82-451: The State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited ( SIIDCUL ) is a government of Uttarakhand enterprise which promotes industries and develops industrial infrastructure in the State. It also provides tax incentives for companies establishing plants on its industrial estates presently at Haridwar , Pantnagar , Kotdwar , Kashipur , and Sitarganj . SIIDCUL
164-437: 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
246-435: 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
328-524: 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
410-455: 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
492-615: 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
574-499: 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,
656-435: 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
738-590: 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
820-594: 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
902-416: 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
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#1733115133895984-401: 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
1066-502: 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
1148-450: 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
1230-458: Is also used as a term for people who have their origin in Kumaon. The word Kumain is a direct derivative of Kumaoni. Worshipping Vishnu and Shiva is predominant in this region. According to Skanda Purana . Kumaon is believed to be the birth place of Kurma avatar of Hindu god Vishnu. The Kurmanchal kingdom was a medieval kingdom of Kumaon. it was established by Vasudeo Katyuri. Its capital
1312-521: 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,
1394-491: Is now made using machines. Kumaoni men wear the black Kumaoni cap. White Kumaoni caps are worn during festivals, especially, during Kumaoni Holi . After harvesting season people mostly relax, rejoice, dance and sing, and thus a festival is generated. At the transition of the sun from one constellation to another Sankranti is observed. Each Sankranti has a fair or festival connected to it somewhere in Kumaon. Fooldeyi, Bikhauti, Harela , Ghee Sankranti, Khatarua, Ghughutiya are
1476-616: 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
1558-704: 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
1640-678: 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
1722-899: 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
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#17331151338951804-663: 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
1886-487: 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
1968-542: 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
2050-500: 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
2132-586: 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
2214-561: 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
2296-806: 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 ,
2378-459: 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
2460-551: The census reported a total of 2,081,057 Kumaoni speaker in India, constituting 0.17% of the country's population. As per 2011 Indian census, there were 1,981,062 (95.19%) Kumaoni speakers in the Kumaon division . There is a large Kumaoni diaspora in other states as well as outside India. However, due to the usage and acceptance of Hindi as their mother tongue, many Kumaonis do not list the Kumaoni language as their mother tongue. Hence there
2542-477: 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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2624-494: The composition is given with cotton and a brush of limiter. In this artform, various qualities of a specific deity are shown. Kumaoni people Kumaonis , also known as Kumaiye and Kumain (in Nepal), are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who speak Kumaoni as their first-language and live mostly in Kumaon division in the state of Uttarakhand in India . Kumaoni
2706-546: 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
2788-610: 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
2870-425: 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
2952-412: The famous Hindi poet, Sumitranandan Pant also hailed from Kausani, district Bageshwar. Kumaoni food is simple and comprises largely of vegetables and pulses. Vegetables like potato ( aaloo ), radish ( mooli ), colocacia leaves ( arbi ke patte , papad ), pumpkin ( kaddoo ), spinach ( palak ) and many others are grown locally by the largely agrarian populace and consumed in various forms. In 2011,
3034-495: 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
3116-538: 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
3198-470: 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
3280-474: 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
3362-631: 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
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3444-598: 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
3526-618: 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
3608-438: 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
3690-595: 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 ,
3772-676: The medieval period. They are now characterized as 'Kumain Bahun' or 'Kumai Bahuns'. UNESCO designated Kumaoni as language in the endangered and unsafe category which requires consistent conservation efforts. Various attires are worn in Kumaon. Pichhaura is a traditional attire of Kumaoni women, generally worn for religious occasions, marriage, and other rituals. Traditionally handmade using vegetable dyes, pichhauras are available in red and saffron. Local designs made in Almora, Haldwani and other parts of Kumaon use silk and accessories made of pearl . It
3854-564: 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
3936-485: The most-observed Sankranties throughout the region. Other festivals have the bearings in the moon and thus the dates change frequently in the Gregorian Calendar. Basant Panchami , Shiv Ratri, Saton–Athon , Kumauni Holi , Uttarayani, Samvatsar Parwa, Ram Navami , Dashra, Batsavitri, Rakshabandhan , Janmastmi, Nandastmi, and Deepawali are some of the auspicious occasions. Dasshera festival starts in Kumaon with
4018-456: 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
4100-595: 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
4182-456: 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
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#17331151338954264-550: 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
4346-466: 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
4428-402: 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
4510-654: 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
4592-513: The performance of Ramlila , which is itself unique as it is based on the musical rendering of the katha or story of Rama based on the theatrical traditions set by Uday Shankar while on his stay in Almora . These traditions were further enriched by Mohan Upreti and Brijendra Lal Sah. Known as the Almora or Kumaon style, Ramlila has been recognised by UNESCO as one of the representative styles of Ramlila in India. The 150-year-old Kumaoni Ramlila
4674-678: 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
4756-686: The process of participating in its equity. This has led to more than a thousand EOI’s with SIDCUL, which entail an investment of around ₹20,000 crores. Note : Earlier State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIIDCUL) was State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL) 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 / ;
4838-637: 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
4920-471: 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
5002-409: 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 ,
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#17331151338955084-715: 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,
5166-469: 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
5248-489: 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
5330-606: 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
5412-784: 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
5494-452: 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
5576-399: 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
5658-473: 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
5740-621: 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
5822-530: 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
5904-710: 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
5986-405: 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
6068-410: 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
6150-677: Was Baijnath . It was one of the oldest Himalayan kingdoms, unified most of the Himalayas, and extended from Sikkim in the east to Kabul in the west at its peak. After the fall of the kingdom, it was divided into eight princely states. The next ruling clan of Kumaon were the Manrals. The dynasty at its peak controlled the Tons to the Karnail river. Kumaon was one of the few countries of South Asia that were never ruled or conquered by any Muslim dynasties. There
6232-507: 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
6314-466: 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
6396-509: Was declared as the longest running opera in the world by UNESCO. Chholiya is popular dance in Kumaon region. It is the oldest folk-dance of Uttarakhand. Jhoda and Chanchari are other folk dances of Kumaon. Kumaoni theatre, which developed through its 'Ramleela' plays, later evolved into a modern theatre form through the efforts of theatre stalwarts like Mohan Upreti and Dinesh Pandey and groups like 'Parvatiya Kala Kendra' (started by Mohan Upreti) and 'Parvatiya Lok Kala Manch'. Besides this
6478-609: Was incorporated as a Limited Company in the year 2002 with an authorised share capital of ₹50 crores and ₹20 crores paid up capital through the Government of Uttarakhand in order to promote industrial development and develop an industrial infrastructure. Besides the State Government, SIIDCUL has equity participation from the Union Bank of India , the OBC and SIDBI . Other banks are also in
6560-498: 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
6642-417: 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%
6724-688: Was widespread opposition to British rule in various parts of Kumaon. The Kumaoni people, especially from the Champawat District, rose in rebellion against the British during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 . Under the leadership of Kalu Singh Mahara , many Kumaonis also joined the Indian National Army led by Subash Chandra Bose during the Second World War . In Nepal there are castes of Brahmins who migrated from Kumaon to Nepal during
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