94-431: Uttarakhand ( English: / ˈ ʊ t ər ɑː k ʌ n d / , / ˌ ʊ t ər ə ˈ k ʌ n d / or / ˌ ʊ t ə ˈ r æ k ə n d / ; Hindi: [ˈʊtːərɑːkʰəɳɖ] , lit. ' Northern Land ' ), formerly known as Uttaranchal ( English: / ˌ ʊ t ə ˈ r æ n tʃ ʌ l / ; the official name until 2007 ), is a state in northern India . The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to
188-434: A municipal commissioner , municipal councils and, nagar panchayats (town councils), each of them administered by a chief executive officer . Rural areas comprise the three tier administration; district councils , block panchayats (block councils) and gram panchayats (village councils). All state and local government offices have a five-year term. According to the 2011 census, Dehradun , and Udham Singh Nagar are
282-536: A belt from 2,600 to 1,500 metres (8,500 to 4,900 ft) elevation. Below 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) elevation lie the Himalayan subtropical pine forests . The Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests and the drier Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands cover the lowlands along the Uttar Pradesh border in a belt locally known as Bhabar . These lowland forests have mostly been cleared for agriculture, but
376-666: A defined area. The earliest are dated to the latter half of the 1st millennium BCE. The Dharma-shastras (law books), derivatives of the Dharma-sutras . Other examples were bhautikashastra "physics", rasayanashastra "chemistry", jīvashastra "biology", vastushastra "architectural science", shilpashastra "science of sculpture", arthashastra "economics" and nītishastra "political science". It also includes Tantras and Agama literature. The Puranas, which mean "history" or "old", are Sanskrit texts which were composed between 3rd century BCE and 1000 CE. The Puranas are
470-459: A diversity of flora and fauna. It has a recorded forest area of 34,666 km (13,385 sq mi), which constitutes 65% of the total area of the state. The vegetation of the state majorly comprises alpine trees and tropical rainforests. The state is home to rare species of plants and animals, many of which are protected by sanctuaries and reserves. National parks in Uttarakhand include
564-617: A few pockets remain. Uttarakhand has a temperate but varies greatly from north to south. The climatic conditions experienced in the state vary subtropical in the southern part to alpine in the upper reaches of the Himalayan mountain in the northern parts. The winter season from December to February, is extreme with temperatures fluctuating anywhere between 5 °C (41 °F) to 20 °C (68 °F). In higher altitudes and mountainous regions, temperatures often drop below freezing point. Cold winds blow across Uttarakhand, especially in
658-505: A painting by Mola Ram Garwhali Miniature painting is a form of miniature painting that flourished in the region between the 17th and 19th century. Mola Ram is credited as the true father of the Garhwali Branch of the wider Pahari School. Kumaoni art often is geometrical in nature, while Garhwali art is known for its closeness to nature. Aipan is a GI certified Kumaoni ritual folk art done mainly during special ceremonies,
752-432: A population of 10,086,292 comprising 5,137,773 males and 4,948,519 females, with 69.77% of the population living in rural areas. The state is the 20th most populous state of the country having 0.83% of the population on 1.63% of the land. The population density of the state is 189 people per square kilometre having a 2001–2011 decadal growth rate of 18.81%. The gender ratio is 963 females per 1000 males. The crude birth rate in
846-596: A rallying point for many future environmentalists , environmental protests, and movements the world over and created a precedent for non-violent protest. It stirred up the existing civil society in India, which began to address the issues of tribal and marginalised people. So much so that, a quarter of a century later, India Today mentioned the people behind the "forest satyagraha" of the Chipko movement as among "100 people who shaped India". One of Chipko's most salient features
940-634: A second official language, by the BJP government for its allegedly historic association with the region. At present the language has no native speakers and its use is constrained to educational and religious settings. There are also sizeable populations of speakers of some of India's other major languages: Urdu (4.2 per cent) and Punjabi (2.6 per cent), both mostly found in the southern districts, Bengali (1.5 per cent) and Bhojpuri (0.95 per cent), both mainly present in Udham Singh Nagar district in
1034-546: A total of 13 districts . The forest cover in the state is 45.4 per cent of the state's geographical area. The cultivable area is 16 per cent of the total geographical area. The two major rivers of the state, the Ganges and its tributary Yamuna , originate from the Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers respectively. Uttarakhand's history dates back to prehistoric times , with archaeological evidence showcasing human habitation. It
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#17327835869151128-677: A vast genre of Hindu texts that encyclopedically cover a wide range of topics, particularly legends and other traditional lore. Composed primarily in Sanskrit, but also in regional languages, several of these texts are named after major Hindu deities such as Vishnu , Shiva , and Devi . The Puranic literature is encyclopedic, and it includes diverse topics such as cosmogony , cosmology , genealogies of gods, goddesses, kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, folk tales, pilgrimages, temples, medicine, astronomy, grammar, mineralogy, humor, love stories, as well as theology and philosophy. The content
