UTTARAKHAND

THE LAND OF GODS

GENRAL INFORMATION:

Area: 51125 Sq. Km

Language: Kumaoni, Garhwali, Bhontiya, Jaunsari, Hindi and English

Best Time to visit: Throughout the year

Capital: Dehradun

Airports: Pant Nagar, Neonatal, Jolly Grant (Kullu)

Location

Uttaranchal is a part of the Western Himalayan ranges starting from the Shivalik foothills to Greater Himalayas. It shares the International borders with Tibet in the North East and Uttar Pradesh forms greater part of the borders in the west and the South and a small part of it touches Haryana in the South.

Climate
This hilly state situated in the laps of the Himalayas experiences a cool and pleasant climate throughout the year. Heavy snowfall in peak winters and equally heavy rain from July to September are the times when the region gets isolated from the rest of the country. 

About Uttaranchal
This state was till recently a part of the bigger state of the northern region Uttar Pradesh. It was given the present shape and named Uttaranchal in November 2000 and became the 27th Indian state with independent state assembly. In 2007 it was officially renamed as Uttarakhand. Earlier though many a rulers have taken turns to rule this place known as Devbhoomi, the land of Gods, because of the innumerous holy site in the small place. The regions of Uttarakhand find a mention in the epics of Mahabharata and the dynasties like the Kushan, Kanishka, Gupta and the local tribal dynasties have ruled the state till the British arrived. The place which has most of the hill stations, valley of flowers and the four holy places, what else would a tourist want but to have an assorted platter from natural beauty to adventure sports and from holy sites to snow clad mountains. Uttarakhand is a beautiful and calm state with abundance in natural beauty. The rivers flowing through the state form a fertile land a long with the climatic conditions. Uttaranchal is undoubtedly India's most beautiful canvas. The main attraction to this place is the un - spoilt and unexploited beauty and the serene calmness of Uttaranchal. The green valleys and the snow clad peaks with wonderful panoramic view till the eyes can reach, is mesmerizing and spell binding as well. Uttarakhand has a wonderful cultural and traditional heritage that has been followed for centuries. The people of Uttarakhand are warm and smiling and trying to live through the harsh conditions of the weather. The cuisine is essentially north Indian very much similar to the rest of the Northern parts of the India. Items made of wool are easily available here.

 

Vindhya and Satpura ranges running east to west in parallel formations traverse almost the entire peninsular India. Parallel across the Western coast are the Sahyadri Mountains. The Eastern coast is also lined with a hill system, irregular though, called Eastern Ghats. Each mountain system is dotted with hundreds of exotic beauty spots made easily accessible and equipped with modern amenities. There are skiing resorts in the Himalayas. Well planned mountaineering treks and river fording sports are also available in Himalayas and elsewhere. Each mountain range has its own peculiar majesty, grandeur and specific geological character. The forests, mostly sub-tropical and some of them perennial, harbour a variety of wild life. There are scores of wild life and bird sanctuaries which provide an exciting glimpse of the jungle world.
Proximity of Sahyadri has created numerous beautiful gorges, fiords, creeks and lagoons shaded by perennial green cover along the Arabian Sea coast particularly in Kerala, Goa and Konkan region of Maharashtra. These provide blissful coves of retreat known for their serene beauty. And the long pristine beaches along the Arabian Sea and also the Bay of Bengal - India has a 7,516 km.-long coastline - provide haven for sun-bathers and lovers of all kinds of water sports. At several places along the backwaters of Kerala traditional rowing tournaments, complete with colourful festivities, fetch rowing buffs and spectators in large numbers.
Down from the snow-topped Himalayas and across the fertile plains of Punjab stretch the undulating sandy deserts of Rajasthan, stark and hot, bereft of greenery and yet known for a riotous celebration of colours. As if to compensate for the nature's chicanery, the people of Rajasthan have created their own world of beautiful colours - the rich textiles, the turbans of men and the flowing ghagaras of women, ornamental embroidery, exquisite jewellery, the huts, the houses and the princely mansions. It is said that every village housewife, every child of Rajasthan is a born artiste endowed with a talent for brush and colour. Miniature paintings of Rajasthan School have admirers across the world. The exotic cities of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner known for their harmonious architecture and a superb blend of colours offer a feast to the discerning eye.
But the vibrancy of folk art, colour, folk dance and music is not confined to Rajasthan. It manifests in the harsh terrain of Ladakh, in the colourful life styles of the north-eastern tribes of Arunachal, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura and in the tribal belts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra. The traditional village fairs, whether in tribal habitats or agricultural villages of the plains, express the quintessential spirit of rural India. A fair is a veritable riot of sound and music, fun and games, feast of local delicacies, songs and dances and a market of astoundingly colourful local handicrafts. A heartening glimpse of a robust and vigorous India of indomitable hope. There are over 700,000 villages in India and thousands of fairs are held annually. Some of these have earned a reputation attracting visitors from all corners of the country and abroad.