttarakhand elections: Across the border; next door to UP, new caste calculus,weblink 16 June 2023, The Indian Express, 15 February 2017, en, 16 June 2023,weblink live, NEWS, माहेशà¥à¤µà¤°à¥€, सà¥à¤§à¤¾à¤‚शà¥, उतà¥à¤¤à¤°à¤¾à¤–ंड: जहां सिरà¥à¤« बà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¹à¥à¤®à¤£-ठाकà¥à¤° जाति वाले CM बने, कांगà¥à¤°à¥‡à¤¸ कà¥à¤¯à¥‹à¤‚ खेल रही दलित कारà¥à¤¡?,weblink 16 June 2023, Aaj Tak, 10 February 2022, hi, 16 June 2023,weblink live, According to a 2007 study by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Uttarakhand has the highest percentage of Brahmins of any state in India, with approximately 20% of the population.MAGAZINE, Brahmins in India,weblink Outlook (Indian magazine), Outlook, 4 June 2007, 17 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140531222946weblink">weblink 31 May 2014, Uttarakhand is among the few Indian states where the historic Upper Caste forms a major share of the population.Of the rest 18.3% of the population is classified as Other Backward Classes (OBCs).BOOK, Handbook of Social Welfare Statistics, 2018,weblink 238, 17 January 2022, 18 January 2022,weblink live, 18.76% of the population belongs to the Scheduled Castes (an official term for the lower castes in the traditional caste system in India). Scheduled Tribes such as the Jaunsaris, Bhotiyas, Tharus, Buksas, Rajis, Jads and Banrawats constitute 2.89% of the population. Several non-scheduled tribal groups such as Shaukas and Gurjars are also found here. Gurjars and Bhotiyas are nomadic tribes while Jaunsaris are completely settled tribe.WEB, 6 September 2021, Shepherds Of Uttarakhand - Himalaya Shelter, Details,weblink 5 May 2023, en-US, 5 May 2023,weblink live,Languages
{{Pie chart| thumb = right| caption = Languages in Uttarakhand (2011 census)Religion
{{Pie chart| thumb = rightGovernment and politics
{{See also|Elections in Uttarakhand|Local elections in Uttarakhand}}Following the Constitution of India, Uttarakhand, like all Indian states, has a parliamentary system of representative democracy for its government.The Governor is the constitutional and formal head of the government and is appointed for a five-year term by the President of India on the advice of the Union government. The present Governor of Uttarakhand is Gurmit Singh.NEWS,weblink Lt Gen Gurmit Singh sworn in as Governor of Uttarakhand, 15 September 2021,weblink 15 September 2021, live, The Economic Times, 15 September 2021, The Chief Minister, who holds the real executive powers, is the head of the party or coalition garnering the majority in the state elections. The current Chief Minister of Uttarakhand is Pushkar Singh Dhami.NEWS,weblink Tirath Singh Rawat sworn in as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, 10 March 2021, The Hindu, 10 March 2021, The unicameral Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly consists of 70 members, known as Members of the Legislative Assembly or MLAs,WEB, Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly,weblink legislativebodiesinindia.nic.in, 3 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120409004806weblink">weblink 9 April 2012, and special office bearers such as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, elected by the members. Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker, or the Deputy Speaker in the Speaker's absence. The Uttarakhand Council of Ministers is appointed by the Governor of Uttarakhand on the advice of the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and reports to the Legislative Assembly. Leader of the Opposition leads the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. Auxiliary authorities that govern at a local level are known as gram panchayats in rural areas, municipalities in urban areas and municipal corporations in metro areas. All state and local government offices have a five-year term. The state also elects 5 members to Lok Sabha and 3 seats to Rajya Sabha of the Parliament of India.WEB, Our Parliament,weblink Parliamentofindia.nic.in, 3 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120709235221weblink">weblink 9 July 2012, The judiciary consists of the Uttarakhand High Court, located at Nainital, and a system of lower courts. The incumbent Acting Chief Justice of Uttarakhand is Sanjaya Kumar Mishra.NEWS, Justice Malimath to be acting CJ of U'khand HC,weblink The Times of India, 18 July 2020, 28 July 2020, 28 July 2020,weblink live, Politics in Uttarakhand is dominated by the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Despite the prominence of the regional political party Uttarakhand Kranti Dal pre-statehood, since the formation of the state only the BJP and the INC have ruled the state. Following the hung mandate in the 2012 Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly election, the Indian National Congress, having the maximum number of seats, formed a coalition government headed by Harish Rawat that collapsed on 27 March 2016, following the political turmoil as about nine