1222-401: Is ₹ 2.87 lakh crore (US$ 34 billion). The state contributes five seats to the lower house Lok Sabha and three seats and the upper house Rajya Sabha. Inhabitants of the state are called either Garhwali or Kumaoni depending on their region of origin. Hinduism is practiced by more than three-fourths of the population, with Islam being the next-largest religious group. Hindi
1316-529: Is Hindi , which according to the 2011 census is spoken natively by 43 per cent of the population, and also used throughout the state as a lingua franca. The major regional languages of Uttarakhand are Garhwali , which according to the 2011 census is spoken by 23 per cent of the population, mostly in the western half of the state, Kumaoni , spoken in the eastern half and native to 20 per cent, and Jaunsari , whose speakers are concentrated in Dehradun district in
1410-949: Is a vast corpus of diverse texts, and includes but is not limited to Vedāngas , the Hindu epics (such as the Mahabharat and Ramayan), the Sutras and Shastras , the texts of Hindu philosophies , the Puranas , the Kāvya or poetical literature, the Bhasyas , and numerous Nibandhas (digests) covering politics, ethics, culture, arts and society. Many ancient Hindu texts were composed in Sanskrit and other regional Indian languages. In modern times, most ancient texts have been translated into other Indian languages and some in non-Indian languages. Prior to
1504-455: Is administered by a district magistrate . The districts are further divided into sub-divisions, which are administered by sub-divisional magistrates ; sub-divisions comprise tehsils which are administered by a tehsildar and community development blocks , each administered by a block development officer . Urban areas are categorised into three types of municipalities based on their population; municipal corporations , each administered by
1598-400: Is also home to two World Heritage sites . Uttarakhand's name is derived from the Sanskrit words uttara ( उत्तर ) meaning 'north', and khaṇḍa ( खण्ड ) meaning 'section' or 'part', altogether simply meaning 'Northern Part'. The name finds mention in early Hindu scriptures as the combined region of "Kedarkhand" (present day Garhwal ) and "Manaskhand" (present day Kumaon ). Uttarakhand
1692-530: Is covered by forest. Most of the northern part of the state is covered by high Himalayan peaks and glaciers. In the first half of the nineteenth century, the expanding development of Indian roads, railways, and other physical infrastructure was giving rise to concerns over indiscriminate logging, particularly in the Himalaya . Two of the most important rivers in Hinduism originate in the glaciers of Uttarakhand,
1786-803: Is diverse across the Puranas, and each Purana has survived in numerous manuscripts which are themselves voluminous and comprehensive. The Hindu Puranas are anonymous texts and likely the work of many authors over the centuries; in contrast, most Jaina Puranas can be dated and their authors assigned. There are 18 Maha Puranas (Great Puranas): Agni Purana , Bhagavata Purana , Bhavishya Purana , Brahmanda Purana , Brahmavaivarta Purana , Garuda Purana , Kurma Purana , Linga Purana , Markandeya Purana , Naradiya Purana , Padma Purana , Shiva Purana , Skanda Purana , Vamana Purana , Varaha Purana , Vayu Purana , and Vishnu Purana and 18 Upa Puranas (Minor Puranas), with over 400,000 verses. The Puranas do not enjoy
1880-421: Is heard, and Smriti ( Sanskrit : स्मृति, IAST : Smṛti ) – that which is remembered. The Shruti texts refer to the body of most authoritative and ancient religious texts , believed to be eternal knowledge authored neither by human nor divine agent but transmitted by sages ( rishis ). These comprise the central canon of Hinduism . It includes the four Vedas including its four types of embedded texts –
1974-431: Is not attributed to these texts. The origin language of these texts is Sanskrit. The Vedas are considered Shruti texts. The Vedas consist of four parts: Rig Veda , Sama Veda , Yajur Veda , and Atharva Veda . Each Veda is subcategorized into Samhitas , Brahmanas , Aranyakas , and Upanishads . The four Vedas ( Rig Veda , Sama Veda , Yajur Veda , and Atharva Veda ) are a large body of Hindu texts originating from
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#17327835869152068-538: Is the classification of literature which includes various scriptures and Itihasa s (epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata ), Harivamsa Puranas , Agamas and Darshanas . This genre of texts includes the Sutras and Shastras of the six schools of Hindu philosophy : Samkhya , Yoga, Nyaya , Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta . The Sutras and Shastras texts were compilations of technical or specialized knowledge in
2162-620: Is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state, along with native regional languages include Garhwali , Jaunsari , Gurjari and Kumaoni . The state is often referred to as the "Devbhumi" ( lit. ' Land of the Gods ' ), due to its religious significance and numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Along with several historical, natural and religious tourist destinations, including Char Dham , Haridwar , Rishikesh , Panch Kedar , Himalayas , and Sapta Badri . Uttarakhand
