Uttaranchal
Webpages concerning "Uttaranchal"
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Wikipedia-Article "Uttaranchal"
| Uttaranchal | |
 Location of Uttaranchal |
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| Capital | Dehradun 30.19° N 78.04° E |
| Largest city | Dehradun |
| Abbreviation | IN-UL |
| Official languages | Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni |
| Legislature • Strength • Governor • Chief Minister |
Unicameral 30 Sudarshan Aggarwal (list) Narayan Dutt Tiwari (list) |
| Formation | 2000-11-09 |
| Area | 53,566 km² (18th) |
| Population (2001) | 8,479,562 (19th) |
| Density | 159/km² |
| Districts | 13 |
| Time zone | IST (UTC +5:30) |
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Seal of Uttaranchal |
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| † Dehradun is the provisional capital of the state. The new capital is not yet decided | |
Uttaranchal (उत्तरांचल) became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000 after a relatively short and peaceful struggle by its people in the 1990s, having previously comprised part of Uttar Pradesh. Uttaranchal borders China in the north and Nepal to the east, while its neighbour states are Himachal Pradesh to the west and Uttar Pradesh in the south. The provisional capital of Uttaranchal is Dehradun which is also a rail-head and largest city in the region. The small hamlet of Gairsen had been mooted as a future capital owing to its geographic centrality but controversies and lack of resources led to Dehradun being nominated as provisional capital. The High Court of Uttaranchal is situated in the district of Nainital with a bench being in Dehradun. The region is traditionally refered to as Uttarakhand in old literature and scriptures which derives from the Sanskrit for North Country.
Uttaranchal had traditionally been divided into two parts, the western half known as Garhwal and the eastern region going by the name of Kumaon having their different chieftains in history and different lingual and cultural influences due to proximity and neigherhood of different cultures. Inseperability and complementary nature of their geography, economy,culture and tradtions, however, have formed strong bondages between the two regions.
Uttaranchal is a region of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the northern parts of the state are part of Greater Himalya ranges, covered by the high Himalayan peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills were densely forested till denuded by the British log merchants and forest contractors after independence. Recent efforts in forestation, however, have been sucessful in restoring the situation to some extent. The unique Himalayan ecosystem plays host to a large number of animals (including bharal, snow leopards, leopards and tigers), plants and rare herbs. Two of India's mightiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna take birth in the glaciers of Uttaranchal, and are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts and streams in the region.
The tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy of Uttaranchal, with the Raj era hill-stations at Mussoorie, Almora, Ranikhet and Nainital being some of the most frequented destinations. To this region also belong some of the holiest Hindu shrines, and for almost 2000 years now, pilgrims have been visiting the temples at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath in the hope of salvation and purification from sin.
Recent developments in the region include initiatives by the state government to capitalise on the burgeoning tourist trade as well as tax incentives to lure high-tech industry to the state. The state also plays host to some of the controvertial and termed as worst conceived big-dam projects in India such as the very large Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi-Bhilangana rivers, conceived in 1953 and about to to reach completion.
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People
The native people call themselves Garhwali/Kumaoni and majority of them are Hindus. Many also colloquially call themselves Pahari meaning "hill person" to distinguish themselves from Desis of the rest of India. Other ethnic communities in the region include Nepali who have arrived over the past century from the neighbouring country of Nepal,and the Tibatan migrants settled called as the Jadh, Marcha and Shauka on the Indo-Tibetan frontier, collectively known as the Bhotiya, and nomadic cattle herders known as Gujjar in the southern Terai region. Many Punjabis after the partition of India, Bengalis, and Tibetans of Eastern Tibet region (KHAMPA) have also settled in the southern plains part of the state.
The Tharu and Buksha can also be found in the hilly Terai region, although these areas are now heavily populated by a mixed population from Punjab and the adjoining plains.
Kumaoni and Garhwali dialects are spoken is Kumaon and Garhwal region respectively. In various a mixture of both Kumaoni and Garhwali is also spoken. The city population however converse in Hindi.
Geography
Uttaranchal lies on the south slope of the mighty Himalaya range, and the climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to tropical forests at the lower elevations. The highest elevations are covered by ice and bare rock. The Western Himalayan Alpine Shrub and Meadows ecoregion lies between 3000-3500 and 5000 meters elevation; tundra and alpine meadows cover the highest elevations, transitioning to Rhododendron-dominated shrublands below. The Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests lie just below the tree line; at 3000-2600 meters elevation they transition to the Western Himalayan broadleaf forests, which lie in a belt from 2,600 to 1,500 meters elevation. Below 1500 meters elevation lies western end of the drier Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands belt, and the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests. This belt is locally known as Bhabhar.These lowland forests have mostly been cleared for agriculture, but a few pockets remain.
Indian National Parks in Uttaranchal include the Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park in Chamoli District, Jim Corbett National Park in Nainital District, Rajaji National Park in Haridwar District, and Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi District.
Statistics
- Total Geographical area: 51,125 km²
- Hill Area: 92.57%
- Plain Area: 7.43%
- Area Covered By Forest: 63%
- Total Population: 7,050,634 (Male : Female = 1000 : 976)
- Male: % 51.91
- Female: % 48.81
- Rural Population: 76.90 %
- Urban Population: 23.10 %
- Other Minorities: 2.0 %(approx)
- Literacy Rate: 65%
- Villages: 15620
- Cities and Urban Areas: 81
- Railway Stations: Kotwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Haldwani, Lalkuan, Kathgodam, Tanakpur
- Airports: Pant Nagar, Nainisaine, Jolly Grant
- Major Peaks (height in m above sea level)
- Gauri Parvat (6590), Gangotri (6614), Panch Chhuli( 6910), Nanda Devi (7816), Nanda Kot (6861), Kamet( 7756), Badrinath (7140), Trishul (7120), Chaukhamba (7138), Dunagiri (7066)
- Major Passes
- Mana (5450), Nitipass (5070), Lipulekh( 5122), LumpiaDhura (5650)
- Tourism, Dairy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Sugar and other small scale industries
- Festivals
- Uttarani, Nanda Devi Mela, Holi, Diwali, Dasara, Kandali, Hilljatra, Bikhoti, Bagwal, Harela, Ghugutee
- Events
- Sardotasv, Basantotsav, Nanda Devi Raj Jat, Chipla Kedar Jaat, Kedarnath Yatra, Badrinath Yatra, Kumbh Mela, Ardh Kumbh Mela, Ramleela
- Trade Centers
Districts
Uttaranchal is divided into 13 districts: Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri (Pauri Garhwal), Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri (Tehri Garhwal), Udham Singh Nagar, and Uttarkashi. These districts form two divisions; Garhwal division includes Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Uttarkashi districts, and Kumaon division includes Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar.
External links
Government
- Government of Uttaranchal Official site
- Uttaranchal Police
Universities / Institutions
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Official website
Community / Social Organisations
- The Young Uttaranchal Largest Uttaranchal Community on Web
Other sites related to Uttaranchal
- eUttaranchal Network The Gateway to Uttaranchal
- Uttaranchal Online An informative site for uttaranchal
- Uttaranchal Yellow Pages The Guide to Uttaranchal Business
| Indian states and territories |  |
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