MLAs of the INC rebelled against the party and supported the opposition party BJP, causing Harish Rawat government to lose the majority in assembly.However, on 21 April 2016 the High Court of Uttarakhand quashed the President's rule questioning its legality and maintained a status quo prior to 27 March 2016 when 9 rebel MLAs of the INC voted against the Harish Rawat government in assembly on state's money appropriation bill. On 22 April 2016 the Supreme Court of India stayed the order of High Court till 27 April 2016, thereby once again reviving the President's rule. In later developments regarding this matter, the Supreme Court ordered a floor test to be held on 10 May with the rebels being barred from voting. On 11 May at the opening of sealed result of the floor test, under the supervision of Supreme Court, the Harish Rawat government was revived following the victory in floor test held in Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Administrative divisions
{{See also|List of districts of Uttarakhand|List of tehsils of Uttarakhand|List of parganas of Uttarakhand|List of community development blocks of Uttarakhand|List of urban local bodies in Uttarakhand|List of municipal corporations in Uttarakhand}}(File:Kumaon Garhwal.jpg|thumb|Kumaon and Garhwal in Uttarakhand)There are 13 districts in Uttarakhand, which are grouped into two divisions, Kumaon and Garhwal. Each division is administered by a divisional commissioner. Four new districts named Didihat, Kotdwar, Ranikhet, and Yamunotri were declared by then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Ramesh Pokhriyal, on 15 August 2011 but yet to be officially formed.WEB, Uttarakhand CM announces four new districts,weblink Zee News, 1 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120814065854weblink">weblink 14 August 2012, 15 August 2011, {|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"!| District!| Division!| Population in 2011 CensusCulture
{{See also|List of Uttarakhand state symbols}}Architecture and crafts
{{See also|List of Monuments of National Importance in Uttarakhand|List of State Protected Monuments in Uttarakhand}}File:Hanol Mahasu04.jpg|Mahasu Devta Temple at Hanol is notable for its traditional wooden architecture.File:Architectural details of a Dharamshala, estb. 1822, Haridwar.jpg|Architectural details of a Dharamshala, established 1822, HaridwarFile:The Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Shri K.C. Pant speaking at the releasing of the Uttaranchal crafts map at the exhibition of "Artistic Crafts Maps of Jharkhand.jpg|The releasing of the Uttaranchal crafts mapAmong the prominent local crafts is wood carving known as Likhai, which appears most frequently in the ornately decorated temples of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand. Intricately carved designs of floral patterns, deities, and geometrical motifs also decorate the doors, windows, ceilings, and walls of village houses. Paintings and murals are used to decorate both houses and temples. File:Abhisarika-nayika-mola-ram.jpg|Abhisarika Nayika, a painting by Mola RamGarwhali Miniature painting is a form of miniature painting that flourished in the region between the 17th and 19th century. Mola Ram is credited as the true father of the Garhwali Branch of the wider Pahari School. Kumaoni art often is geometrical in nature, while Garhwali art is known for its closeness to nature.Aipan is a GI certified Kumaoni ritual folk artNEWS, GI tag for 7 indigenous products of Uttarakhand,weblink 14 February 2024, The Times of India, 0971-8257, 14 February 2024,weblink live, done mainly during special ceremonies, the festival of Diwali, marriages and other religious rituals. It's predominantly female practitioners believe that it invokes a divine power which brings about good fortune and deters evil. The art is special as it is done on empty walls, which are brick-red in colour, called Geru. The actual art is done with a white paste made of rice flour.WEB, pratibha, 15 July 2015, D'source Design Gallery on Aipan Uttarakhand Part 1,weblink 14 February 2024, www.dsource.in, en, 14 February 2024,weblink live, Jyuti patta is a class of water color paintings done on rituals, called Jyuti. Some scholars also consider Jyuti to be synonymous with the word mother of the world. To give concrete form to the deity, two-dimensional geometry is given expression in the form of frescoes. This is a geometric or decorative semi-graphic structure in which different colours and symbols are used. This structure called Jyuti also gets a new dimension by the use of ochre or biswar of Tepan. Jyunti is prepared on the surface of wall or paper and the composition is given with cotton and a brush of limiter. In this artform, various qualities of a specific deity are shown.WEB, Uttranchal - Juthi Mathruka pattu,weblink 14 February 2024, ignca.gov.in, 29 September 2022,weblink live, Other crafts of Uttarakhand include handcrafted gold jewellery, basketry from Garhwal, woollen shawls, scarves, and rugs. The latter are mainly produced by the Bhotiyas of northern Uttarakhand.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Arts and literature
