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Area : 53,484 sq km
Population : 8,489,349
Capital : Dehradun
Principal Languages : Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni
Uttarakhand finds mention
in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand,
Manaskhand and Himavant. The Kushanas, Kunindas,
Kanishka, Samudra Gupta, the Pauravas, Katuris,
Palas, the Chandras and Pawaras and the British
have ruled it in turns. It is often called the
Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi), because
of its various holy places and abundant shrines.
The hilly regions of Uttarakhand offer unspoilt
landscapes to the tourist-pilgrim.
The present State of Uttarakhand was earlier
a part of the United Province of Agra and Awadh,
which came into existence in 1902. In 1935, the
name of the State was shortened to the United
Province. In January 1950, the United Province
was renamed as Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand
remained a part of Uttar Pradesh before it came
into being on 9 November, 2000, the 27th State
of India.
Located in the foothills of the Himalayas,
the State has international boundaries with
China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the
east. On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh,
while on the south is Uttar Pradesh.
About
90 per cent of the population of Uttarakhand
depends on agriculture. The total cultivated
area in the State is 7,84,117 hectares.
The State is rich in mineral
deposits like limestone, marble, rock phosphate,
dolomite, magnesite, copper greyphyte, gypsum,
etc. The number of smallscale industries is
25,294 providing employment to 63,599 persons.
As many as 1802 heavy and medium industries with
an investment of Rs 20,000 crore employ 5 lakh
persons. Most of the industries are
forest-based. There is a total of 54,047
handicraft units in the state.
Agricultural land under
irrigation is 5,91,418 hectares. The State has
excellent potential for hydropower generation.
There are a number of hydro-electric projects on
the rivers Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Bhilangana,
Alaknanda, Mandakini, Saryu Gauri, Kosi and Kali
generating electricity. Out of 15,667 villages,
14,447 villages have been electrified.
Roads : The total
length of metalled roads in Uttarakhand is
19,543 km. The length of PWD roads is 17,545 km,
while the length of roads built by local bodies
is 1,998 km.
Railways : The main
railway stations are Dehradun, Hardwar, Roorkee,
Kotdwar, Kashipur, Udhamsingh Nagar, Haldwani,
Ramnagar and Kathgodam.
Aviation : There are
air strips at Jolly Grant (Dehradun), and
Pantnagar (Udham Singh Nagar). Air strips at
Naini-Seni (Pithoragarh), Gauchar (Chamoli) and
Chinyalisaur (Uttarkashi) are under
construction. From this year Pawan Hans Ltd.,
has started helicopter service from Rudraprayag
to Kedarnath for pilgrims.
The
world-famous Kumbh Mela/Ardh Kumbh Mela
is held in Hardwar at an interval of every
twelfth/sixth year. Other prominent
fairs/festivals are: Devidhura Mela (Champawat),
Purnagiri Mela (Champawat), Nanda Devi Mela
(Almora), Gauchar Mela (Chamoli), Baisakhi
(Uttarkashi), Magha Mela (Uttarkashi), Uttaraini
Mela (Bageshwar), Vishu Mela (Jaunsar Vavar),
Peerane-Kaliyar (Roorkee), and Nanda Devi Raj
Jat Yatra, held every twelfth year.
Prominent places of
pilgrimage/tourist interests are Gangotri,
Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Hardwar,
Rishikesh, Hemkund Sahib, Nanakmatta, etc.
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra can be performed
through Kumaon region. The world-famous Valley
of Flowers, Pindari Glacier, Roop Kund, Dayara
Bugyal, Auli, and hill stations like Mussoorie,
Dehradun, Chakrata, Nainital, Ranikhet,
Bageshwar, Bhimtal, Kausani are the important
places of tourist interest.
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