G.B. International ::- India Tours ::- Uttaranchal Tours
| Uttranchal | Tourist Places | Pilgrimages | Uttranchal Hills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventures | Wildlife | Uttranchal Tour | North Cities |
| Nainital | Corbett | Haridwar | Hill Stations |
| Other States |
Uttaranchal
Uttaranchal
formerly a part of Uttar Pradesh was formed on November 9th, 2000 as the 27th
state of the Indian Union. It is one of the most beautiful and enchanting
region of northern India. Nature has endowed this land with so much beauty and
spiritual bliss that it is also known as Dev Bhoomi, the Land of Gods . Ganga,
Yamuna and scores of other rivers originate in Uttaranchal. Among them Ganga
is the most holy and prominent as she represents the soul of India- her rich
culture, history and civilization. In Sanskrit 'Himalaya' means Abode of Snow,
truly characterizing the vast permanent snow fields above the snow line.In the
heart of these majestic mountains lies the state of Uttaranchal with Kumaon
region in its east and Garhwal in the west.| Area | 55,845 sq km |
| Population | 7.045 Million |
| Capital City | Dehradun |
| Districts | 13 |
History
Uttaranchal is mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manakhand and Himavat. The Kushanas, Kudinas, Kanishka, Samudragupta, the Pauravas, Katuris, Palas, the Chandras and Pawaras and the British have ruled in turns. It is often called the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines. The hilly regions of Uttaranchal offer un- spoilt landscapes to the tourist –pilgrims.The present state of Uttaranchal
was earlier as part of the United Province of Agra and Awadh which came into
existence in 1902. In 1935, the name of the state was shortened to the United
Province. In January 1950, the United Province was renamed as Uttar Pradesh
and Uttaranchal remained a part of Uttar Pradesh before it came into being on
9 November 2000, the 27th state of India.
Garhwal
The Garhwal Himalayas have nurtured civilization from ancient times. It
appears to have been a favorite spot for the voluminous mythology of the Puranic period. The traditional name of Garhwal was Uttarakhand and
excavations have revealed that it formed part of the Mauryan Empire. It also
finds mention in the 7th-century travelogue of Huen Tsang. However, it is with
Adi Shankaracharya that the name of Garhwal will always be linked, for the
great 8th-century spiritual reformer visited the remote, snow-laden heights of
Garhwal, established a math (Joshimath) and restored some of the most sacred
shrines, including Badrinath and Kedarnath.
The history of Garhwal as one unified whole began in the 15th century, when
king Ajai Pal merged the 52 separate principalities, each with its own garh or
fortress. For 300 years, Garhwal remained one kingdom, with its capital at
Srinagar (not to be confused with the capital of Kashmir). Then Pauri and
Dehradun were perforce ceded to the Crown as payment for British help,
rendered to the Garhwalis during the Gurkha invasion, in the early 19th
century.
Kumaon
Evidence
of Stone Age settlements has been found in Kumaon, particularly the rock
shelter at Lakhu Udyar. The paintings here date back to the Mesolithic period.
The early medieval history of Kumaon is the history of the Katyuri dynasty.
The Katyuri kings ruled from the seventh to the 11th century, over large areas
of Kumaon, Garhwal, and western Nepal. The town of Baijnath near Almora was
the capital of this dynasty and it was a centre of the arts. Temple building
flourished under the Katyuris and the main architectural innovation introduced
by them was the replacement of bricks with hewn stone.
On a hilltop facing east (opposite Almora), is the temple of Katarmal. This
900-year-old sun temple was built during the declining years of the Katyuri
dynasty. The intricately carved doors and panels have been transferred to the
National Museum in Delhi as a protective measure after the 10th-century idol
of the presiding deity was stolen. After a gap of a couple of centuries, the
Chands of Pithoragarh became the dominant dynasty. The Chand rulers built the
magnificent temple complex at Jageshwar, with its cluster of a hundred and
sixty-four temples, over a space of two centuries. Dedicated to Lord Shiva,
the evocative carvings are complemented by the beautiful cedar forest around
it. Garhwal and Kumaon were part of Uttar Pradesh state, after India gained
independence. The movement for the formation of a separate state of
Uttaranchal led to the creation of this state in 2000.
Location
Uttaranchal is a part of the Western Himalayan ranges, starting from the Shivalik foothills to the Greater Himalayas, with Tibet as its northeastern border. In the northwestern corner of the state is Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana. The state is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh for most of its western and southern boundary.Climate
The state is comprised of two distinct climatic regions: the predominant hilly terrain and the smaller plain region. The climatic condition of the plains is very similar to its counterpart in the Gangetic plain. Summers are extremely hot with temperatures soaring over the 40°C mark and a lot of humidity. Winters can be chilly with temperatures going below 5°C at times.The Himalayan region has Alpine conditions characterized by cold winters with snowfall for quite a long time, good rainfall in the monsoon, and mild summers. This climate attracts tourists seeking spiritual refuge, adventure or simply scenic beauty.
Best Time to Visit
The best occasion to visit the Himalayan region is the summer, when the weather is very pleasant. Parts of the hills will be inaccessible in winter. The plains region is best visited in winter, when the weather is milder.Uttaranchal in India, is accessible by air, rail and road.
Air: Jolly Grant near Dehradun, the capital city, is the only airport. There are regular flights to Delhi by Indian Airlines. Otherwise, you can travel to Delhi by road or rail and then catch a flight to your onward destination.
Rail: Dehradun, Haridwar, and Kathgodam are the major railway stations connected to the rest of the country by regular trains. Within the state, railway lines are fewer due to the difficult terrains. To visit places at higher altitudes, trekking and road routes arthe best options.
Road: All-weather metalled roads connect almost all the important places in the state. Many places in the higher altitudes may still remain inaccessible for some time during the year due to landslides and snowfall. National Highways such as 58, 73, 74, and 87 connect places in the state to other parts of the country.
Regular bus services connect Delhi and other major centers in North India with Dehradun. The road distances of some prominent destinations from Dehradun are as follows: Musoorie, 35 km; Delhi, 255 km; Mumbai, 1927 km; Chennai, 2488 km; Haridwar, 54 km; Rishikesh, 43 km; Shimla, 221 km; Nainital, 485 km; Kedarnath, 270 km; Badrinath, 344 km; Gangotri, 301 km; Yamunotri, 265 km; Chakrata, 92 km; Corbett National Park, 236 km; Har-Ki-dun, 187 km; Valley of Flowers and Hemkund, 342 km.
| Uttranchal | Tourist Places | Pilgrimages | Uttranchal Hills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adventures | Wildlife | Uttranchal Tour | North Cities |
| Nainital | Corbett | Haridwar | Hill Stations |
| Other States |