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96-459: Partition of British India occurred in 1947 along with the formation of two dominions called Pakistan and India. Partition resulted in mass violence and people were moving across borders in all means. Thus to support the displaced people from Pakistan Jawaharlal Nehru created a fund collected from the public in January 1948. The fund is fully collected from the public and has no budgetary allocation from

192-437: 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

288-435: 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

384-524: 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

480-573: A budget of Rs. 138.65 crore approved from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. After construction was finished, the 50 cyclone shelters were turned over to the West Bengal state government and local government. From the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, the construction of one multipurpose cyclone shelter each in Kerala and Lakshdweep was approved. At a cost of Rs. 2.24 crore, the construction of

576-455: 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

672-615: 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

768-537: A great conqueror who performed the ashvamedha (horse-sacrifice). These two Kuru kings played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state and the development of the srauta rituals, and they also appear as important figures in later legends and traditions (e.g., in the Mahabharata ). The Kurus declined after being defeated by the non-Vedic Salva (or Salvi) tribe , and the centre of Vedic culture shifted east, into

864-499: 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,

960-435: 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

1056-590: 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

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1152-510: A result of conflict with the vratya ascetics; however, this Vedic mention does not provide corroboration for the accuracy of the Mahabharata's account of his reign. This shows the line of royal and family succession, not necessarily the parentage. See the notes below for detail. Key to Symbols Notes The birth order of siblings is correctly shown in the family tree (from left to right), except for Vyasa and Bhishma whose birth order

1248-594: 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%) and Punjabi (2.6%), both mostly found in the southern districts, Bengali (1.5%) and Bhojpuri (0.95%), both mainly present in Udham Singh Nagar district in

1344-416: 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 is administered by

1440-401: 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

1536-502: Is Hindi , which according to the 2011 census is spoken natively by 43% 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% of the population, mostly in the western half of the state, Kumaoni , spoken in the eastern half and native to 20%, and Jaunsari , whose speakers are concentrated in Dehradun district in

1632-402: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Uttarakhand 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 / ;

1728-450: 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

1824-521: 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,

1920-616: 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

2016-704: 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

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2112-678: 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

2208-782: The Historical Vedic religion into Brahmanism , which eventually contributed to the Hindu synthesis . Kuru state was located in northwestern India, stretching from the Gaṅgā river and the border of the Pañcāla Kingdom in the east to the Sarasvatī and the frontier of Rohītaka in the west, and bordered the Kulindas in the north and the Sūrasenas and Matsya in the south. The area formerly occupied by

2304-899: 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

2400-651: The Kurukshetra region, the Kurus formed the first political centre of the Vedic period and were dominant roughly from 1200 to 800 BCE. The first Kuru capital was at Āsandīvat, identified with modern Assandh in Haryana . Later literature refers to Indraprastha (identified with modern Delhi ) and Hastinapura as the main Kuru cities. The Kurus figure prominently in Vedic literature after

2496-513: The Panchala Kingdom , in modern day Uttar Pradesh (whose king Keśin Dālbhya was the nephew of the late Kuru king). According to post-Vedic Sanskrit literature, the capital of the Kurus was later transferred to Kaushambi , in the lower Doab, after Hastinapur was destroyed by floods as well as because of upheavals in the Kuru family itself. In the post-Vedic period (by the 6th century BCE),

2592-663: 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

2688-820: The Vedas , and developing new rituals, that gained their position in Indian culture as the Srauta rituals. The Kuru kingdom transformed the Vedic religion into Brahmanism, which eventually spread over the subcontinent, synthesizing with local traditions , and together forming Hinduism . Kuru kings ruled with the assistance of a rudimentary administration, including purohita (priest), village headman, army chief, food distributor, emissary, herald and spies. They extracted mandatory tribute ( bali ) from their population of commoners as well as from weaker neighbouring tribes. They led frequent raids and conquests against their neighbours, especially to

2784-487: The southwest monsoon season. The total annual rainfall for 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

2880-409: The 5th century BCE. However, traditions and legends about the Kurus continued into the post-Vedic period, providing the basis for the Mahabharata epic. The Kuru kingdom corresponds with the archaeological Painted Grey Ware culture . The Kuru kingdom decisively changed the religious heritage of the early Vedic period, arranging their ritual hymns into collections called the Vedas , and transforming

2976-542: 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

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3072-500: 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

