Uttarakhand is a state located in the northern part of India. It was known as Uttaranchal between 2000 and 2006, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000.In January 2007, the name of the state was officially changed from Uttaranchal, its interim name, to Uttarakhand, according to the wishes of a large section of its people. The state is rich in flora and fauna, natural and touristic ambience, and houses some of the most important pilgrimage centers in the country. Breathtaking in its natural splendor, grand in its wild denizens, and simplicity in its people, the region is a unique experience to your senses. The provisional capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun which is also a rail-head and the largest city in the region. The small hamlet of Gairsen has been mooted as the future capital owing to its geographic centrality but controversies and lack of resources have led Dehradun to remain provisional capital. The High Court of the state is in Nainital.
Uttarakhand has a total geographic area of 51,125 km², of which 93% is mountainous and 64%
is covered by forest.
.Most of the northern parts of the state are part of Greater Himalaya ranges, covered by the high Himalayan peaks and glaciers,
while the lower foothills were densely forested till denuded by the British log merchants and later, after independence, by forest contractors
Uttaranchal is a part of the Western Himalayan ranges starting from the Shivalik foothills to Greater Himalayas with Tibet as its north-eastern border. In the north-western corner of the state is Himachal Pradesh, while Haryana celebrates its union with the newly formed state with a gentle kiss. The state is surrounded by Uttar Pradesh for most of its western and southern boundary.Apart from the Terai region in the Shivalik foothills, the entire state of Uttaranchal is a part of the Himalayan ranges. At 7,817 m above sea level, Nanda Devi in the district of Chamoli is the highest point in the state. The region has many glaciers,passes, meadows, and trekking routes with several major rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna originating from here. A major part of
this Himalayan state comes under rainforests and alpine forests that are home to some of the highly endangered wildlife species.
According to 2001 India census, Uttarakhand had a population of approximately of 8.48 million. A
population exceeding 10 million is expected by the next census of 2011. The native people of Uttarakhand are generally called either Garhwali or Kumaoni depending on their place of origin in either the Garhwal or Kumaon region. Colloquially they are also referred to as Pahari meaning "hill person".The state has two distinct climatic regions: the predominant hilly terrain and the small plain region. The climatic condition of the plains is very similar to its counterpart in the Gangetic plain—that is, tropical. Summers are unbearable with temperature going 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 also provides the state with its only livelihood, i.e., tourism. The alpine and tropical rainforests that cover most parts of the state make natural habitats of some of the best-known wildlife creatures India has on offer. The Jim Corbett
National Park is home to Royal Bengal Tigers and ground for the plot of Jim Corbett’s Man-eaters of Kumaon. Another rainforest in the region is Rajaji National Park famous for its large number of pachyderms. Alpine forests in the region include Valley of Flowers National Park (known for its amazing variety of flowers), Nanda Devi National Park, Govind National Park, Gangotri National Park, and many more.
Garhwal resembles other parts of the Himalayas where various ethnic groups live side by side. Following chiefly the agrarian-pastoral way of life, native Garhwalis make their living from the hilly land the best they can. Some, like the Bhotia traders, migrate far and wide, although the ancient trade routes with Tibet have been closed since 1950. Most of the indigenous people like Jaunsari, Bhotia, Buksha, Tharu, and Raji are heterodox Hindus and Buddhists, while Sikh migrants from West Punjab have settled in the lowlands since 1947. A few Muslim groups are also native to the area, although most of them have settled recently. The Muslim Gujjar herders also migrate to the hills. The inhabitants of the Kumaon hills are commonly known as the Kumaonese. They belong to a predominantly patriarchal society, which recognizes the superiority of men over women. The social structure is based on the extended family system, the eldest male member being the head of the family. Women are respected in society but they usually confine themselves to household activities. No religious ceremony is considered complete without the wife joining the husband.
The peace and tranquility of Uttaranchal laid the foundation for a treasure house of paintings and art. Out of the two major art forms, the art of stone carving and woodcarving are fairly well known. The art of stone carving gradually died down, but woodcarving continued. Woodcarving could be seen on almost every door of a Garhwali house until only half a century ago.Woodcarving can still be seen in hundreds of temple all over Garhwal. The remains of architectural work have been found at the Chandpur Fort, temple of Srinagar, Pandukeshwar (near Badrinath), Devi Madin (near Joshimath), and Devalgarh Temple.
The Himalayas have inspired generations of singers, balladeers, and musicians throughout the
ages. The natural beauty of the mountains—which inspires a deep spirituality—and the harshness of life—which darkens the heart with adversity and anguish—have invigorated Uttarakhandi music, heightening its poignancy and enriching its lyrical texture. Although, increasingly influenced by trends in Hindi film music (with Garhwali songs set to film-style music), the more traditional forms of Himalayan music have remained deeply popular. This has been especially true of the Pahari penchant for folksy values, biting humor, raw honesty, loving devotion, and soaring spirits that shines through each song. Indeed, in face of other homogenizing trends in India, Uttarakhandi music has distinguished itself in retaining its cultural uniqueness and vibrant sound, while remaining popular among the masses.The Himalayas have inspired generations of singers, balladeers, and musicians throughout the ages. The natural beauty of the mountains—which inspires a deep spirituality—and the harshness of life—which darkens the heart with adversity and anguish—have
invigorated Uttarakhandi music, heightening its poignancy and enriching its lyrical texture. Although, increasingly influenced by trends in Hindi film music (with Garhwali songs set to film-style music), the more traditional forms of Himalayan music have remained deeply popular. This has been especially true of the Pahari penchant for folksy values, biting humor, raw honesty, loving devotion, and soaring spirits that shines through each song. Indeed, in face of other homogenizing trends in India, Uttarakhandi music has distinguished itself in retaining its cultural uniqueness and vibrant sound, while remaining popular among the masses.