2256-476: The mukhya (main) or principal Upanishads . The ten mukhya Upanishads are: Isha , Kena , Katha , Prashna , Mundaka , Mandukya , Taittiriya , Aitareya , Chandogya , and Brihadaranyaka. The mukhya Upanishads are found mostly in the concluding part of the Brahmanas and Aranyakas and were, for centuries, memorized by each generation and passed down verbally . The early Upanishads all predate
2350-725: The British have ruled Uttarakhand in turns. Among the first major dynasties of Garhwal and Kumaon were the Kunindas in the second century BCE who practised an early form of Shaivism and traded salt with Western Tibet . It is evident from the Ashokan edict at Kalsi in Western Garhwal that Buddhism made inroads in this region. Shamanic Hindu practices deviating from Hindu orthodoxy also persisted here. However, Garhwal and Kumaon were restored to nominal Vedic Hindu rule due to
2444-645: The Ganges at Gangotri and the Yamuna at Yamunotri . They are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts, and streams. These two along with Badrinath and Kedarnath form the Chota Char Dham , a holy pilgrimage for the Hindus. Uttarakhand lies on the southern slope of the Himalaya range, and the climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to subtropical forests at
2538-936: The Jim Corbett National Park (the oldest national park of India) in Nainital and Pauri Garhwal District , and Valley of Flowers National Park & Nanda Devi National Park in Chamoli District , which together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site . A number of plant species in the valley are internationally threatened, including several that have not been recorded from elsewhere in Uttarakhand. Rajaji National Park in Haridwar , Dehradun and Pauri Garhwal District and Govind Pashu Vihar National Park & Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi District are some other protected areas in
2632-689: The Parliament of India passed the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000 and thus, on 9 November 2000, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India . Uttarakhand is also well known for the mass agitation of the 1970s that led to the formation of the Chipko environmental movement and other social movements. Though primarily a livelihood movement rather than a forest conservation movement, it went on to become
2726-812: The Samhitas , the Brahmanas , the Aranyakas and the Upanishads . Of the Shrutis , the Upanishads alone are widely influential among Hindus, considered scriptures par excellence of Hinduism, and their central ideas have continued to influence its thoughts and traditions. The Smriti texts are a specific body of Hindu texts attributed to an author, as a derivative work they are considered less authoritative than Shruti in Hinduism. The Smriti literature
2820-684: The Vedic period in northern India, the Rig Veda being composed c. 1200 BCE , and its Samhita and Brahmanas complete before about 800 BCE. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit hymns , the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism . Hindus consider the Vedas to be timeless revelation, apauruṣeya , which means "not of a man, superhuman" and "impersonal, authorless". The knowledge in
2914-549: The "last chapters, parts of the Veda " or "the object, the highest purpose of the Veda". The concepts of Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and Ātman (Soul, Self) are central ideas in all the Upanishads , and "Know your Ātman" their thematic focus. The central ideas of the Upanishads have had a lasting influence on Hindu philosophy. More than 200 Upanishads are known, of which ten are the oldest and most important and are referred to as
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3008-467: The Bhagavad Gita teaches Arjuna about atma (soul), God, moksha , and dharma. The Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit text with the earliest part believed to have been composed in the 5th century BCE, is attributed to the sage Valmiki and contains over 24,000 verses. The epic covers the life journey of Rama , an incarnation of Vishnu, along with his wife Sita , and brother Lakshmana . Central to
3102-654: The Common Era, some in all likelihood pre-Buddhist (6th century BCE), down to the Maurya period . Of the remainder, some 95 Upanishads are part of the Muktika canon, composed from about the start of common era through medieval Hinduism . New Upanishads, beyond the 108 in the Muktika canon, continued being composed through the early modern and modern era, though often dealing with subjects unconnected to Hinduism. Smriti
3196-553: The Garhwal Kingdom was re-established from a smaller region in Tehri as a princely state . In the southern part of Uttarakhand in Haridwar district (earlier part of Saharanpur till 1988), the dominance and kingship (rajya) was exercises by Gujar chiefs, the area was under control of Parmar (Panwar or Khubars) Gujars in eastern Saharanpur including Haridwar in kingship of Raja Sabha Chandra of Jabarhera (Jhabrera). Gujars of
3290-504: The Khubar (Panwar) gotra held more than 500 villages there in upper Doab, and that situation was confirmed in 1759 in a grant by a Rohilla governor of 505 villages and 31 hamlets to one Manohar Singh Gujar (written in some records as Raja Nahar Singh son of Sabha Chandra). In 1792 Ram Dayal and his son Sawai Singh were ruling the area but due to some family reasons Ramdayal left Jhabrera and went to Landhaura village, now some villages were under