3168-639: The Kuru Kingdom covered the presently Thanesar , Delhi , and most of the upper Gangetic Doab . The Kuru state was itself divided into the Kuru-jaṅgala ("Kuru forest"), the Kuru territory proper, and the Kuru-kṣetra ("Kuru region "): The rivers flowing within the Kuru state included the Aruṇā, Aṃśumatī, Hiraṇvatī, Āpayā, Kauśikī , Sarasvatī, and Dṛṣadvatī or Rakṣī. The main contemporary sources for understanding

3264-500: The Kuru dynasty evolved into Kuru and Vatsa Kingdom , ruling over Upper Doab/Delhi/Haryana and lower Doab, respectively. The Vatsa branch of the Kuru dynasty was further divided into branches at Kaushambi and at Mathura . According to Buddhist sources, by the late and post-Vedic periods, Kuru had become a minor state ruled by a chieftain called Koravya and belonging to the Yuddhiṭṭhila ( Yudhiṣṭhira ) gotta (gotra). After

3360-605: The Kuru kingdom are the Vedas , containing details of life during this period and allusions to historical persons and events. The Kuru Kingdom was formed in the Middle Vedic period ( c.  1200  – c.  900 BCE ) as a result of the alliance and merger between the Bharata and Puru tribes, in the aftermath of the Battle of the Ten Kings . With their centre of power in

3456-586: 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

3552-561: 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

3648-806: 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 ,

3744-459: 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

3840-539: The archaeological Painted Grey Ware culture . The shift out of Punjab corresponds to the increasing number and size of Painted Grey Ware (PGW) settlements in the Haryana and Doab areas. Another PGW site is found in Katha village of Bagpat district , which was once a fort of King Ror. Although most PGW sites were small farming villages, several PGW sites emerged as relatively large settlements that can be characterized as towns;

3936-526: 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 ,

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4032-605: The complete authority of the fund. The President of Congress is not a member of PMNRF anymore despite assertions made by certain public figures. The fund was used extensively to provide support for victims of Uttarakhand flood 2013, cyclone in Kerala and Lakshadweep , 2014 violence in Assam , Madhya Pradesh explosion 2015, Tamil Nadu floods 2015 etc. In West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, and Purba Medinipur districts, 50 multipurpose cyclone shelters are to be built, with

4128-508: The composition is given with cotton and a brush of limiter. In this artform, various qualities of a specific deity are shown. Kuru Kingdom Kuru was a Vedic Indo-Aryan tribal union in northern Iron Age India of the Bharata and Puru tribes . The Kuru kingdom appeared in the Middle Vedic period ( c.  1200  – c.  900 BCE ), encompassing parts of the modern-day states of Haryana , Delhi , and some North parts of Western Uttar Pradesh . The Kuru Kingdom

4224-546: 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

4320-610: 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

4416-430: The east and south. To aid in governing, the kings and their Brahmin priests arranged Vedic hymns into collections and developed a new set of rituals (the now orthodox Srauta rituals) to uphold social order and strengthen the class hierarchy. High-ranking nobles could perform very elaborate sacrifices, and many pujas (rituals) primarily exalted the status of the king over his people. The ashvamedha or horse sacrifice

4512-425: 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

4608-599: The existence of simple chiefdoms ) in the rest of the Ganges Valley. In the fourfold varna-system the Brahmin priesthood and Kshatriya aristocracy, who dominated the Arya commoners (now called vaishyas ) and the dasa labourers (now called shudras ), were designated as separate classes. The Kuru kingdom decisively changed the religious heritage of the early Vedic period, arranging their ritual hymns into collections called

4704-495: 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

4800-577: The first cyclone shelter in Vadakara, Kerala, has been finished and turned over to the local government. The first cyclone shelter in Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep is currently being built. Rs. 3.37 crore has been approved as the cost of this cyclone shelter. The income and expenditure of the PMNRF for the period 2009-10 to 2018-19 is as follows (in crore rupees): This article about an organisation in India

4896-538: 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

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4992-570: The government. The fund collected is exempted from income tax to drive more people into the initiative. Chairman of the fund is the Prime Minister and he is assisted by joint secretary. The whole of the fund is deposited with scheduled commercial banks and the beneficiaries are identified directly by the Prime Minister from among the beneficiaries. The control of the PMNRF has been with the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) since 1985. PMO holds