{{See also|Dehradun Literature Festival}}File:Sumitra nandan pant museum, kausani.jpg|thumb|alt=Sumitranandan Pant museum, Kausani|Sumitranandan Pant Museum, leftUttarakhand's diverse ethnicities have created a rich literary tradition in languages including Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari, and Tharu. Many of its traditional tales originated in the form of lyrical ballads and chanted by itinerant singers and are now considered classics of Hindi literature. Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Badri Datt Pandey, Ganga Prasad Vimal; Mohan Upreti, Naima Khan Upreti, Prasoon Joshi, Shailesh Matiyani, Shekhar Joshi, Shivani, Taradutt Gairola, Tom Alter; Lalit Kala Akademi fellow – Ranbir Singh Bisht; Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees – B. M. Shah, Narendra Singh Negi; Sahitya Akademi Awardees – Leeladhar Jagudi, Shivprasad Dabral Charan, Manglesh Dabral, Manohar Shyam Joshi, Ramesh Chandra Shah, Ruskin Bond and Viren Dangwal; Jnanpith Awardee and Sahitya Akademi fellow Sumitranandan Pant are some major literary, artistic and theatre personalities from the state. prominent philosophers, Indian independence activists and social-environmental activists; Anil Prakash Joshi, Basanti Devi, Gaura Devi, Govind Ballabh Pant, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Deep Joshi, Hargovind Pant, Kalu Singh Mahara, Kunwar Singh Negi, Mukandi Lal, Nagendra Saklani, Sri Dev Suman, Ram Prasad Nautiyal, Sunderlal Bahuguna and Vandana Shiva are also from Uttarakhand.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}{{Clear}}Cuisine
{{See also|Kumaoni cuisine}}File:Bal mithai.jpg|thumb|Bal MithaiBal MithaiThe primary food of Uttarakhand is vegetables with wheat being a staple, although non-vegetarian food is also served. A distinctive characteristic of Uttarakhand cuisine is the sparing use of tomatoes, milk, and milk-based products. Coarse grain with high fibre content is very common in Uttarakhand due to the harsh terrain. Crops most commonly associated with Uttarakhand are Buckwheat (locally called Kotu or Kuttu) and the regional crops, Maduwa and Jhangora, particularly in the interior regions of Kumaon and Garhwal. Generally, either Desi Ghee or Mustard oil is used for the purpose of cooking food. Simple recipes are made interesting with the use of hash seeds Jakhya as spice, chutney made of Bhang is also a regional cuisine. Bal Mithai is a popular fudge-like sweet. Other popular dishes include Dubuk, Chains, Kap, Bhatiya, Jaula, Phana, Paliyo, Chutkani and Sei. In sweets; Swal, Ghughut/Khajur, Arsa, Mishri, Gatta and Gulgulas are popular.Many regional variations of Kadhi called Jhoi or Jholi is also popular.Subodh Upadhyay, An Essence of Himalaya, a book about Uttarakhand cuisine Another staple of the Kumaon region is a black soybean dal referred to as Bhatt or chudkani. A grinded dal chaisu is also popular in the Garhwal region.The state has a predominant non-vegetarian population, with some estimates suggesting 75% of the population being non-vegetarian. Various boar, chicken, mutton and hare recipes are popular in the region. A popular mutton dish bhutwa, is made from goat intestine and other offcuts.Dances and music
File:Chanchari dance.jpg|thumb|left|Women performing Chanchari – a popular folk dance from Danpur region in Kumaon.]]The dances of the region are connected to life and human existence and exhibit myriad human emotions. Langvir Nritya is a dance form for males that resembles gymnastic movements. Barada Nati folk dance is another dance of Jaunsar-Bawar, which is practised during some religious festivals. Other well-known dances include Hurka Baul, Jhora-Chanchri, Chhapeli, Thadya, Jhumaila, Pandav, Chauphula, and Chholiya.WEB, उतà¥à¤¤à¤°à¤¾à¤–ंड में छोलिया है सबसे पà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤¨à¤¾ लोकनृतà¥à¤¯, जानिठइसकी खास बातें,weblink 21 July 2020, Dainik Jagran, hi, 21 July 2020,weblink live, WEB, Folk Dances Of North India,weblink culturalindia.net, 29 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120718052314weblink">weblink 18 July 2012, Music is an integral part of the Uttarakhandi culture. Popular types of folk songs include Mangal, Basanti, Khuder and Chhopati.WEB, Folk Songs of Uttarakhand,weblink aboututtarakhand.com, 29 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120717183928weblink">weblink 17 July 2012, These folk songs are played on instruments including Dhol, Damau, Turri, Ransingha, Dholki, Daur, Thali, Bhankora, Mandan and Mashakbaja. "Bedu Pako Baro Masa" is a popular folk song of Uttarakhand with international fame and legendary status within the state. It serves as the cultural anthem of Uttarakhandi people worldwide.WEB, Bedu Pako,weblink live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150215050139weblink">weblink 15 February 