ABOUT UTTARAKHAND
The state of Uttarakhand was created on November 9, 2000 as the 27th State of the Republic of India. It was previously part of Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in India. The name of the state was changed from Uttaranchal to Uttarakhand in 2007. Uttarakhand can be translated to mean “Northern Land”.
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Uttarakhand is located in Northern India crossed by the Himalayas. It is known as the “Land of the Gods” due to the large number of Hindu temples as well as pilgrimage sites such as Rishikesh and Kedarnath. Uttarakhand is also known for its natural environment due to its proximity to the Himalayas as well as wildlife centres like Jim Corbett National Park. The Capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun.
Population & Geography
According to the 2011 Census, Uttarakhand has a population of 10 lac people. It is the 20th most populous state in India.
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Uttarakhand is spread over 53,000 sq km area. Almost 86% of this land is mountainous and 65% is covered by forests. The state is also home to the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers.
Spiritual
Uttarakhand is known as the Land of the Gods. With many of the holiest Hindu shrines located in the state, spiritual tourism drives the overall tourism industry. The Char Dham is one of the largest pilgrimage circuits in India
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Parks & Wildlife
Uttarakhand is blessed with natural beauty in the form of National Parks and a large variety of wildlife. Almost 14% of the total area of the state is covered with National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Jim Corbett National Park is amongst the oldest in India and a major tourist attraction.
Language
The official language of Uttarakhand is Hindi which is spoken by 43% of the population. Sanskrit has been declared as the Second Official Language. The regional languages spoken in Uttarakhand include Garhwali (23%), Kumaoni (20%) and Jaunsari (1.3%.)