Whether you are person who likes to go on solitary treks or you’re one who can’t travel without Chachu, Chimpu and ramu the driver cum masalchi, Uttarakhand’s the place for you. A hop and a skip from Delhi, and you find yourself in the midst of a cool forest glen or at the doors of your favourite god or goddess. This state has much to offer all year round. Here you can go rafting on the Ganga or birding in Pangot, watch the wild elephants at Corbett or ski down the world class slopes of Auli. From late spring through summer into autumn you can choose from easy to challenging treks from the hike around Nag Tibba to the chilling heights of Milam Glacier. And if the monsoon depress you, head up to the flower spangled bugyals with a tent and camera and discover the real meaning of flower-power. For those less physically inclined there is the spiritual self to be nourished by taking to the pilgrimage trails, traversed for the centuries by seekers like yourself: Gangotri, Yamunotri, and the many dhams. And for those who don’t really relish rubbing shoulders with the hoi-polloi, there’s always the five start wellness centres along the Ganga where yoga asanas and hot tubs help you commune with your maker, Enjoy!
Uttarakhand formerly known as Uttaranchal is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the “Devabhumi” (literally “Land of the Gods”)due to numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabar and the Terai regions. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north; the Sudurpashchim Pradesh of Nepal to the east; the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The winter capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city of the state, which is a rail head. Gairsain, a town in Chamoli district is the summer capital of Uttarakhand. The High Court of the state is located in Nainital.
Archaeological evidence supports the existence of humans in the region since prehistoric times. 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 2nd century BCE who practised an early form of Shaivism. Ashokan edicts at Kalsi show the early presence of Buddhism in this region. During the medieval period, the region was consolidated under the Katyuri rulers of Kumaon also known as ‘Kurmanchal Kingdom’.[26] After the fall of Katyuris, the region was divided into the Kumaon Kingdom and the Garhwal Kingdom. In 1816, most of modern Uttarakhand was ceded to the British as part of the Treaty of Sugauli. Although the erstwhile hill kingdoms of Garhwal and Kumaon were traditional rivals, the proximity of different neighbouring ethnic groups and the inseparable and complementary nature of their geography, economy, culture, language, and traditions created strong bonds between the two regions, which further strengthened during the Uttarakhand movement for statehood in the 1990s.
The natives of the state are generally called Uttarakhandi, or more specifically either Garhwali or Kumaoni by their region of origin. According to the 2011 Census of India, Uttarakhand has a population of 10,086,292, making it the 20th most populous state in India.
source- wikipedia