2015, NEWS,weblink Bedu Pako Song – From Uttarakhand to Globe, 16 November 2016, Uttarakhand Stories – Connect to Uttarakhand with eUttarakhand and Share Stories, 9 September 2018,weblink 9 September 2018, live, Music is also used as a medium through which the gods are invoked. Jagar is a form of spirit worship in which the singer, or Jagariya, sings a ballad of the gods, the ballads envoke local deities with allusions to great epics, like Mahabharat and Ramayana, that describe the adventures and exploits of the god being invoked.B. K. Samant, Basanti Bisht, Chander Singh Rahi, Girish Tiwari 'Girda', Gopal Babu Goswami, Heera Singh Rana, Jeet Singh Negi, Meena Rana, Mohan Upreti, Narendra Singh Negi and Pritam Bhartwan are popular folk singers and musicians from the state, so are Bollywood singer Jubin Nautiyal and country singer Bobby Cash.NEWS, Dylan of hills singes CM,weblink The Telegraph, 30 January 2007, 29 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121021153616weblink">weblink 21 October 2012, {{Clear}}Fairs and festivals
The festivals of Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, Ramlila, Ramman of Garhwal, the traditions of Vedic chantings and Yoga are included in the list of Intangible cultural heritage of the UNESCO.WEB, Kumbh Mela,weblink UNESCO Culture Sector, 7 December 2017, 7 December 2020,weblink live, WEB, Ramlila – the Traditional Performance of the Ramayana,weblink UNESCO Culture Sector, 7 September 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121006063939weblink">weblink 6 October 2012, WEB, Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, India,weblink UNESCO Culture Sector, 14 January 2013, 5 November 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20151105115039weblink">weblink live, WEB, The Tradition of Vedic Chanting,weblink UNESCO Culture Sector, 7 September 2009, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20090628222637weblink">weblink 28 June 2009, WEB, Yoga,weblink UNESCO Culture Sector, 2 December 2016, 7 December 2016,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161207184240weblink">weblink live,- Kumauni Holi, in forms including Baithki Holi, Khari Holi, and Mahila Holi, all of which start from Vasant Panchami, are festivals and musical affairs that can last almost a month.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}
- Almora Dussehra is a regional variant of Dussehra, dating back to 1936. It is distinct for burning fifteen distinct effigies, each representing the members of the Hindu mythological villain Ravana's entire bloodline. The effigies are all ornate and exquisitely designed. They are paraded through the city of Almora before finally being set on fire to symbolise the triumph of good over evil.WEB, अलà¥à¤®à¥‹à¤¡à¤¼à¤¾ का दशहरा: यहां होता है पूरे रावण कà¥à¤² का दहन, à¤à¤• दो नहीं फूंके जाते हैं 15 पà¥à¤¤à¤²à¥‡, विदेशी à¤à¥€ हैं मà¥à¤°à¥€à¤¦,weblink 3 May 2024, Amar Ujala, hi,
- Ramman is a agro-religious festival and ritual masked theatre endemic to the Garhwali People in the Saloor Dungra village of the Painkhanda Valley in the Chamoli district. The festival serves as an offering to the village deity, Bhumichetrapal or Bhumiyal Devta, in the courtyard of the village temple. Every day of the festival, the Devta takes a round of the village. The festival lasts for ten days during which time the local epic of Rama is sung and masked dances depicting different aspects of life take place in the courtyard of the Bhumiyal Devta's temple.
- Haridwar Kumbh Mela, one of the major Hindu pilgrimages, takes place in Uttarakhand. Haridwar is one of the four places in India where this mela is organised. Haridwar most recently hosted the Purna Kumbh Mela from Makar Sankranti (14 January 2010) to Vaishakh Purnima Snan (28 April 2010). Hundreds of foreigners joined Indian pilgrims in the festival, which is considered the largest religious gathering in the world.NEWS,weblink Millions dip in Ganges at world's biggest religious festival, 3 November 2017, live,weblink 6 February 2018, 13 April 2010, , The Independent, 14 April 2010
- Phool-Dei is a folk festival which welcomes the spring season in the state. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Hindu month, Chaitra. In some places, the festival is celebrated as carnival and the celebration goes on for a month. The term 'Dei' refers to a ceremonial pudding which is the key food in this festival that is made from jaggery. White flour and curd are also offered. Young children gather together and go to every house in their village/towns with plates full of rice, jaggery, coconut, green leaves, and flowers. In return, they are presented with blessings and gifts like sweets, jaggery, and money. The wishing and blessing part also include placing flowers and rice on the doorsteps of the houses by the children. People of village sing and dance on their folk songs to celebrate the festival of spring along with exchanging wishes for well being and prosperity of their family and relatives.
