UTTARANCHAL

Uttaranchal : 'Abode of the Gods', Uttaranchal came into being on 9^th November, 2000, after the amalgamation of the 13 north-western districts separated from the parent state of Uttar Pradesh. The land with a never ending history and unlimited legends is the holy land of Ganga and Yamuna and the Chardhams - Badarinath, Haridwar, Kedarnath and Rishikesh. The Rishis (sages) of ages gone by, according to Padma Puran found this region of Uttarakhand as the most glorious temple of nature, abounding in invaluable spiritual treasures.

The entire region is full of beauty and serenity. It has unobstructed view of more than 360 Km long Himalayan panorama. The land has impulsive and charming places to visit like lakes, mountains, valleys, deep woods, pilgrim spots, and enough scope for winter sports. One can relax in this lake of nature but also feel blessed with kind of spiritual elevation by this divine land. As the legend goes, the five Pandava brothers (of the epic Mahabharata) traversed this territory on their way to the Heaven. The pristine beauty of the place would make one believe that the Heaven might not be vary far off.

State Government : http://www.ua.nic.in

Capital :	Dehradun
Area :	55,845 square Kilometers
Population :	8,489,349 (2001 census)
Literacy :	71.62% (2001)
Language :	Hindi, Kumaoni, Garhwali
Roads :	32,300 Kms
Railways :	378 Kms
Airport :	Dehradun, Pant Nagar, Pithoragarh
Seaport :	Nil
Climate :	Summer (40° - 10° C), Winter (22° - 1° C), Monsoon : July to September
Best Season :	May to July and September to November
Places of Interest :	State Tourism : http://ua.nic.in/uttaranchaltourism
	Almora : Hill station, nearby Temples and Ashrams, Trekking, Starting point for visits to Glaciers. [Jageshwar (34 Kms) : Ancient Temple complex.] Badrinath : Hindu pilgrim centre, one of the four dhams (open in May - October), Hot springs, Temples. Bageshwar : Temples, Camp for Treks to Pindari, Kafni and Sundardhunga glaciers. [Kausani (50 Kms) : Scenic beauty, compared to Switzerland.] Bhimtal : Lake. Chakrata : Hill station, Tribals, Holiday resort. Chamoli : Hill station. [Auli : Ski Resort.] Champawat : Old capital of Kumaon, Ancient architecture. Chaukhutia : View of Himalayas, Gardens, Food research centre. Corbett National Park : Variety of Wildlife, Tiger Reserve. Dehra Dun : Hill resort, Forestry and Military training institutes, Rajaji National Park. [Mussoorie : Major Hill resort, Kempty Falls.] Deoprayag : Hindu pilgrim centre, Temples. Gangotri : Temples, Hindu pilgrim centre. Haridwar : One of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, Temples, Ashrams. Hemkund : Lake, Temples, Sikh pilgrim centre. Joshimath : Hindu pilgrim centre, Temple, Tribals. [Govindghat (18 Kms) : Starting point for Hemkund and Valley of Flowers. Valley of Flowers (37 Kms) : National Park, 300 species of wild flowers, scenic beauty.] Karnaprayag : Hindu pilgrim centre, Temples. [Nandaprayag (12 Kms) : Temples, Another Switzerland of India, View of snow peaks, Ashrams.] Kedarnath : Hindu pilgrim centre in the mountains (May - October), Temples. Lohaghat : Hill station. Nainital : Major Hill resort, Gardens, Lakes. Pantnagar : Agricultural University and Research centre. Pauri : Educational Institutes, forests, view of Himalayas. [Srinagar (30 Kms) : Cultural & Educational centre. Lansdowne (81 Kms) : Hill station. Kotdwar (108 Kms) : Rail terminus for Garhwal region, Temple.] Pithoragarh : Hill station - Mansarovar. [Munsyari (127 Kms) : Trek base to glaciers, skiing.] Ramgarh : Orchids. [Mukteshwar (50 Kms) : Veterinary Research Institute.] Ranikhet : Hill station. Rishikesh : Hindu pilgrim centre, Ashrams, Temples, Medical Herb Farms and Research Centre. Uttarkashi : Temples, Mountaineering Institute, Hill station. [Nachiketa TalLake. Sat Tal Seven Lakes. Har-ki-Doon : Trekking, Natural beauty.] Yamnotri : Hindu pilgrim centre, Hot springs, Temples, Source of the sacred river Yamuna.
Festivals :	Mahashivratri, International Yoga Week (February), Holi (March), Ganga Dussehra (June), Janmashtmi (August), Dussehra (October), Diwali (October / November)