Uttarakhand
 |
Area |
53,484 sq km |
 |
State
Government Portal |
 |
Population |
8,489,349 |
|
Open Forum Partners
|
 |
Capital |
Dehradun |
|
Important Contact Numbers |
 |
Principal
Languages |
Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni |
|
Development Initiatives |
History
and Geography
Uttarakhand finds mention in the ancient Hindu
scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavant.
The Kushanas, Kunindas, Kanishka, Samudra Gupta,
the Pauravas, Katuris, Palas, the Chandras and
Pawaras and the British have ruled it in turns.
It is often called the Land of the Gods (Dev
Bhoomi), because of its various holy places
and abundant shrines. The hilly regions of Uttarakhand
offer unspoilt landscapes to the tourist-pilgrim.
The present State of Uttarakhand was earlier
a 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 Uttarakhand
remained a part of Uttar Pradesh before it came
into being on 9 November, 2000, the 27th State
of India.
Located in the foothills of the Himalayas,
the State has international boundaries with
China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the
east. On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh,
while on the south is Uttar Pradesh.
Agriculture
About 90 per cent of the population of Uttarakhand
depends on agriculture. The total cultivated
area in the State is 7,84,117 hectares.
Industry and Minerals
The State is rich in mineral deposits like limestone,
marble, rock phosphate, dolomite, magnesite,
copper greyphyte, gypsum, etc. The number of
smallscale industries is 25,294 providing employment
to 63,599 persons. As many as 1802 heavy and
medium industries with an investment of Rs 20,000
crore employ 5 lakh persons. Most of the industries
are forest-based. There is a total of 54,047
handicraft units in the state.
Irrigation and Energy
Agricultural land under irrigation is 5,91,418
hectares. The State has excellent potential
for hydropower generation. There are a number
of hydro-electric projects on the rivers Yamuna,
Bhagirathi, Bhilangana, Alaknanda, Mandakini,
Saryu Gauri, Kosi and Kali generating electricity.
Out of 15,667 villages, 14,447 villages have
been electrified.
Transport
Roads: The total length of metalled roads in
Uttarakhand is 19,543 km. The length of PWD
roads is 17,545 km, while the length of roads
built by local bodies is 1,998 km.
Railways: The main railway stations are Dehradun,
Hardwar, Roorkee, Kotdwar, Kashipur, Udhamsingh
Nagar, Haldwani, Ramnagar and Kathgodam.
Aviation: There are air strips at Jolly Grant
(Dehradun), and Pantnagar (Udham Singh Nagar).
Air strips at Naini-Seni (Pithoragarh), Gauchar
(Chamoli) and Chinyalisaur (Uttarkashi) are
under construction. From this year Pawan Hans
Ltd., has started helicopter service from Rudraprayag
to Kedarnath for pilgrims.
Festivals
The world-famous Kumbh Mela/Ardh Kumbh Mela
is held in Hardwar at an interval of every twelfth/sixth
year. Other prominent fairs/festivals are: Devidhura
Mela (Champawat), Purnagiri Mela (Champawat),
Nanda Devi Mela (Almora), Gauchar Mela (Chamoli),
Baisakhi (Uttarkashi), Magha Mela (Uttarkashi),
Uttaraini Mela (Bageshwar), Vishu Mela (Jaunsar
Vavar), Peerane-Kaliyar (Roorkee), and Nanda
Devi Raj Jat Yatra, held every twelfth year.
Tourist Centres
Prominent places of pilgrimage/tourist interests
are Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Hardwar, Rishikesh, Hemkund Sahib, Nanakmatta,
etc. Kailash Mansarovar Yatra can be performed
through Kumaon region. The world-famous Valley
of Flowers, Pindari Glacier, Roop Kund, Dayara
Bugyal, Auli, and hill stations like Mussoorie,
Dehradun, Chakrata, Nainital, Ranikhet, Bageshwar,
Bhimtal, Kausani are the important places of
tourist interest.
