Uttaranchal
once the part of Uttar Pradesh, became a separate state of India in 2000.
The region is traditionally referred to as Uttarakhand, in old literature
and scriptures. Dehradun is the state capital, which is a popular tourist
destination. The state is famous for its amazing natural beauty, as most its
northern parts falls in Great Himalayan ranges. The scenic state has
pristine glaciers, massive snow-capped mountains, dense forests and the
valley of flowers. The mountains of Uttaranchal are best for adventure
seekers as one can enjoy trekking, mountaineering, hiking, river rafting,
para gliding, hang-gliding, skiing, and several others adventures. The
unique Himalayan ecosystem of Uttaranchal is home to a large number of wild
animals like Tigers, Leopards, Snow leopards and varieties of plants and
rare herbs. The state houses some of most sacred pilgrimage centres of
Hindus at Haridwar, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Apart these pilgrimage centres
the state has many temple and shrines. The temple architecture of
Uttaranchal temples are quite different from other parts of the country.
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Major Attractions
» Badrinath -Badrinath is one of the four dhams
(pilgrimage centres) of the Hindus, the other being Dwarka (Gujarat),
Jagannath Puri (Orissa) and Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. The town is famous
for its Badrinath temple, which is visited by millions of tourists every
year. Badrinath temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the
Universe according to Hindu mythology). Adjacent to the temple the holy
river Alaknanda flows.
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Kedarnath - One of the most sacred places for the Hindus, Kedarnath is
situated in Garhwal hill ranges at an elevation of 11,735 ft above sea
level. Kedarnath is famous for the shrine of Kedarnath, which is one of the
holiest pilgrimage destinations for the Hindus.
» Gangotri - Gangotri is one of the four dhams
(pilgrimage centres of Hindus) of Garhwal region. Other dhams are Yamunotri,
Kedarnath and Badrinath. An 18th century temple made out of granite rock
stands at Gangotri, which is dedicated to the goddess Ganga.
Gangotri the is the origin of the holy river Ganga, which is an ideal place
for spiritual as well as adventurous motives.
» Yamunotri - One of the char (four) dhams of the
Garhwal region, Yamunotri is the popular pilgrim centre. Yamunotri is the
origin of the sacred Yamuna river and is famous for its hot springs and
glaciers.
» Haridwar - Haridwar or the 'Gateway to the Gods'
is one of the seven holiest places of Hindus. It is a major pilgrimage
centre for the Hindus of the country.
» Rishikesh - Rishikesh is considered as one of the
sacred pilgrimage sites of Hindus. The place is the birthplace of Yoga,
which attracts a large number of tourists throughout the year. Rishikesh is
also a major attraction for adventure enthusiasts.
» Corbett National Park - The park is situated on
the foothills of the western Himalays, in the districts of Nainital and
Pauri Garhwal. Corbett National Park is the first national park of India,
which was set up in the year 1936, by great hunter Jim Corbett. The park
located at an altitude of 600 to 1100 metres, spreads in an area of around
920.9 sq. Kms. Jim Corbett National Park is famous for Royal Bengal Tigers.
» Nainital - A glittering jewel is the Himalyan
crown, Nainital is famous for its lakes and sometimes referred to as the
'Lake District' of India. The most popular lake of Nainital is the Naini
Lake, which is nestled between seven mountains called Sapta Shring.
» Mussoorie - Mussoorie also called as the 'Queen of
Hills' is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. The hill station
is located in the Garhwal hills, at a height of 2003 metre above sea level.
The green hills of Mussoorie has rich and varied flora and fauna. Mussoorie
offers the spectacular view of the Himalyan snow ranges and the Doon Valley.
Reaching
» Air - Jolly Grant Airport, near Dehradun is the
only airport in Uttaranchal. The regular flights operate from Delhi to this
airport.
» Rail - Dehradun, Haridwar and Kathgodam are the
major railhead of the state. These stations are connected to major cities
and towns of the country.
» Road - Uttaranchal is well-connected by roads to
rest of the country. Regular buses operate from Delhi and other major cities
in North India to Dehradun.