3384-600: The Landhaura villages numbered 794 under Raja Ram Dayal Singh. Raja Ram Dayal Singh died on 29 March 1813. These holdings, at least those in the original grant made by the Rohilla governor, were initially recognised by the British in land settlements concluded with Ram Dayal and his heirs. As the years passed, more and more settlements appear to have been made with the village communities, however, and by 1850 little remained of
3478-577: The Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary / Principal Secretary . For administration, the state is divided into two divisions and 13 districts. Divisional Commissioner , an IAS officer is the head of administration on the divisional level. The administration in each district is headed by a District Magistrate , who is also an IAS officer, and is assisted by several officers belonging to state services. District Magistrate being
3572-855: The Speaker's absence. The Uttarakhand Council of Ministers is appointed by the Governor of Uttarakhand on the advice of the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and reports to the Legislative Assembly. Leader of the Opposition leads the Official Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. The state contributes five seats to Lok Sabha , the lower house of the Indian Parliament , and three seats to Rajya Sabha ,
3666-410: The Vedas is believed in Hinduism to be eternal, uncreated, neither authored by human nor by divine source, but seen, heard and transmitted by sages. Vedas are also called shruti ("what is heard") literature, distinguishing them from other religious texts, which are called smṛti ("what is remembered"). The Vedas, for orthodox Indian theologians, are considered revelations, some way or other
3760-466: The advice of the chief minister. The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The Council of Ministers consists of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (MoS). The Secretariat headed by the Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head of
3854-669: The authority of a scripture in Hinduism, but are considered a Smriti . These Hindu texts have been influential in the Hindu culture , inspiring major national and regional annual festivals of Hinduism. The Bhagavata Purana has been among the most celebrated and popular text in the Puranic genre. The Bhagavata Purana emphasizes bhakti (devotion) towards Krishna. The Bhagavata Purana is a key text in Krishna bhakti literature. The Mahābhārata , which translates to " The Great Indian Tale ",
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3948-530: The chief Opposition. Among the prominent local crafts is wood carving known as Likhai , which appears most frequently in the ornately decorated temples of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand. Intricately carved designs of floral patterns, deities, and geometrical motifs also decorate the doors, windows, ceilings, and walls of village houses. Paintings and murals are used to decorate both houses and temples. File:Abhisarika-nayika-mola-ram.jpg| Abhisarika Nayika ,
4042-923: The composition is given with cotton and a brush of limiter. In this artform, various qualities of a specific deity are shown. List of renamed places in India Since India gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947 , names of many cities, streets, places, and buildings throughout the Republic of India have been systematically changed, often to better approximate their native endonymic pronunciation. Certain traditional names that have not been changed, however, continue to be popular. Former names of cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh at various times (Pre-Mauryan, Maurayan, Satavahana, Andhra Ikshvaku, Vishnukundina, Eastern Chalukya, Kakateeya, Musunuri, Pemmasani etc. rule) during
4136-545: The control of Raja Ramdayal Singh at Landhaura, and some under his son Sawai Singh at Jhabrera. Hence, there were two branches of Jabarhera estate (riyasat) main branch at Jabarhera and the second one at Landhaura, both father and son were ruling simultaneously without any conflicts till the death of Raja Sawai Singh of Jabarhera in 1803. After the death of Sawai Singh total control of powers transferred to Ram Dayal Singh at Landhaura, but some villages were given to descendants of Sawai Singh and her widow to collect revenue. By 1803
4230-476: The course of history. Andhra was mentioned as An-to-lo by Yuan Chang. Hindu scriptures Divisions Sama vedic Yajur vedic Atharva vedic Vaishnava puranas Shaiva puranas Shakta puranas Traditional Hindu texts or Hindu scriptures are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism . Some of
4324-641: The early documented history of arts and science forms in India such as music , dance , sculptures , architecture , astronomy , science , mathematics , medicine and wellness . Valmiki 's Ramayana (500 BCE to 100 BCE) mentions music and singing by Gandharvas , dance by Apsaras such as Urvashi , Rambha , Menaka , Tilottama Panchāpsaras , and by Ravana 's wives who excelling in nrityageeta or "singing and dancing" and nritavaditra or "playing musical instruments"). The evidence of earliest dance related texts are in Natasutras , which are mentioned in
