Uttarakhand – Dev Bhoomi

Discover this fascinating zone of India which will make your tour to Uttarakhand an incredible experience. Blessed with magnificent glaciers, majestic snow-clad mountains, gigantic and ecstatic peaks, a 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 Himalayas. March to July are the months in which you shall tour the spectacular region of Uttarakhand. Entice yourself as you enter this spectacular region of India.

A picturesque state, with a breathtaking panoramic view of Himalayas, Uttaranchal promises its tourists a visit full of fun and unforgettable moments. Comprising of eight hill districts and an area and population that equals the state of Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal is an expression of divinity, austerity, meditation, penance, and attainment.

Fast Facts :

1. Area: 53,484 sq. km

2. Capital: Dehradun

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3. Population: 10.116 Million

4. Religion: Hinduism

5. Languages: Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni

6. Best Time to Visit: April to July

7. Major Cities: Almora, Nainital, Haridwar, Dehradun, Mussoorie, and Rishikesh.

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8. State Emblem: Emblem of Uttarakhand 

9. State song: Uttarakhand Devabhumi Matribhumi
   (Uttarakhand, Land of the Gods, O Motherland!)

10. State Animal: Alpine Musk Deer (Moschus chrysogaster)

11. State Bird: Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus)

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12. State butterfly: West Himalayan Common Peacock (Papilio bianor polyctor)

13. State Tree: Burans (Rhododendron arboreum)

14. State Flower: Brahma Kamal (Saussurea obvallata)

15. Uttarakhand Culture and Tradition

Tourist Attractions of Uttarakhand:

Uttarakhand or Uttaranchal consists of two main regions, they are Garhwal and Kumaon. Both the regions are very similar in cultural terms.

Garhwal :

The Garhwal Himalayas area is remote and mountainous, filled with oak forests and alpine meadows. The forests are home to a number of endangered animal species and have historically been managed by local community institutions. In recent years, however, overgrazing and overharvesting in government-controlled forestlands have begun to threaten the area’s biodiversity.

Char Dham :

The state of Uttaranchal is considered the holy land or the Devbhoomi. The Garhwal division of Uttaranchal is famous for the Char Dham Yatra. It includes the four most revered and holy destinations of Garhwal Himalayas, namely, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. It is generally believed by the pilgrims that undertaking pilgrimages to these places not just wash away one’s sins but also liberates from the cycle of birth and death. It is also believed that earlier all these Dhams were placed together and with the onset of the Kalyuga, the distance between the four grew and they drifted apart. The Char Dham Yatra must be initiated from left to right or west to east, beginning from Yamunotri, Gangotri, moving to Kedarnath, and ending in Badrinath.

Mussoorie:

Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora & fauna, is a fascinating hill resort.  Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley & Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town presents a fairyland atmosphere. Mussoorie is famous for its scenic beauty as it provides a unique view of Himalayan ranges and glittering view of Doon Valley from above.

Kumaon :

Kumaon is a beautiful region in the newly formed state of Uttaranchal. It is on the northern side of Uttar Pradesh. Kumaon is derived from “Kurmanchal” which means Land of the Kurmavtar  (the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Preserver of Mankind as per Hindu religion. Kumaon consists of six Districts Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champa swat, and Udhamsingh Nagar. Kumaon is situated in Central Himalayas. Himalaya in the north, “Kali” river in the east, Garwal in the west, and the Plain area in the south make the typical boundary of this region.

Nainital :

A beautiful hill station in Kumaon hills, Nainital is popular for its beautiful views, and boat rides. Hill Resorts in India provides complete information on the beautiful hill station Nainital. Nainital is located at an altitude of 1,938 meters in the state of Uttaranchal. Nainital has a number of tourist destinations that one can visit. Travel to Nainital with Hill Resorts in India.

Corbett National Park:

Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve lie 280 km northeast of New Delhi in the Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttaranchal. Named after the celebrated hunter-turned-naturalist, Jim Corbett who immortalized the area through his famous books, Corbett is India’s first national park and was established in 1936.

Encompassing 1318 sq km of foothills of the Western Himalayas and the adjacent terai region Corbett contains a wide range of habitats between 400 and 1200 meters. The thick Sal forests in the bhabar zone and the chaurs (or open grassland) are intersected by river valleys and streams ~ tributaries of the Ramganga and Kosi rivers creating primeval forests which are a hotspot of biodiversity.

Haridwar :

Haridwar is one of the most sacred cities in India. The city is situated on the banks of Ganga and it is said that Ganga enters the plains in Haridwar. Haridwar means Gateway (Dwar) to gods (Hari). There are many temples and ashrams in the town. The city is also famous for being host to Kumbh Mela, the most sacred fairs of Hindus. The water of Ganga is supposed to be medicinally very strong in Haridwar, due to herbal secretions of the plants and herbs.

Adventure Sports in Uttarakhand:

Uttaranchal is famous for its adventure sports activities. The state can boast about the host of adventure activities which it offers to visitors. The most famous ones are skiing, white water rafting, trekking, jungle safari, and mountaineering. The geographical variations in the land of Uttaranchal offer some very interesting challenges.

Auli Skiing :

Auli, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is a new entrant on the tourist map of India. Located in the cradle of snow-capped mountains, Auli is one of the very few places in India where skiing is a major pastime. The bitter cold winds, the vast snow-covered landscape, the sylvan mountains, all add up to make Auli a skier’s paradise. Representing man’s constant endeavor to triumph over nature, Auli proves to be an ideal locale for the daring.

Getting There :

1. By Air: The main airports of Uttaranchal are Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun (Garhwal), and Pantnagar Airport, Pantnagar (Kumaon). Both these airports are connected to Delhi, a major international airport in India. One can get taxis, buses, and luxury coaches to move to different cities from these airports.

2. By Rail: The major railheads of Uttaranchal are Dehradun, Haridwar, Kathgodam, and Roorkee. These railway stations are connected to the major cities of India by direct trains.

3. By Road: The roadways network of Uttaranchal makes it conveniently connected internally as well with nearby states. The major gateways to Uttaranchal are Dehradun and Nainital. Dehradun is on the NH 45. The Himachal road transport, Delhi and Haryana road transport, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan state transport buses, ply regularly to Dehradun.

Some important distances are Agra- 381 Km, Gwalior- 499 Km, Jaipur- 493 Km, Shimla- 344 Km, Kolkata- 1562 Km, Delhi- 235 Km, Lucknow- 582 Km, Mumbai- 1578 Km, and Varanasi- 895 Km. Nainital is connected to NH 87. Regular buses run from Delhi, Agra, Dehradun, Haridwar, Lucknow, Kanpur & Bareilly. Distances of some major cities from Nainital are Kathgodam- 34 Km, Bareilly- 140 Km, Lucknow- 400 Km, Agra- 403 Km, Delhi- 310 Km, Dehradun- 300 Km, and Haridwar- 245 Km.