Introduction :

Uttarakhand's name is derived from the Sanskrit words uttara (उत्तर) meaning north, and khaṇḍ (खण्ड्) meaning country or part of a country. It has long been called "abode of the gods" (Devbhumi) also as this state has some of the holiest Hindu shrines, and for more than a thousand years, pilgrims have been visiting the region in the hopes of salvation and purification from sin.It is believed that the sage Vyasa scripted the Hindu epic Mahabharata in the state. It is evident from the Ashokan edict at Kalsi in Western Garhwal that Buddhism made inroads in this region.Folk shamanic practices deviating from Hindu orthodoxy also persisted here.

Uttarakhand is the Himalayan State in Northern India. Uttarakhand - the land of gods, the home of Himalayas and a true paradise on earth, allures everyone from everywhere. Only 170 km north of Delhi by road, the State of Uttarakhand extends from the foothills of the Himalayas up to the international borders of China and Nepal. Uttarakhand can be broadly divided into two divisions namely Garhwal and Kumaon. Uttarakhand is well connected with direct flights from Delhi (approximately 45 minutes) to the two airports of Dehra Dun in Garhwal and Pantnagar in Kumaon.

Uttarakhand has an incredible amount to offer to all and sundry. An important center of Hindu religion and culture, Uttarakhand is called the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because it is home to countless holy spots and shrines. Ganga and Yamuna, the two most revered rivers of India, originate from the Himalayan glaciers in Uttarakhand. The hilly terrains of Uttarakhand offer unmatched pristine landscapes. As much as 86% of the state’s area is mountainous and a total 70% area is under forest-cover – it is natural that Uttarakhand is a remarkable cornucopia of flora and fauna. The thick forest wrap makes it a suitable residence for some of the best National Parks and bird Sanctuaries globally, famous for some of the rarest of species of birds and animals. The twelve National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries cover 13.8 percent of the total area of the state. These parks and sanctuaries are located at different altitudes varying from 800 meters to the high altitude protected areas at 5400 meters. There are many world heritage sites showcasing natural wonders in Uttarakhand - The world famous Valley of the Flowers, the Nada Devi Biosphere and the Corbett National Park. A number of rare and endangered birds make Uttarakhand also a preferred destination for bird watchers.

Apart from holding a major place in the growth of Hindu religion, culture and heritage, Uttarakhand hills boosts of great natural diversity that makes it a wonderful destination. It is the land of sky-kissing Himalayan peaks, huge glaciers, streams, and lakes.

Uttarakhand provides great opportunities for adventure sports like skiing and thrilling water sports. The state is an ideal venue for adventure seekers. The expansive slopes of Garhwal and Kumaon covered with seasonal snow become ideal places for skiing in the winter months. Auli region in Garhwal Himalayas offers one of the few and rare skiing possibilities in India.

Uttarakhand offers a multitude of trekking possibilities - from mountaineering to trekking on high altitudes or hiking on unusual routes. The rich natural splendour of high altitudes makes trekking in Uttarakhand very special. Uttarakhand has a number of mountains peaks over 6000m, standing high among them is the Nanda Devi at 7816 m.

Uttarakhand has been the seat of Yoga-learning and one of its ancient cities on the bank of river Ganges – Rishikesh is popularly known as the ‘Yoga Capital of the World’, jostling with backpackers and pilgrims seeking spiritual enlightenment. Rishikesh became world famous in 1968 when The Beatles came to stay at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s ashram. It was here that they reputedly wrote most of the White Album. Who can forget the famous song ‘Dehra Dun’ written and sung by George Harrison? Today, Rishikesh is popular with both Western and domestic tourists and pilgrims.

Given the great multiplicity, Uttarakhand is the place where you could enjoy white-water rafting down the Ganga one day, trekking in the shadow of the Himalayas the next, put your feet up and relax in Raj-era hill stations, or ride an elephant and take your camera on a hunt for tigers at the Corbett or Rajaji National Parks.

Welcome to Uttarakhand….Simply Heaven!

History

Ancient rock paintings, rock shelters, Paleolithic stone tools (hundreds of thousands of years old), and megaliths provide evidence that the mountains of the region have been inhabited since prehistoric times. There are also archaeological remains which show the existence of early Vedic (c. 1500 BCE) practices in the area.