4418-609: The early presence of Buddhism in this region. Ancient rock paintings, rock shelters, paleolithic age stone tools (hundreds of thousands of years old), and megaliths provide evidence that the mountains of the region have been inhabited since prehistoric times. There are also archaeological remains that show the existence of early Vedic ( c. 1500 BCE ) practices in the area. The Pauravas , Khasas , Kiratas , Nandas , Mauryas , Kushanas , Kunindas , Guptas , Karkotas , Palas , Gurjara-Pratiharas , Katyuris , Raikas , Chands , Parmars or Panwars , Mallas , Shahs and
4512-424: The erstwhile hill kingdoms of Garhwal and Kumaon were traditional rivals the inseparable and complementary nature of their geography, economy, culture, language, and traditions created strong bonds between the two regions. These bonds formed the basis of the new political identity of Uttarakhand, which gained significant momentum in 1994, when demand for separate statehood achieved almost unanimous acceptance among both
4606-494: The festival of Diwali, marriages and other religious rituals. It's predominantly female practitioners believe that it invokes a divine power which brings about good fortune and deters evil. The art is special as it is done on empty walls, which are brick-red in colour, called Geru . The actual art is done with a white paste made of rice flour . Jyuti patta is a class of water color paintings done on rituals, called Jyuti. Some scholars also consider Jyuti to be synonymous with
4700-556: The government. Each government department is headed by a minister, who is assisted by an Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary , who is usually an officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serves as the administrative head of the department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary etc. assisting
4794-481: The head of the district administration, is responsible for maintaining law and order and providing public services in the district. At the block level, the Block Development Officer (BDO) is responsible for the overall development of the block . The Uttarakhand Police is headed by an IPS officer of the rank of Director general of police . A Superintendent of Police , an IPS officer assisted by
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#17327835869154888-476: The higher altitudes and mountainous regions. These winds bring cold temperatures and often carry moisture, contributing to the heavy snowfall in places like the Himalayan ranges and hill stations. During Pre-monsoon or hot weather season from March to May, temperature starts to rise and steadily rises till it reaches its peak in May to the middle of June, when the mean maximum temperature in southern parts and valleys of
4982-595: The history of Uttarakhand goes back to Stone Age. Evidences of Stone Age settlements have been found in various parts of Kumaon and Garhwal, particularly notable are the rock shelters at Lakhudyar , Almora . The region formed a part of the Uttarakuru Kingdom during the Vedic age of Ancient India . Among the first major dynasties of Kumaon were the Kunindas in the second century BCE who practised an early form of Shaivism . Ashokan edicts at Kalsi show
5076-623: The judiciary of Uttarakhand . While the Uttarakhand civil judicial services comprise the Civil Judges (Junior Division)/Judicial Magistrates and civil judges (Senior Division)/Chief Judicial Magistrate, the Uttarakhand higher judicial service comprises civil and sessions judges. The State Politics is heavily dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2017 with the Indian National Congress as
5170-649: The local populace and national political parties. The most notable incident during this period was the Rampur Tiraha firing case on the night of 1 October 1994, which led to a public uproar. On 24 September 1998, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council passed the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, which began the process of forming a new state. Two years later
5264-438: The lower elevations. The highest elevations are covered by ice and bare rock. Below them, between 3,000 and 5,000 metres (9,800 and 16,400 ft) are the western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows . The temperate western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests grow just below the tree line. At 3,000 to 2,600 metres (9,800 to 8,500 ft) elevation they transition to the temperate western Himalayan broadleaf forests , which lie in
5358-630: The major Hindu texts include the Vedas , the Upanishads , and the Itihasa . Scholars hesitate in defining the term "Hindu scriptures" given the diverse nature of Hinduism , but many list the Agamas as Hindu scriptures, and Dominic Goodall includes Bhagavata Purana and Yajnavalkya Smriti in the list of Hindu scriptures as well. There are two historic classifications of Hindu texts: Shruti ( Sanskrit : श्रुति, IAST : Śruti ) – that which
5452-432: The medieval period, the region was consolidated under the Garhwal Kingdom in the west and the Kumaon Kingdom in the east. During this period, learning and new forms of painting (the Pahari school of art) developed. Modern-day Garhwal was likewise unified under the rule of Parmars who, along with many Brahmins and Rajputs , also arrived from the plains. In 1791, the expanding Gorkha Empire of Nepal overran Almora ,