- Harela is a kumaoni festival hypothesized to date back to the indigenous population. 10-11 days before the Sankranti of Shravan, a bed is made by adding soil in bamboo pots etc. Grains grown during the rainy season like paddy, maize, urad etc. are sown, this is called Hariyala. Harakali Mahotsav, Idols of Gauri Maheshwar, Ganesha and Karkitkeya are made from clay, coloured in them and worshiped with various fruits, flowers, dishes and sweets in a bed of greenery on the night of the month of Sanat. On the second day, the Harela of Uttarang Puja is placed on the head. Sisters and daughters-in-law apply tilak and tilak and put Harela on their heads. They are given gifts.WEB, Uttranchal - Kumaon Ke Parvoutsav v Tyohar (Festival),weblink 14 February 2024, ignca.nic.in, 23 October 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20171023015314weblink">weblink live,
- Ganga Dussehra, Vasant Panchami, Makar Sankranti, Ghee Sankranti, Khatarua, Vat Savitri, and Phul Dei (The festival of spring) are other major festivals. In addition, various fairs like Kanwar Yatra, Kandali Festival, Ramman, Kauthig, Nauchandi Mela, Giddi Mela, Uttarayani Mela and Nanda Devi Raj Jat take place.
Economy
(File:Vannage du riz, Uttarakhand, India.jpg|left|thumb|upright|alt=Rice winnowing|A woman winnowing rice, an important food crop in Uttarakhand)The Uttarakhand state is the second fastest growing state in India.WEB,weblink Madhya Pradesh now fastest growing state, Uttarakhand pips Bihar to reach second, 8 September 2014, The Indian Express, 6 May 2015, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150503223718weblink">weblink 3 May 2015, Its gross state domestic product (GSDP) (at constant prices) more than doubled from {{INR}}24,786 crore in FY2005 to {{INR}}60,898 crore in FY2012. The real GSDP grew at 13.7% (CAGR) during the FY2005–FY2012 period. The contribution of the service sector to the GSDP of Uttarakhand was just over 50% during FY 2012. Per capita income in Uttarakhand is {{INR}} 198738 (FY 2018–19), which is higher than the national average of {{INR}} 126406 (FY 2018–19).MAGAZINE, Gusain, Raju, 31 October 2014,weblink Uttarakhand's per capita income up, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150426104343weblink">weblink 26 April 2015, India Today, 31 October 2023, NEWS,weblink Uttarakhand per capita income rises to Rs 1.03 lakh, Shishir Prashant, 11 July 2014, Business Standard India, 6 May 2015,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20150502134236weblink">weblink 2 May 2015, live, According to the Reserve Bank of India, the total foreign direct investment in the state from April 2000 to October 2009 amounted to US$46.7 million.WEB, Uttarakhand,weblink India Brand Equity Foundation, 17 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120710231926weblink">weblink 10 July 2012, Like most of India, agriculture is one of the most significant sectors of the economy of Uttarakhand. Basmati rice, wheat, soybeans, groundnuts, coarse cereals, pulses, and oil seeds are the most widely grown crops. Fruits like apples, oranges, pears, peaches, lychees, and plums are widely grown and important to the large food processing industry. Agricultural export zones have been set up in the state for lychees, horticulture, herbs, medicinal plants, and basmati rice. During 2010, wheat production was 831 thousand tonnes and rice production was 610 thousand tonnes, while the main cash crop of the state, sugarcane, had a production of 5058 thousand tonnes. As 86% of the state consists of hills, the yield per hectare is not very high. 86% of all croplands are in the plains while the remaining is from the hills.WEB, Uttarakhand: The State Profile,weblink PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 17 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121021054815weblink">weblink 21 October 2012, The state also holds the GI tag for Tejpatta (Cinnamomum tamala) or Indian bay leaf, which is known to add flavour to dishes and also possesses several medicinal properties.NEWS, Tejpatta gets GI tag, Tribune, 7 June 2016,weblink 22 May 2022, en, 22 May 2022,weblink live, {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; width:260px; margin:0 0 1em 1em; background:#f4f5f6; border:#c6c7c8 solid; font-size:90%;"Transport
{{See also|Char Dham Highway|Char Dham Railway}}Uttarakhand has {{cvt|2,683|km}} of roads, of which {{cvt|1,328|km}} are national highways and {{cvt|1,543|km}} are state highways. The State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC), which has been reorganised in Uttarakhand as the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC), is a major constituent of the transport system in the state. The corporation began to work on 31 October 2003 and provides services on interstate and nationalised routes. As of 2012, approximately 1000 buses are being plied by the UTC on 35 nationalised routes along with many other non-nationalised routes. There are also private transport operators operating approximately 3000 buses on non-nationalised routes along with a few interstate routes in Uttarakhand and the neighbouring state of U.P.WEB, Historical Information,weblink Government of Uttarakhand, 29 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120523044129weblink">weblink 23 May 2012, For travelling locally, the state, like most of the country, has auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws. In addition, remote towns and villages in the hills are connected to important road junctions and bus routes by a vast network of crowded share jeeps.