The tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy of Uttaranchal, with the Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve and the nearby hill-stations of Nainital and Bhimtal and several other hill-stations like Mussoorie, Almora and Ranikhet being among the most frequented destinations of India.Uttaranchal is also a major destination for adventure sports lovers. Many national and international competitions of Sking, Water rafting, Mountaineering, Rock climbing etc. are held every year. Many adventure sports places are here.
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Uttaranchal is the land of Celestial Beauty. Blessed with magnificent glaciers, majestic snow-clad mountains, gigantic and ecstatic peaks, valley of flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, this Abode of Gods includes many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Char-dhams,the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples: Badrinath,Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the Mighty Mountains. Rishikesh near Haridwar has the major spiritual and yoga centers of India. Gangotri and Yamnotri, the sources of the Ganges and Yamuna also fall in this region and are revered by many. Besides these most popular pilgrim centers, the state has an abundance of temples and shrines, references to most of which can be found in Hindu scriptures and legends. The architecture of most of these temples is typical of the region and slightly different from other parts of India, the ancient temples at Jageshwar being the most popular for their architectural importance.A picturesque state, with a breathtaking panoramic view of Himalayas, Uttaranchal promises its tourists a visit full of fun and unforgettable moments.
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Uttaranchal Travel Guide
"The land of Gods !"
General Information
Uttaranchal is a recently formed state. It has been carved out the state Uttar Pradesh. Uttaranchal became the 27th state of India on 9th November 2000. It is one the most beautiful states in India. Besides the breathtaking view of the Himalayas, Uttaranchal is also the home of the point of the origin of the sacred river Ganga and Yamuna. The capital of Uttaranchal is Dehradun. The climate of Uttaranchal provides the state with its only livelihood, i.e., tourism.
History
Uttaranchal, the land of Gods finds its mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand and Himavat. The history of this places dates back to the time when the Kushanas ruled it. Then came the Kudinas, Kanishka, Samudra, Gupta and the Chandras. The British have ruled the land for a large amount of time. Uttaranchal is called The Dev Bhoomi because of its various holy places and Shrines.
Geography
The recently formed state of Uttaranchal lies in the north west side of Uttar Pradesh. Uttaranchal is a fraction of the western Himalayan ranges opening from the Shivalik range to the Himalayas. Tibet is at the northeastern border of the state. The northwestern side is kissing the state of Himachal Pradesh. Haryana also touches the state of Uttaranchal. The western and southern boundary is formed by the state of Uttar Pradesh. The entire geographical area of Uttaranchal is 51, 125 sq. kms.
Climate/Temperature
The lovely state of Uttaranchal experiences extreme climatic conditions with very high temperature in summer and freezing cold in winters. The beautiful land is of extreme temperatures. Summers are unbearable with the mercury touching as high as 40C. Winters are chilly with the temperature going below 5C. The state has two distinct climatic regions: the chief hilly landscape and the diminutive plain section. The climatic stipulation of the plains is parallel to its counterpart in the Gangetic plain that is, tropical. The Himalayan region has Alpine environment exemplified by cold winters with snowfall for relatively long time, good rainfall in the monsoon, and meek summers.
Religions
The major religion of Uttaranchal is Hinduism. There is a majority of Hindus on the lovely land of Uttaranchal.
Languages Spoken
Pahari languages are mostly spoken in the Uttaranchal state. Some of the Pahari languages are - Gurkhali, Khaskura, and Parbatiya. The people of Uttranchal also speak Hindi and English. Urdu is also spoken by a considerable amount of the population of Uttaranchal.
People / Population
The whole population of the recently formed State of Uttaranchal on March 2001 stood at 8,479,562 persons as per the provisional results of the Census of India 2001
Places to Visit / Attractions
There is umpteenth number of places to visit in the state of Uttaranchal. The hill stations include Dehradun, Auli and Nainitaal. People from all parts of the world come to view the mystical beauty of these hill stations and get complete ecstasy and elation on this tranquil land. Other tourist attractions in Uttaranchal include Corbett national park, Valley of flowers, Nanda Devi national park, Uttarakashi, Almora, Champawat, Bageshwar, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Char Dhams ( Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri).
Adventure Sports
Uttaranchal is rapture for adventure sports. Activities like canoeing, river rafting, kayaking etc are fast becoming increasingly popular in the state. The frosty pinnacles of the Himalayas are source mighty rivers. Rivers flowing through innumerable number forests, rocky gorges, and high mountain villages, provide ideal locales for the perfect water adventure.
