Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal, state (2001 provisional pop. 8,479,562), 20,650 sq mi (53,483 sq km), N India; created from the northern portion of Uttar Pradesh state in 2000. Situated in the Himalayas where many peaks top 20,000 ft (6,096 m), it is bordered by Tibet, China (NE), Nepal (SE), and the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh (SW), Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh (NW). At 25,645 ft (7,817 m), Nanda Devi is the state's highest point. The Ganges River has its source in the state's lofty mountains. The capital is Dehradun; other cities include Haridwar and Garisand. The population is dominated by upper castes, who form some 60% of the residents. It also has a large percentage of hill tribes, and significant minorities of Sikhs, Muslims, and Buddhists (including immigrant Tibetans). Uttaranchal's eastern section combines dense forests with grassy hills and jungle. The overexploitation of this region's timber resources by outside contractors resulted in the nonviolent Chipko movement of the 1970s. Today, forest products remain an important resource. In addition, the state has considerable mineral wealth, and the many rushing rivers are potential sources for hydropower. There is some farming (mainly subsistence), dairying, and wool production. Tourism, however, is the region's mainstay, with many opportunities for mountain climbing and hiking. There are several spectacular hill station resorts such as Mussoorie and Nainital, and the mountains are also dotted with historic Hindu temples such as Badrinath and Gangotri, which are popular pilgrimage sites. Nonetheless, many of Uttaranchal's resources are scarcely developed, and migration out of the state to more developed parts of India has been an ongoing problem.

Uttaranchal

Location of Uttaranchal 
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 km� (18th) 
Population (2001) 8,479,562 (19th) 
Density 159/km� 
Districts 13 
Time zone IST (UTC +5:30) 
Image:Uttaranchalseal.png
Seal of Uttaranchal 

Dehradun is the provisional capital of the state. The new capital is not yet decided Uttaranchal 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-east and Nepal to the south-east, while its neighbour states are Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The provisional capital of Uttaranchal is Dehradun which is also a rail-head and largest city in the region. The small hamlet of Gairsen has been mooted as a future capital owing to its geographic centrality. The High Court of Uttaranchal is situated in the district of Nainital. The region is also known as Uttarakhand, which derives from the Sanskrit for North Country.

Uttaranchal has traditionally been divided into two parts, the western half known as Garhwal and the eastern region going by the name of Kumaon.

Uttaranchal is a region of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the northern parts of the state are covered by the high Himalayan ranges and glaciers, while the lower reaches are densely forested. 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 worst conceived big-dam projects in India such as the monstrously large Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi-Bhilangana rivers, conceived in 1953 and still incomplete.

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 Nepalis who have arrived over the past century, 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, Bengalis, and Tibetans 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 km� 
Hill Area: 92.57% 
Plain Area: 7.43% 
Area Covered By Forest: 63% 
Location 
Longitude 77� 34' 27" East to 81� 02' 22" E 
Latitude 28� 53' 24" North to 31� 27' 50" N 
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)

Industry

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

Haldwani, Rudrapur, Roorkee, Tanakpur, Dehradun, Haridwar, Kotdwar, Rishikesh

Districts

Districts of Uttaranchal (as of 2001)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.