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}The air transport network in the state is gradually improving. Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, is the busiest airport in the state with six daily flights to Delhi Airport. Pantnagar Airport, located in Pantnagar of the Kumaon region have 1 daily air service to Delhi and return too. The government is planning to develop Naini Saini Airport in Pithoragarh,NEWS, Govt seeks Rs 25 cr from Centre for Naini-Saini airport,weblink Business Standard, 12 December 2012, 7 August 2014, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20140808060502weblink">weblink 8 August 2014, Bharkot Airport in Chinyalisaur in Uttarkashi district and Gauchar Airport in Gauchar, Chamoli district. There are plans to launch helipad service in Pantnagar and Jolly Grant Airports and other important tourist destinations like Ghangaria and Hemkund Sahib.WEB, Airports in Uttarakhand,weblink uttaranchal-india.com, 29 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120719110702weblink">weblink 19 July 2012, As over 86% of Uttarakhand's terrain consists of hills, railway services are very limited in the state and are largely confined to the plains. In 2011, the total length of railway tracks was about {{cvt|345|km}}. Rail, being the cheapest mode of transport, is the most popular. The most important railway station in Kumaun Division of Uttarakhand is at Kathgodam, 35 kilometres away from Nainital. Kathgodam is the last terminus of the broad gauge line of North East Railways that connects Nainital with Delhi, Dehradun, and Howrah. Other notable railway stations are at Pantnagar, Lalkuan and Haldwani.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Dehradun railway station is a railhead of the Northern Railways.WEB, Dehradun Railway Station,weblink euttaranchal.com, 29 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120814042602weblink">weblink 14 August 2012, Haridwar station is situated on the Delhi–Dehradun and Howrah–Dehradun railway lines. One of the main railheads of the Northern Railways, Haridwar Junction Railway Station is connected by broad gauge line. Roorkee comes under Northern Railway region of Indian Railways on the main Punjab – Mughal Sarai trunk route and is connected to major Indian cities. Other railheads are Rishikesh, Kotdwar and Ramnagar linked to Delhi by daily trains.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Tourism
Valley of flowers uttaranchal full view.JPG|Valley of Flowers National ParkAli bugyal2.jpg|View of a Bugyal (meadow) in UttarakhandHar Ki Dun.jpg|Har Ki Doon, a high-altitude hanging valleyRishikesh view across bridge.jpg|Rishikesh view and 13 stories Shiva temple across Lakshman Jhula bridge over the GangesKedarnath Temple - OCT 2014.jpg|Kedarnath Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas(File:Schematic Tourist Map of Uttarakhand.jpg|thumb|Schematic tourist map of Uttarakhand)Uttarakhand has many tourist spots due to its location in the Himalayas. There are many ancient temples, forest reserves, national parks, hill stations, and mountain peaks that draw large number of tourists. There are 44 nationally protected monuments in the state.WEB, Alphabetical List of Monuments – Uttarakhand,weblink Archaeological Survey of India, 29 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120507125806weblink">weblink 7 May 2012, Oak Grove School in the state is on the tentative list for World Heritage Sites.WEB, Tentative Lists,weblink UNESCO, 29 July 2012, live,weblink 22 September 2013, Two of the most holy rivers in Hinduism the Ganges and Yamuna, originate in Uttarakhand. Binsar Devta is a popular Hindu temple in the area.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Uttarakhand has long been called "Land of the Gods"WEB,weblink Info about Uttarakhand, Nainital Tours & Package, 20 December 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121125105932weblink">weblink 25 November 2012, as the state has some of the holiest Hindu shrines, and for more than a thousand years, pilgrims have been visiting the region in the hopes of salvation and purification from sin. Gangotri and Yamunotri, the sources of the Ganges and Yamuna, dedicated to Ganga and Yamuna respectively, fall in the upper reaches of the state and together with Badrinath (dedicated to Vishnu) and Kedarnath (dedicated to Shiva) form the Chota Char Dham, one of Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious pilgrimage circuits. Haridwar, meaning "Gateway to the God", is a prime Hindu destination. Haridwar hosts the Haridwar Kumbh Mela every twelve years, in which millions of pilgrims take part from all parts of India and the world. Rishikesh near Haridwar is known as the preeminent