5546-402: The most populous districts, each of them having a population of over one million. Following the Constitution of India , Uttarakhand, like all Indian states, has a parliamentary system of representative democracy . The Legislative Assembly is unicameral consists of 70 members who are elected for five-year terms. Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker , or the Deputy Speaker in
5640-420: The native Garhwalis , and Kumaonis as well as a number of migrants. According to a 2007 study by Centre for the Study of Developing Societies , Uttarakhand has the highest percentage of Brahmins of any state in India, with approximately 20 per cent of the population. Uttarakhand is among the few Indian states where the historic Upper Caste forms a major share of the population. Of the rest 18.3 per cent of
5734-540: The north of the state. These include Jad (spoken in Uttarkashi district in the north-west), Rongpo (of Chamoli district), and several languages of Pithoragarh district in the north-east: Byangsi , Chaudangsi , Darmiya , Raji and Rawat . Another indigenous Sino-Tibetan language, Rangas , became extinct by the middle of the 20th century. Additionally, two non-indigenous Sino-Tibetan languages are also represented: Kulung (otherwise native to Nepal) and Tibetan . The Indian classical language Sanskrit has been declared
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#17327835869155828-405: The northern highlands as well as in pockets throughout the region, and are believed to be ancestors of the modern day Bhotiya , Raji , Jad , and Banrawat people. During the medieval period, the region was consolidated under the Katyuri rulers of Kumaon also known as 'Kurmanchal Kingdom'. After the fall of Katyuris, the region was divided into the Kumaon Kingdom and the Garhwal Kingdom . By
5922-428: The northwest, Tibet to the north, Nepal to the east, Uttar Pradesh to the south and southeast, with a small part touching Haryana in the west. Uttarakhand has a total area of 53,483 km (20,650 sq mi), equal to 1.6 per cent of the total area of India. Dehradun serves as the state capital, with Nainital being the judicial capital. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon , with
6016-418: The officers of the Uttarakhand Police Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues in each district. The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service manages the forests, environment, and wildlife of the district, assisted by the officers of Uttarakhand Forest Service and Uttarakhand Forest Subordinate Service. The judiciary in
6110-412: The official language. All the languages enumerated so far belong to the Indo-Aryan family. Apart from a few other minority Indo-Aryan languages, like Buksa Tharu and Rana Tharu (of Udham Singh Nagar district in the south-east), Mahasu Pahari (found in Uttarkashi in the north-west), and Doteli , Uttarakhand is also home to a number of indigenous Sino-Tibetan languages , most of which are spoken in
6204-478: The once vast estate of the Landhaura Khübars. After India attained independence from the British , the Garhwal Kingdom was merged into the state of Uttar Pradesh , where Uttarakhand composed the Garhwal and Kumaon Divisions. Until 1998, Uttarakhand was the name most commonly used to refer to the region, as various political groups, including the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Uttarakhand Revolutionary Party), began agitating for separate statehood under its banner. Although
6298-419: The plains regions have a significant minority of Muslims and Sikhs. is divided into 13 districts under two divisions viz. Kumaon and Garhwal . Each division is administered by a divisional commissioner . Four new districts named Didihat, Kotdwar, Ranikhet, and Yamunotri were declared by then Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Ramesh Pokhriyal , on 15 August 2011 but yet to be officially formed. Each district
6392-563: The plot is the fourteen-year exile endured by Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, during which Sita is abducted by Ravana of Lanka . Rama, accompanied by Lakshmana, Hanuman (a devotee of Rama), and an army, engages in a battle with Ravana, ultimately emerging victorious with Rama's slaying of Ravana. The epic concludes with Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana's return to Ayodhya , where Rama is crowned king and reigns over Ayodhya. Hindu texts for specific fields, in Sanskrit and other regional languages, have been reviewed as follows: The Hindu scriptures provide
6486-581: The population is classified as Other Backward Classes (OBCs). 18.76 per cent of the population belongs to the Scheduled Castes (an official term for the lower castes in the traditional caste system in India ). Scheduled Tribes such as the Jaunsaris , Bhotiyas , Tharus , Buksas , Rajis , Jads and Banrawats constitute 2.89 per cent of the population. Several non-scheduled tribal groups such as Shaukas and Gurjars are also found here. Gurjars and Bhotiyas are nomadic tribes while Jaunsaris are completely settled tribe. The official language of Uttarakhand
6580-585: The region. Albizia chinensis , the sweet sticky flowers of which are favoured by sloth bears, are also part of the region's flora. A decade long study by Prof. Chandra Prakash Kala concluded that the Valley of Flowers is endowed with 520 species of higher plants ( angiosperms , gymnosperms and pteridophytes ), of these 498 are flowering plants . The park has many species of medicinal plants including Dactylorhiza hatagirea , Picrorhiza kurroa , Aconitum violaceum , Polygonatum multiflorum , Fritillaria roylei , and Podophyllum hexandrum . In