The Pauravas, Kushanas, Kunindas, Guptas, Gurjara-Pratihara, Katyuris, Raikas, Palas, Chands, Parmars or Panwars, Sikhs, and the British have ruled Uttarakhand in turns.The region was originally settled by Kols, an aboriginal people of the austro-Asiatic physical type who were later joined by Indo-Aryan Khas tribes that arrived from the northwest by the Vedic period (1700–1100 BCE). At that time, present-day Uttarakhand also served as a habitat for Rishis and Sadhus. It is believed that the sage Vyasa scripted the Hindu epic Mahabharata in the state. Among the first major dynasties of Garhwal and Kumaon were the Kunindas in the 2nd century BCE who practised an early form of Shaivism and traded salt with Western Tibet. It is evident from the Ashokan edict at Kalsi in Western Garhwal that Buddhism made inroads in this region. Folk shamanicpractices deviating from Hindu orthodoxy also persisted here. However, Garhwal and Kumaon were restored to nominal Brahmanical rule due to the travails of Shankaracharya and the arrival of migrants from the plains. Between the 4th and 14th centuries, the Katyuri dynasty dominated lands of varying extent from the Katyur (modern day Baijnath) valley in Kumaon. The historically significant temples at Jageshwar are believed to have been built by the Katyuris and later remodelled by the Chands. Other peoples of the Tibeto-Burman group known as Kirates are thought to have settled in the northern highlands as well as in pockets throughout the region, and are believed to be ancestors of the modern day Bhotiya, Raji, Buksha, and Tharu peoples.

By the medieval period, the region was consolidated under the Garhwal Kingdom in the west and the Kumaon-Kingdom in the east. During this period, learning and new forms of painting (the Pahari school of art) developed. The present king of Kumaon is Raja Mahendra Chand of Lamakhet (Pithoragarh), married to Rani Gita Chand of Rina and has three childrens (Rajkumari Aakanksha Chand, Rajkumari Mallika Chand, Rajkumar Aryan Chand) Modern-day Garhwal was likewise unified under the rule of Parmars who, along with many Brahmins and Rajputs, also arrived from the plains.In 1791 the expanding Gurkha Empire of Nepal overran Almora, the seat of the Kumaon Kingdom. In 1803 the Garhwal Kingdom also fell to the Gurkhas. With the conclusion of the Anglo-Nepalese War in 1816, the Garhwal Kingdom was re-established from a smaller region in Tehri, as the larger portion of Tehri, along with eastern Garhwal and Kumaon ceded to the British as part of the Treaty of Saguali.

After India attained independence from the British, the Garhwal Kingdom was merged into the state of Uttar- Pardesh, where Uttarakhand composed the Garhwal and Kumaon Divisions.Until 1998, Uttarakhand was the name most commonly used to refer to the region, as various political groups, including the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Uttarakhand Revolutionary Party), began agitating for separate statehood under its banner. Although the erstwhile hill kingdoms of Garhwal and Kumaon were traditional rivals the inseparable and complementary nature of their geography, economy, culture, language, and traditions created strong bonds between the two regions. These bonds formed the basis of the new political identity of Uttarakhand, which gained significant momentum in 1994, when demand for separate statehood achieved almost unanimous acceptance among both the local populace and national political parties. The most notable incident during this period was the Rampur Tiraha Firing case on the night of 1 October 1994, which led to a public uproar. On 24 September 1998, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, which began the process of creating a new state.Two years later the Parliament  passed the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2000, and thus, on 9 November 2000, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India

“	"Maatu hamru, paani hamru, hamra hi chhan yi baun bhi... Pitron na lagai baun, hamunahi ta bachon bhi" Soil ours, water ours, ours are these forests. Our forefathers raised them, it’s we who must protect them. -- Old Chipko Song (Garhwali language)	”

Uttarakhand is also well known for the mass agitation of the 1990s that led to the formation of the Chipko environmental movement and other social movements. Though primarily a livelihood movement rather than a forest conservation movement, it went on to become a rallying point for many future environmentalists, environmental protests, and movements the world over and created a precedent for non-violent protest.It stirred up the existing civil society in India, which began to address the issues of tribal and marginalized people. So much so that, a quarter of a century later, India Today mentioned the people behind the "forest satyagraha" of the Chipko movement as amongst "100 people who shaped India".One of Chipko's most salient features was the mass participation of female villagers. Both female and male activists played pivotal roles in the movement, including Chandi Prasad Bhatt,Sundarlal Bahuguna, and Ghanasyam Raturi, the popular Chipko poet.