5088-470: 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

5184-474: 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

5280-584: 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

5376-598: 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

5472-450: The largest of these were fortified by ditches or moats and embankments made of piled earth with wooden palisades, albeit smaller and simpler than the elaborate fortifications which emerged in large cities after 600 BCE. The Atharvaveda (XX.127) praises Parikshit , the "King of the Kurus", as the great king of a thriving, prosperous realm. Other late Vedic texts, such as the Shatapatha Brahmana , commemorate Parikshit's son Janamejaya as

5568-411: 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

5664-438: 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

5760-469: The main Kuru ruling dynasty had moved to Kosambi, the Kuru country itself became divided into multiple small states, with the ones at Indapatta (Indraprastha) and one at Iṣukāra being the most prominent ones. By the time of the Buddha , these small states had been replaced by a Kuru Gaṇasaṅgha (republic). The clans that consolidated into the Kuru Kingdom or 'Kuru Pradesh' were largely semi-nomadic, pastoral clans. However, as settlement shifted into

5856-434: 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 ,

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5952-404: 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

6048-408: 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% 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% of

6144-542: 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

6240-407: 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

6336-418: 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

6432-414: 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

6528-402: The official name until 2007 ), is a state in northern India . The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to 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% of the total area of India. Dehradun serves as

6624-480: 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

6720-426: The period between c. 400 BCE and 400 CE. Within the frame story of the Mahabharata , the historical kings Parikshit and Janamejaya are featured significantly as scions of the Kuru clan. A historical Kuru King named Dhritarashtra Vaichitravirya is mentioned in the Kathaka Samhita of the Yajurveda ( c. 1200–900 BCE) as a descendant of the Rigvedic -era king Sudas . His cattle were reportedly destroyed as

6816-569: The population is classified as Other Backward Classes (OBCs). 18.76% 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% 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

6912-637: 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

7008-471: 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

7104-409: 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 ,

7200-715: 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,

7296-469: The south-east, and Nepali (1.1%, 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 the plains regions have

7392-489: The southwest and make up 1.3% 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

7488-606: The state capital, with Nainital being the judicial capital. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon , with a total of 13 districts . The forest cover in the state is 45.4% of the state's geographical area. The cultivable area is 16% 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

7584-784: 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

7680-452: 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%) of the population is Rajput (also called Thakur) of various clans of erstwhile landowning rulers and their descendants), including members of

7776-444: 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

7872-473: 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

7968-669: 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

8064-628: 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

8160-569: The time of the Rigveda . The Kurus here appear as a branch of the early Indo-Aryans, ruling the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and modern Haryana. The focus in the later Vedic period shifted out of Punjab , into the Haryana and the Doab, and thus to the Kuru clan. The time frame and geographical extent of the Kuru kingdom (as determined by philological study of the Vedic literature) suggest its correspondence with

8256-710: 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

8352-460: The twofold system of arya and dasa from the Rigvedic times. Archaeological surveys of the Kurukshetra district have revealed a more complex (albeit not yet fully urbanized) three-tiered hierarchy for the period of the period from 1000 to 600 BCE, suggesting a complex chiefdom or emerging early state, contrasting with the two-tiered settlement pattern (with some "modest central places", suggesting

8448-405: 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

8544-476: The western Ganges Plain , settled farming of rice and barley became more important. Vedic literature of this period indicates the growth of surplus production and the emergence of specialized artisans and craftsmen. Iron was first mentioned as śyāma āyasa (श्याम आयस, literally "dark metal") in the Atharvaveda , a text of this era. An important development was the fourfold varna (class) system, which replaced

8640-410: 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

8736-530: Was a way for a powerful king to assert his domination in Āryāvarta . Kuru had two types of legislative assembly: The epic poem, the Mahabharata , tells of a conflict between two branches of the reigning Kuru clan possibly around 1000 BCE. However, archaeology has not furnished conclusive proof as to whether the specific events described have any historical basis. The existing text of the Mahabharata went through many layers of development and mostly belongs to

8832-507: 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

8928-466: 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

9024-498: 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

9120-454: Was the first recorded state-level society in the Indian subcontinent . The Kuru kingdom became a dominant political and cultural force in the middle Vedic Period during the reigns of Parikshit and Janamejaya , but declined in importance during the late Vedic period ( c.  900  – c.  500 BCE ) and had become "something of a backwater" by the Mahajanapada period in

9216-417: 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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