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Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is an Indian state (formerly known as Uttaranchal) located in the northern part of India.

Dehradun is the winter capital of Uttarakhand and is a rail head; and Gairsain, a smaller town located in the centre of the state is its summer capital.

HISTORY

After 1947, post India’s independence from the British Raj (rule), one of the princely states (States ruled by regional rulers under the affiliation of the British) - the Tehri princely state which consisted of the regions in Uttarakhand today, was merged along with some other neighbouring regions to form the state of Uttar Pradesh.

On 9 November 2000 again, a reorganization of the state happened, and the area consisting of the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions, was carved out from Uttar Pradesh’s Himalayan hill region, and was made a separate state which was named Uttaranchal. In 2006, this state was renamed as Uttarakhand.

CITIES

Uttarakhand has 115 cities and towns, which are divided into 13 districts, further grouped into 2 main divisions – Garhwal division and Kumaon division.

Some popular cities and towns in Uttarakhand state are: Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Nainital, Roorkee, Rudrapur, Mussoorie, Badrinath, and Kedarnath.

PEOPLE

There are 1.1 crore (11 million) people in Uttarakhand, out of which 82.97% are Hindus, 13.95% are Muslims, 2.34% are Sikhs and less than 1% are Christians, Buddhists or Jains.

CULTURE

The culture in Uttarakhand basically is a blend of its people’s traditional ethics, moral values, simplicity of nature and the region’s rich mythology, and ancient, roots. The locals here are divided into 2 main regions and are better recognized as either Kumaoni (Inhabitants of Kumaon region cities and towns) or Garhwali (Inhabitants of Garhwal region cities and towns).

A large part of the population follows Hinduism here, and so most of the pilgrimage sites and devotional centres are Hindu worship places. Folk dance and folk music are sabundant here, especially during Hindu festivals. Uttarakhand’s popular folk-dance forms include: Barada Nati, Bhotiya Dance, Chancheri, Chhapeli, Choliya Dance, Jagars, Jhora, Langvir Dance, Langvir Nritya, Pandav Nritya, Ramola, Shotiya Tribal Folk Dances, Thali-Jadda, and Jhainta which are performed on various occasions in the state, along with local folk music.

LANGUAGE

Hindi is the official language of Uttarakhand – It is spoken natively by more than 40% of the population and but is also understood throughout the state.

Sanskrit, additionally, was declared a second official language as Uttarakhand has many devotional sites to which this historic and classical language is special.

Other regional languages spoken in Uttarakhand are Garhwali (in the western part of the state) and Kumaoni (in the western part of the state).

FOOD

Garhwali and Kumaoni cuisines are predominant in Uttarakhand, and respectively eaten in cities under Garhwal division and Kumaon division.

Garhwali cuisine is mostly grain and cereal based, and dishes are cooked with minimal spices and simple tempering, yet are highly flavourful and rich, with unique flavours that complement the mountainous environment. Gahat ke Paranthe is a famous breakfast dish in the Garhwal side. It is prepared by stuffing cooked Gahat (a special brown lentil which is a staple in Garhwal) into a mixture of wheat and finger millet flour. It is usually served with Bhang ki Chutney – a Garhwali side dish made with hemp seeds, cumin seeds, garlic leaves and tamarind.

On the Kumaoni side, certain fried semolina spiral-shaped snacks called Singals are a vital part of the festival cuisine. These are spongy and sweet, and are made using semolina, bananas, curd (yogurt), milk, sugar, and cardamom. Kumaon people and Uttarakhand’s other locals too love relishing Singal with Aloo Ke Gutke (potatoes cooked in mustard oil and spices) and Pahari Raita (a cold dish containing yogurt/curd, cucumbers and yellow mustard seeds).

TRAVEL/TRANSPORTATION

Trains and Buses are major modes of inter-city transportation within Uttarakhand. For travel within cities, there are many other modes such as taxi/cabs, buses, and private vehicles like 2-wheelers and cars.

Airports – Uttarakhand has 4 domestic airports (connecting to other cities within India only); as of now the state doesn’t have an international airport but the nearest international airports are in New Delhi and Chandigarh and other neighboring states.

  • Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun
  • Pantnagar Airport, Pantnagar
  • Naini Saini Airport, Pithoragarh
  • Bharkot Airport, Chinyalisour

Bus Terminals – Uttarakhand has its own line of state-run buses (by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation - UTC) which provide the connection between all the cities and towns within the state and also neighbouring states. All UTC buses can be boarded at major stops/terminals that are available in every district and town in the state. The prominent town/city bus terminals in the state are located in almost every city and town - they can be easily found and are conveniently accessible.

  • Haridwar Railway Station, Haridwar
  • Dehradun Railway Station, Dehradun
  • Roorkee Railway Station, Roorkee
  • Kathgodam Railway Station, Kathgodam
  • Jwalapur Railway Station, Jwalapur
  • Lal Kuan Junction, Lal Kuan
  • Kashipur Junction, Kashipur

ATTRACTIONS

Uttarakhand is filled with pilgrimage sites and hill stations. It has great spots for calming activities like bird watching, safaris, yoga, meditation and also various activities for adventure lovers such as skiing, trekking, bungee jumping, river rafting, etc.

Popular must-see picturesque hill stations include: Dehradun, Mussoorie, Nainital, Almora, Chopta, Auli, Valley of Flowers and Mukteshwar.

Popular pilgrimage sites include: Badrinath, Haridwar, Kedarnath, Devprayag, Gangotri, Uttarkashi and Rishikesh.

  • Jim Corbett National park – India’s oldest national park (established in 1936) is located in Uttarakhand, and houses the largest percentage of the endangered species of Bengal Tiger in India, which it is assigned to protect.
  • Rishikesh area in the state is known for its adventure experiences like river rafting and bungee jumping, and is also voted the best place in the country for these activities.

WEEKEND GETAWAYS

Uttarakhand has many interesting places that people can travel to or explore; and which are perfect for a short vacation or a weekend getaway, such as –

Jim Corbett National Park – India’s oldest national park (established in 1936) is located in Uttarakhand, and houses the largest percentage of the endangered species of Bengal Tiger in India, which it is assigned to protect.

ADVENTURE EXPERIENCES

Rishikesh area in the state is known for its adventure experiences like

  • River rafting/ White water rafting
  • Bungee jumping
  • Rappelling
  • Flying Fox (an adventurous kind of ziplining, available only in Rishikesh)
  • Waterfall Trekking
  • Cliff Jumping (jumping from a cliff, into waters below – a thrilling experience)
  • Giant Swing
  • …and is also voted the best place in the country for these activities.

Other places like Mussoorie, Nainital, Shivpuri, Auli,
Ramgarh, Haridwar, Binsar, Jim Corbett etc. offer
thrilling activities such as-

  • Trekking & Hiking
  • Ziplining and Cable car rides
  • Para gliding
  • Skiing
  • Kayaking & Canoeing
  • Camping

HISTORICAL PLACES

Uttarakhand also has many historical places to see. Some popular spots
of historical significance in the state are -

  • Abott Mount Church
  • Badrinath (heritage monument and pilgrimage site)
  • Jageshwar temple (has beautiful ancient caves)
  • Katarmal Sun Temple
  • St.Joseph’s Church
  • Gangolihat temples & caves
  • Ghuddauda (Almora District)
  • Kalsi (Dehradun district)
  • Rudranath temple
  • Sitabani (near Corbett; known to be Sita’s abode – from the Ramayana epic)
  • Patal Bhuvaneshwar (spiritual centre)

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