6674-421: The region. Local traditional healers still use herbs, in accordance with classical Ayurvedic texts, for diseases that are usually cured by modern medicine. The native people of Uttarakhand are generally called Uttarakhandi and sometimes specifically either Garhwali or Kumaoni depending on their place of origin in either the Garhwal or Kumaon region. According to the 2011 Census of India , Uttarakhand has
6768-408: The rivers. Butterflies and birds of the region include red helen ( Papilio helenus ), the great eggfly ( Hypolimnos bolina ), common tiger ( Danaus genutia ), pale wanderer ( Pareronia avatar ), jungle babbler , tawny-bellied babbler , great slaty woodpecker , red-breasted parakeet , orange-breasted green pigeon and chestnut-winged cuckoo . In 2011, a rare migratory bird, the bean goose ,
6862-748: The seat of the Kumaon Kingdom. It was annexed to the Kingdom of Nepal by Amar Singh Thapa . In 1803, the Garhwal Kingdom also fell to the Gurkhas. After the Anglo-Nepalese War , this region was ceded to the British as part of the Treaty of Sugauli and the erstwhile Kumaon Kingdom along with the eastern region of Garhwal Kingdom was merged with the Ceded and Conquered Provinces . In 1816,
6956-454: The south-east, and Nepali (1.1 per cent, found throughout the state, but most notably in Dehradun and Uttarkashi). Religion in Uttarakhand (2011) More than four-fifths of Uttarakhand's residents are Hindus . Muslims , Sikhs , Christians , Buddhists , and Jains make up the remaining population, with the Muslims being the largest minority. Hill regions are almost entirely Hindu, while
7050-504: The southwest and make up 1.3 per cent of the state's population. These three languages are closely related, with Garhwali and Kumaoni in particular making up the Central Pahari language subgroup. The languages have been part of various scattered conservation efforts due to their active decline beginning in the later quarter of the 20th century. The decline is hypothesized to be the result of heavy state-sponsored promotion of Hindi as
7144-530: The start of the common era, the Hindu texts were composed orally, then memorized and transmitted orally, from one generation to the next, for more than a millennium before they were written down into manuscripts. This verbal tradition of preserving and transmitting Hindu texts, from one generation to next, continued into the modern era. The Shruti texts, defined as "that which is heard", are texts that are believed to be divine revelations of God and were heard by ancient rishis thousands of years ago. Thus, an author
7238-425: The state as a whole is 133 cm and total annual number of rainy days are about 63 cm. Although, rainfall in the state varies from place to place due to its rugged topography. Precipitation is not heavy and occurs in the form of rain and snow. Winds are generally light of the order of 1 to 4 kmph in the valleys and 5 to 10 kmph at elevations of 2 km increasing further with higher altitudes. Uttarakhand has
7332-814: The state consists of the Uttarakhand High Court in Nainital , district courts and session courts in each district or Sessions Division, and lower courts at the tehsil level. The president of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of the Uttarakhand judiciary on the advice of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India as well as the governor of Uttarakhand . Subordinate Judicial Service, categorised into two divisions viz. Uttarakhand civil judicial services and Uttarakhand higher judicial service are another vital part of
7426-459: The state is 18.6 with the total fertility rate being 2.3. The state has an infant mortality rate of 43, a maternal mortality rate of 188 and a crude death rate of 6.6. Uttarakhand has a multiethnic population spread across two geocultural regions: Garhwal, and Kumaon. A large portion (about 35 per cent) of the population is Rajput (also called Thakur) of various clans of erstwhile landowning rulers and their descendants), including members of
7520-508: The state is at about 34 °C (93 °F) C to 38 °C (100 °F) and mean minimum temperature is at about 20 °C (68 °F) to 24 °C (75 °F) C. June to September constitutes the southwest monsoon season and the period of October and November is of post monsoon season. The state receives rainfall mainly due monsoon depressions originating in the Bay of Bengal during the southwest monsoon season. The total annual rainfall for
7614-472: The state. Bengal tigers and leopards are found in areas that are abundant in hills but may also venture into the lowland jungles. Smaller felines include the jungle cat , fishing cat , and leopard cat . Other mammals include four kinds of deer ( barking , sambar , hog and chital ), sloth , Brown and Himalayan black bears , Indian grey mongooses , otters , yellow-throated martens , bharal , Indian pangolins , and langur and rhesus monkeys. In
7708-671: The summer season of 2016, a large portion of forests in Uttarakhand caught fires and rubbled to ashes during Uttarakhand forest fires incident, which resulted in the damage of forest resources worth billions of rupees and death of 7 people with hundreds of wild animals died during fires. During the 2021 Uttarakhand forest fires , there was widespread damage to the forested areas in Tehri district. A number of native plants are deemed to be of medicinal value. The government-run Herbal Research and Development Institute carries out research and helps conserve medicinal herbs that are found in abundance in