yoga centre of India. The state has an abundance of temples and shrines, many dedicated to local deities or manifestations of Shiva and Durga, references to many of which can be found in Hindu scriptures and legends.Dilwali, A., & Pant, P. (1987). The Garhwal Himalayas, ramparts of heaven. New Delhi: Lustre Press. Uttarakhand is, however, a place of pilgrimage for the adherents of other religions too. Piran Kaliyar Sharif near Roorkee is a pilgrimage site to Muslims, Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, in Dehradun, Gurudwara Hemkund Sahib in Chamoli district, Gurudwara Nanakmatta Sahib in Nanakmatta and Gurudwara Reetha Sahib in Champawat district are pilgrimage centres for Sikhs. Tibetan Buddhism has also made its presence with the reconstruction of Mindrolling Monastery and its Buddha Stupa, described as the world's highest at Clement Town, Dehradun.WEB, Dalai Lama Consecrates Stupa at Mindroling Monastery, 29 October 2002,weblink Voice of America Tibetan, 29 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130921142137weblink">weblink 21 September 2013, WEB, Incredible India {{!, Uttarakhand |url=https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/destinations/states/uttarakhand.html |access-date=22 July 2022 |website=www.incredibleindia.org |archive-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722105345weblink |url-status=live }}Auli and Munsiari are well-known skiing resorts in the state.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}The state has 12 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, which cover 13.8 per cent of the total area of the state.NEWS, Celebrating Uttarakhand Sthapna Diwas! Ten best cities of Uttarakhand one must visit,weblink Humari Baat, Travel, Humari Baat, 11 November 2017, 29 December 2017, live,weblink 29 December 2017, They are located at different altitudes varying from 800 to 5400 metres. The oldest national park on the Indian sub-continent, Jim Corbett National Park, is a major tourist attraction.File:Mt.Kedarnath.jpg|thumb|Garhwal Himalaya mountain range in leftVasudhara Falls, near Badrinath is a waterfall with a height of {{convert|122|m|ft}} set in a backdrop of snow-clad mountains.BOOK, Bisht, Harshwanti, Tourism in Garhwal Himalaya : with special reference to mountaineering and trekking in Uttarkashi and Chamoli Districts, 1994, Indus Pub. Co., New Delhi, 9788173870064, 41, 43,weblink live,weblink 10 January 2016, The state has always been a destination for mountaineering, hiking, and rock climbing in India. A recent development in adventure tourism in the region has been whitewater rafting in Rishikesh. Due to its proximity to the Himalaya ranges, the place is full of hills and mountains and is suitable for trekking, climbing, skiing, camping, rock climbing, and paragliding.WEB, Destination for Adventure Sports,weblink mapsofindia.com, 29 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120814113714weblink">weblink 14 August 2012, Roopkund is a trekking site, known for the mysterious skeletons found in a lake, which was featured by National Geographic Channel in a documentary.WEB, UTET,weblink Uttarakhand, 29 July 2012, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130912011106weblink">weblink 12 September 2013, The trek to Roopkund passes through the meadows of Bugyal.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}New Tehri city has Tehri Dam, with a height of {{Convert|260.5|m|ft}} is the tallest dam in India. It is currently ranked No 10 on the List of Tallest Dams in the world. Tehri Lake with a surface area of {{Convert|52|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, is the biggest lake in the state of Uttarakhand. It has good options for Adventure Sports and various water sports like Boating, Banana Boat, Bandwagon Boat, Jet Ski, Water Skiing, Para-sailing, Kayaking.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Education
{{See also|List of institutions of higher education in Uttarakhand}}{{As of|2010|9|30}}, there were 15,331 primary schools with 1,040,139 students and 22,118 working teachers in Uttarakhand.WEB, Primary schools in Uttarakhand as of 30 September 2010,weblink Government of Uttarakhand, hi, 18 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130922011821weblink">weblink 22 September 2013, WEB, Enrollment of (General) Children in Primary School,weblink Government of Uttarakhand, 17 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130921104607weblink">weblink 21 September 2013, WEB, Status of teachers (districtwise) as of 30 September 2010,weblink Government of Uttarakhand, 17 July 2012, live,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130903055728weblink">weblink 3 September 2013, At the 2011 census the literacy rate of the state was 78.82% with 87.4% literacy for males and 70% literacy for females.The language of instruction in the schools is either English or Hindi. There are mainly government-run, private unaided (no government help), and private aided schools in the state. The main school affiliations are CBSE, CISCE or UBSE, the state syllabus defined by the Department of Education of the Government of Uttarakhand.