Uttaranchal
Uttaranchal became the 27th state of the Republic
of India in November 2000. Carved out of the
state of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal mainly comprises
the hilly regions of Uttar Pradesh. The state
borders Himachal Pradesh in the north-west and
Uttar Pradesh in the South, and has international
borders with Nepal and China. A picturesque
state, Uttarancahal has magnificent glaciers,
majestic snow-clad mountains, panoramic views
of the Himalayas, dense forests and the valley
of flowers, as well as some of Hinduism's most
sacred pilgrim sites. The State's 13 Districts
can be grouped into three distinct geographical
regions, the High mountain region, the Mid-mountain
region and the Terai region. This is the land
where the Vedas and Shastras were composed and
great Indian epic, The Mahabharatha, was written.
The state is very rich in natural resources
especially water and forests as it has many
glaciers, rivers, forests, mountain peaks.
The famous peaks of Uttaranchal are Nanda
Devi, Kedarnath, Trishul, Bandarpunch and
Mt Kamet. The major glaciers include Gangotri,
Pindari, Milam and Khatling. The Ganga, The
Yamuna, Ramganga and Sharda are principal
rivers of this region.
Apart from tourism, the rural population
is engaged in agriculture, and the state has
immense potential for the development of horticulture
crops. The region also holds promise for developing
the herbal pharmaceutical industry owing to
an abundant supply of medicinal plants. The
industrial sector is insignificant. Due to
its water resources the state has the capacity
to generate many mega watts of power. There
are 17 hydro-electric projects already producing
electricity and many ambitious power projects
including Tehri Dam are under construction.
Places to visit
Dehradun
Nestled in the Himalayan foothills, Dehradun,
the state capital, is one of the most beautiful
hill stations in India. The town lies in the
fertile Doon Valley, with the river Ganga
in the east and river Yamuna in the west.
It is home to some of the country's best public
schools, including Doon School and Welhams.
The Indian Military Academy, The Forest Research
Institute, ONGC and many more offices of the
Central and State Governments are also situated
here. Close to Dehradun is the hill resort
of Mussoorie. Visit:
• Tapkeshwar temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva
• Sahastra Dhara, the sulphur springs
• Robbers Cave, a picnic spot
• Dakpathar Barrage
• Tapovan, a place where Guru Drona
did penance
• Kalanga Monument for Gorkha Gen Balbhadra
Thapa
• Ashoka Edict at Kalsi
Char Dhams
Char Dham is a term coined for the four most
sacred and revered Hindu temples: Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. According
to the Puranas and various Hindu scriptures,
the Char Dham Yatra is of very high religious
significance. Pilgrims brave severe weather
conditions to visit these shrines.
Badrinath
Badrinath Temple is the abode of Lord Vishnu.
The idol is made of black granite. The temple
is situated at an altitude of 3130 metres
on the banks of the Alaknanda. Behind is the
Neelkanth mountain peak situated between the
twin peaks of Nar and Narayan. Near the temple
is a hot water sulphur spring known as Tapt
Kund.
Kedarnath
The temple of Kedarnath is dedicated to Lord
Shiva. Situated at an altitude of 3580 metres,
the temple is built of large, heavy and evenly
cut grey stone slabs, and is considered to
be more than 1000 years old. It has a garbha
griha where the conical rock formation is
situated, and a mandapam for seating visitors.
A large statue of the Nandi Bull is situated
outside the temple door.
Gangotri
The shrine is situated at an elevation of
3200 metres, amidst deodar and pine forests.
It is believed that Raja Bhagirath used to
worship Lord Shiva on a slab of rock "Bhagirath
Shila" situated near the temple. Submerged
in the river is a natural rock shivling, where,
according to mythology, Lord Shiva sat when
he received the Goddess Ganga in his matted
locks.
Yamunotri
Yamuna, the river goddess, is worshipped
at the Yamunotri Temple, situated at a height
of 3235 metres. The idol is made of black
marble. A hot sulphur spring is situated close
to the temple.
Haridwar
The name Haridwar means "gateway to God",
and it is from here that the pilgrimage to
two famous temples, Kedarnath (Lord Shiva)
and Badrinath (Lord Vishnu) starts. It is
situated on the banks of river Ganga, at the
foothills of the Shivalik mountains. It is
one of the four places where the Kumbh mela
is held every 12 years. During this fair,
millions of devotees take a holy dip in the
river Ganges to wash away their sins. It is
said that the pitcher of Amrit was kept in
hiding here by Devtas when it was unearthed
from Sagar Manthan. The same pitcher was taken
to the other places, i.e. Allahabad, Ujjain
and Nasik. In the struggle with Asuras the
pitcher broke spilling some sacred water (amrit),
since then these places became very holy and
the Kumbh mela is held every 3 years in these
cities in succession. Every evening, after
sunset, aarti of the Ganga is performed in
Har-ki-Pauri. Visit:
• Har-ki-Pauri
• Ram Krishna Mission Seva Ashram
• Gurukul Kangri University
• Sapta Rishi Ashram
• Bharat Heavy Electricals Factory
• Mansa Devi Temple
Nainital
This lake town, situated in the hilly region
of Kumaon, is built around the lake Naini.
The city is surrounded by seven mountains,
Sapta Shring. Nainital was the summer capital
of Uttar Pradesh for many years during British
rule and also after independence. According
to mythology, when Lord Shiva was carrying
the body of Sati, her eyes fell at this place
and it came to be known as Naini Tal. Nearby
places of interests are BhimTal and SatTal.
Rishikesh
Surrounded by hills, bisected by the wide
and sluggish Ganga, Rishikesh, the land of
yogis and ashrams, nestled in the foothills
of the Garhwal region, is the getaway to the
upper Garhwal region and the starting point
for pilgrim routes to the four dhams of Uttarakhand
- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri.
Situated 24 km upstream from Haridwar, at
the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and Ganga
rivers, Rishikesh has long been a spiritual
centre. In the 1960's, Rishikesh gained instant
fame as the site where The Beatles came to
stay with their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Today it is known for white water rafting
or the spa at Ananda in the Himalayas.
Auli
Reaching this ski resort (run by Garhwal Mandal
Vikas Nigam) is itself quite an adventure.
From Joshimath, the base town, you have to
take the cable car, since the roads are buried
under snow during the winter. The crisp, cold
air, the pine trees covered with snow, and
the towering peaks create a memorable experience.
Pauri
This small town, situated at a height of 1814
metres, on the northern slopes of the Kandolia
hills, provides a delightful view of the snow
clad Himalayan peaks of Bandar-Punch. The
misty deodhar forests and peaceful surroundings
makes it an ideal place for a holiday. There
are many picnic spots, including Kandolia
Gap and Nag tibba.
Tehri
Tehri, situated at an altitude of 770 metres,
at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana
rivers, is located in a wide open valley which
is quite warm in the summer. The town is at
the junction of five important roads which
branch off to Rishikesh, Deoprayag, Uttarkashi,
Srinagar and Tilwara. Prior to independence,
Tehri was the capital of the princely state
of Tehri-Garhwal. The palaces and temples
built by the old rulers can still be seen
at Tehri and the adjoining places. The Tehri
Hydel Development Corporation has undertaken
the construction of Tehri Dam on the river
Bhagirathi and it is estimated that the project
will generate 2400 MW of electricity and irrigate
vast areas in the region.
Uttarkashi
This historic town, situated near the river
Bhagirathi, has plenty of ancient monuments
and temples, the most famous of which is the
Lord Viswanath temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Nearby there is Shakti temple, which has an
old brass trident which is 26 feet high and
has a base circumference of 9 feet. There
is also a temple of Parshuram. In many ways,
Uttarkashi is similar to Kashi, hence the
name. The Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
is located here. Uttarkashi is a tourist halt
place.
Rudraprayag
This town is situated near the confluence
of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. From here
there are two roads, one going to Kedarnath
and the other to Badrinath. It is a night
halt place for pilgrims. There is a small
Jagdamba Devi temple dedicated to the Goddess
Durga. There is also an old temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva, called Rudranath temple. Narad
Muni medidated here for several years, Lord
Shiva blessed him with perfection in music.
Almora
This hill district is in the central Kumaon
region of Uttaranchal. It is a beautiful scenic
place situated at an altitude of 5900 ft.
There is a cave where Swami Vivekananda meditated
and was enlightened. Almora was captured by
British from Gorkhas, who have left their
mark on this town. Nanda Devi festival is
celebrated here, during which devotees from
all over India visit this place.
The Flora and Fauna
Corbett National Park
Along river Ram Ganga, in the foothills of
the Himalayas is situated the country's oldest
national park. Constituted in 1935 as Ram
Ganga National Park, it was later named after
Jim Corbett, one of the greatest hunters of
the last century, who later became a leading
voice for the conservation and protection
of wildlife. The park is home to elephant,
tiger, leopard, panther, bear, sambhar, cheetal,
crocodile, and many other smaller animals.
It is a paradise for birdwatchers - more than
150 different varieties of birds have been
sighted here.
Valley of Flowers
The world famous Valley of Flowers is situated
in the upper expansions of Bhyundar Ganga
in the far interiors of the Garhwal Himalayas.
Almost 300 species of wild flowers bloom here.
Some of the species are: Anemone, Geranium,
Marsh Marigold, Prinula, Potentilla, Geum,
Asters, Lilium, Ranunculus, Corydalis, Inula,
Braham Kamal, Campanula, Pedicularis, Arisaema,
Morina, Impatiens, Bistorta, Ligularia, Anaphalis,
Saxifragus, Sibbaldia, Thermopsis, Trollius,
Codonopsis, Dactylorhiza, Cypripedium, Strawberry,
Epilobium, Rhododendron. Most of the flowers
have medicinal value too. The valley remains
in bloom for three months while its' floral
composition keeps changing every few days.
By September, the hue starts changing and
the entire vegetation remains dormant for
the next five months when the valley is snow
bound. Apart from the flowers, some species
of butterfly, musk deer, blue sheep (bharal),
himalayan bear, himalayan mouse hare and snow
leopards are also found in this area. It was
declared a National Park in 1982.
Rajaji National Park
Rajaji National Park, spread in an area of
about 820 sq. kms., is one of the latest additions
to the list of national parks in the country.
The park was constituted by combining three
existing wildlife sanctuaries: Rajaji, Motichur,
and Chilla. Nestled in the Shiwalik Hills,
and lying between the Lower Himalayas and
the Upper Gangetic Plains, it is the northwestern-most
habitat of the Asian Elephant. The park is
also home to the tiger, leopard, porcupine,
barking deer, and sambhar. The largest variety
of Indian python is also found in Rajaji.
Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
The Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in
the Uttarkashi district of Uttar Pradesh,
was established in 1955. Spread over an area
of 957,969 sq. kms., the altitude varies from
1300 mts. to 6323 mts. The entire area of
the sanctuary is subjected to light-heavy
snowfall. The snow leopard inhabits the inner
Himalayas above the altitude of 3500 mts.
To improve the protection of this rare animal,
the upper reaches of the sanctuary were notified
as a National Park which covers an area of
472.08 sq. kms.
Kedarnath Sanctuary
Kedarnath sanctuary is situated in Chamoli
district. The approach road starts from Haridwar-Rudraprayag
and then leads to Sonprayag and Ukhimath which
is 226 km. away. The fauna includes panther,
musk deer, black and brown Himalayan bear,
sambhar, scrow, thar, ghoral and monal pheasant.
The best time to visit is during April to
June and again from September to November.
Nanda Devi National Park
Nanda Devi Sanctuary is situated in Chamoli
district. The present sanctuary came into
existence in 1939. There are no roads available
and the area is inaccessible. No regular path
exists. You can trek from Joshimath i.e. 15
km. by road upto Lata and then 51 km. trek
upto the sanctuary. The fauna includes snow
leopards, Himalayan bear, musk deer, bharal,
him, thar and many species of pheasant. The
park is a World Heritage site.
Mussoorie Wild Life Sanctuary
Mussoorie or Binog Mountain Quail Wild Life
Sanctuary is accessible from two directions,
northwest and south by road from Mussoorie.
Bus services and overnight trains are available
from Dehradun. It is well connected by road
from Dehradun to Mussoorie. The entry point
in Binog Block is from Dhobi Ghat, which is
on the Mussoorie Kempty road. There is also
a motorable kuchha road from Hathipaon up
to Clouds End Estate, which is about 6 Km
from Gandhi Dwar, Library, Mussoorie. From
Clouds End Estate to Binog Top is about 2
Km, along a bridle path. The Himalayan Quail
last sighted in 1876 and believed to be extinct
now, might be spotted again in the picturesque
Mussoorie hills. Primates, reptiles and avifauna
are commonly found here. The sanctuary is
unique in having plant communities in various
forms. Apart from this the area is rich in
medicinal plants. It forms the catchment area
of the Aglar river which is a tributary of
the Yamuna.
The Assan Barrage Wetland
Situated near the confluence of Yamuna Canal
and the Assan, in Dehradun district, the lake
attracts a large number of water-fowl, both
waders and divers. Apart from these there
are a large number of woodland and scrubland
bird species in the adjoining Sal forest.
Many birds listed as globally threatened species
in the IUCN Red Data Book have been observed
at Assan. The services of an experienced bird-watching
guide can also be arranged on request.