7802-636: The summer, elephants can be seen in herds of several hundred. Marsh crocodiles ( Crocodylus palustris ), gharials ( Gavialis gangeticus ) and other reptiles are also found in the region. Local crocodiles were saved from extinction by captive breeding programs and subsequently re-released into the Ramganga river. Several freshwater terrapins and turtles like the Indian sawback turtle ( Kachuga tecta ), brahminy river turtle ( Hardella thurjii ), and Ganges softshell turtle ( Trionyx gangeticus ) are found in
7896-415: The text of Panini , the sage who wrote the classic on Sanskrit grammar , and who is dated to about 500 BCE. This performance arts related Sutra text is mentioned in other late Vedic texts, as are two scholars names Shilalin ( IAST : Śilālin) and Krishashva (Kṛśaśva), credited to be pioneers in the studies of ancient drama, singing, dance and Sanskrit compositions for these arts. Richmond et al. estimate
7990-734: The travels of Shankaracharya and the arrival of migrants from the plains. Between the 4th and 14th centuries, the Katyuri dynasty dominated lands of varying extents from the Katyur valley (modern-day Baijnath ) in Kumaon. The historically significant temples at Jageshwar are believed to have been built by the Katyuris and later remodelled by the Chands. Other peoples of the Tibeto-Burman group known as Kirata are thought to have settled in
8084-404: The upper house. The Government of Uttarakhand is a democratically elected body in India with the governor as its constitutional head and is appointed by the president of India for a five-year term. The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the chief minister by the governor, and the council of ministers is appointed by the governor on
8178-644: The war between two groups of cousins (the Pandavas and the Kauravas ) and the aftermath of the Kurukshetra War . The Mahabharata also teaches about dharma (duty), the stories of many key figures in Hinduism, and includes the Bhagavad Gita . The Bhagavad Gita is made up of 700 shlokas and is the discussion between Krishna and Arjuna on the battlefield before the start of the war. Krishna in
8272-410: The word mother of the world. To give concrete form to the deity, two-dimensional geometry is given expression in the form of frescoes. This is a geometric or decorative semi-graphic structure in which different colours and symbols are used. This structure called Jyuti also gets a new dimension by the use of ochre or biswar of Tepan. Jyunti is prepared on the surface of wall or paper and
8366-687: The work of the Deity . In the Hindu Epic the Mahabharata , the creation of Vedas is credited to the deity responsible for creation, Brahma . Each of the four Vedas have been subclassified into four major text types: The Upanishads are a collection of Hindu texts which contain the central philosophical concepts of Hinduism. The Upanishads are the foundation of Hindu philosophical thought and its diverse traditions. The Upanishads are commonly referred to as Vedānta , interpreted to mean either
8460-506: Was also seen in the Jim Corbett National Park . A critically endangered bird, last seen in 1876 is the Himalayan quail endemic to the western Himalayas of the state. Evergreen oaks , rhododendrons , and conifers predominate in the hills. Prunus cerasoides (pahiyya), sal ( Shorea robusta ), silk cotton tree ( Bombax ciliata ), Dalbergia sissoo , Mallotus philippensis , Acacia catechu , Bauhinia racemosa , and Bauhinia variegata (camel's foot tree) are some other trees of
8554-472: Was also the ancient Puranic term for the central stretch of the Indian Himalayas . Archaeological evidence supports the existence of humans in the region since prehistoric times . Though initially, it was believed that due to harsh climate and mountainous terrain, this was a barren and uninhabited land. But after various excavations and the study of ancient literature, it is now established that
8648-503: Was part of the ancient Kuru and the Panchal kingdoms during the Vedic age , and later saw the rise of dynasties like the Kunindas and influence of Buddhism as evidenced by Ashokan edicts . Though primarily driven by agriculture and hydropower , the state's economy is now dominated by the service industry. The service sector comprises primarily travel, tourism, and hotel industry. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Uttarakhand
8742-465: Was probably compiled between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE, with the oldest preserved parts not much older than around 400 BCE. The text probably reached its final form by the early Gupta period ( c. 4th century CE ). The composition is traditionally attributed to Vedavyasa and is made up of over 100,000 shlokas . The plot of the Mahabharata covers the events of
8836-413: Was the mass participation of female villagers. It was largely female activists that played pivotal role in the movement. Gaura Devi was the leading activist who started this movement, other participants were Chandi Prasad Bhatt , Sunderlal Bahuguna , and Ghanshyam Raturi, the popular Chipko poet. Uttarakhand has a total area of 53,483 km (20,650 sq mi), of which 86% is mountainous and 65%
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