Uttaranchal-Location

Uttaranchal is a beautiful North Indian city, which was formerly a part of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The state shares common boundaries with Tibet (China) to the north and Nepal to the east, Himachal Pradesh to the west and Uttar Pradesh (of which it formed a part before 2000) in the south. Uttaranchal, formerly known as Uttarakhand came into being on Nov 9th, 2000 as the 27th state of India. The co-ordinates of Uttarakhand are 28° 43' N to 31° 27' N (Latitude) and 77° 34' E to 81° 02' E (Longitude). It has an area of about 63,157 square km. The state is divided into 13 Districts.

Dehra Dun is the capital of uttaranchal. Dehra Dun is one of the most beautiful resort in the submountain tracts of India, known for its salubrious climate and scenic surroundings. Doon, aside often called, has been a favorite setting ground of the elit for nearly two centuries through its history steches back to many millennia. The name Dehradun appears to be a collection of two word "dera" acmping ground, the Drnocharaya the common Guru of the Pandavas and Kaurava of the Mahabharat and the illustrious son of goddess Ganga, set up an ashram here, near the village of Dwara to perform his devotions at a lonely spot. The place came to be know as Dron Ashram, which eventually became Dun.

Uttaranchal is popularly known as “Dev Bhoomi” or the “Land of Gods”, the stunning views of Uttaranchal speak for themselves. The holy rivers of Ganga and Yamuna find their origin in this beautiful city. One of the most attractive features about Uttaranchal is its salubrious setting, coupled with the tranquil and spectacular surroundings where one gets ample chance to discover his soul. The most holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and scores of other rivers originate in Uttaranchal.

Uttaranchal finds mention in several ancient Hindu scriptures in the form of various names and has an equal historical importance as its mythology. The region is traditionally referred to as Uttarakhand in Hindu scriptures and old literature, a term which derives from Sanskrit uttara meaning north, and khand meaning country or part of a country.

Uttaranchal is also famous for its Shopping centers which include Dehradun, Nainital and Mussoorie. The experience of shopping in Dehradun and Nainital is very different from other places of the country. The alpine and tropical rainforests that cover most parts of the state make natural habitats of some of the best-known wildlife creatures. Many national parks and sanctuaries are located Uttarakhand such as the Jim Corbett National Park (the oldest national park of India), Valley of Flowers National Park, Nanda Devi National Park, Rajaji National Park, Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Gangotri National Park.

Recent developments in the region include initiatives by the state government to capitalise on handloom and handicrafts, the burgeoning tourist trade as well as tax incentives to lure high-tech industry to the state. The state also has big-dam projects, controversial and often criticised in India, such as the very large Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi-Bhilangana rivers, conceived in 1953 and about to reach completion. Uttarakhand is also well known as the birthplace of the Chipko environmental movement, and a myriad other social movements including the mass agitation in the 1990s that led to its formation.