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} The state has been a primary and secondary education hub with some of India's oldest and most renowned boarding schools The Doon School, Welhams Girls' School, Sherwood and Woodstock. The Forest Research Institute established in 1906 is a Natural Resource Service training institute of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and is an institution in the field of forestry research in India for Indian Forest Service cadres and all State Forest Service cadres. It is located at Dehradun in Uttarakhand, and is among the oldest institutions of its kind. The state is home to the oldest engineering college in India, the IIT in Roorkee, along with three government owned medical colleges and an AIIMS in Rishikesh. In 2011, an IIM was inaugurated in Kashipur.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Sports
{{See also|Maharana Pratap Sports College}}File:Dehradun cricket stadium.jpg|thumb|Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in DehradunDehradunThe high mountains and rivers of Uttarakhand attract many tourists and adventure seekers. It is also a favourite destination for adventure sports, such as paragliding, sky diving, rafting and bungee jumping.WEB,weblink The Tribune, Chandigarh, India : Latest news, India, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, J&K, sports, cricket, 6 May 2015, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20130524034007weblink">weblink 24 May 2013, More recently, golf has also become popular with Ranikhet being a favourite destination.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}The Cricket Association of Uttarakhand is the governing body for cricket activities. The Uttarakhand cricket team represents Uttarakhand in Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun is the home ground of Uttarakhand cricket team.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}The Uttarakhand State Football Association is the governing body for association football. The Uttarakhand football team represents Uttarakhand in the Santosh Trophy and other leagues. The Indira Gandhi International Sports Stadium in Haldwani is the home ground of Uttarakhand football team.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022}}Notable people
{{See also|List of people from Uttarakhand}}See also
- Outline of Uttarakhand
- Himalayan states
- Indian Himalayan Region
- Mountain Temples and Temple Mountains
References
Further reading
- BOOK, Rivett-Carnac, J. H., Archaeological Notes On Ancient Sculpturings On Rocks in Kumaon, India,weblink 1879, Calcutta, G.H. Rouse,
- BOOK, Upreti, Ganga Dutt, Proverbs & folklore of Kumaon and Garhwal,weblink 1894, Lodiana Mission Press,
- BOOK, Oakley, E. Sherman, Holy Himalaya: The Religion, Traditions and Scenery of Himalayan Province (Kumaon and Garwhal),weblink 1905, Oliphant Anderson & Ferrier, London,
- BOOK, Raja Rudradeva, Haraprasada Shastri, Syanika Shastra: A Book on Hawking,weblink 1910, Asiatic Society, Calcutta,
- Handa, Umachand (2002). History of Uttaranchal {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207090054weblink |date=7 December 2023 }}. Indus Publishing. {{ISBN|81-7387-134-5}}.
- Husain, Z. (1995). Uttarakhand Movement: The Politics of Identity and Frustration, A Psycho-Analytical Study of the Separate State Movement, 1815–1995. Bareilly: Prakash Book Depot. {{ISBN|81-85897-17-4}}
- Sharma, D. (1989). Tibeto-Himalayan languages of Uttarakhand. Studies in Tibeto-Himalayan languages, 3. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications. {{ISBN|81-7099-171-4}}
- Phonia, Kedar Singh (1987). Uttarakhand: The Land of Jungles, Temples and Snows. New Delhi, India: Lancer Books.
- Mukhopadhyaya, R. (1987). Uttarakhand Movement: A Sociological Analysis. Centre for Himalayan Studies special lecture, 8. Raja Rammohunpur, Distt. Darjeeling: University of North Bengal.
- Thapliyal, Uma Prasad (2005). Uttaranchal: Historical and Cultural Perspectives. B. R. Pub. Corp., {{ISBN|81-7646-463-5}}.
- Negi, Vijaypal Singh, Jawaharnagar, P.O. Agastyamuni, Distt. Rudraprayag, The Great Himalayas 1998,
External links
{{Sister project links |species=no|n= Uttarakhand|wikt=Uttarakhand|voy=Uttarakhand|q=no |s=no |b=no |v=no}}Government General information- {{Britannica|736432}}
- Map of Uttarakhand with places of interest and historical attractions, mountainshepherds.com.
- {{Curlie|Regional/Asia/India/Uttarakhand}}
- {{osmrelation-inline|374810}}
- content above as imported from Wikipedia
- "Uttarakhand" does not exist on GetWiki (yet)
- time: 5:09am EDT - Sat, May 18 2024
- "Uttarakhand" does not exist on GetWiki (yet)
- time: 5:09am EDT - Sat, May 18 2024
[ this remote article is provided by Wikipedia ]
LATEST EDITS [ see all ]
GETWIKI 23 MAY 2022
The Illusion of Choice
Culture
Culture
GETWIKI 09 JUL 2019
Eastern Philosophy
History of Philosophy
History of Philosophy
GETWIKI 09 MAY 2016
GetMeta:About
GetWiki
GetWiki
GETWIKI 18 OCT 2015
M.R.M. Parrott
Biographies
Biographies
GETWIKI 20 AUG 2014
GetMeta:News
GetWiki
GetWiki
CONNECT
© 2024 M.R.M. PARROTT | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED