Wildlife in Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal, the land abundant with some of the rare species of flora and fauna. Uttaranchal boasts of quite a few national parks and sanctuaries. All of them have been bestowed by nature with its bounty. Come, explore the exquisite forest life of Uttaranchal with us. The range of animal species found here are just immense.

One can find here species from the plains, alpine region, aquatic region, etc. all at the same place. One can see numerous rare species like snow leopard, yak, Himalayan tahr, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan musk deer, etc. which are rare to find elsewhere in India. Travel to the wildlife reserves of Corbett and Nanda Devi and observe them in the natural habitats.

Nanda Devi National Park
The nanda Devi National Park, spread over 630 sq. kms. of area in the vicinity of nanda Devi Peak (25, 675 ft./7816 mts), India’s second highest mountain. Has a unique combination of flora and fauna. The park was established in 1980 and inclues some of the hightest mountain peaks of the western Himalayas. The faunal species here include snow leopard, brown and Himalayan black bear, bharal, Himalayan thahr, nonal and chir pheasants.

Kedarnath Sanctuary
Kedarnath Sanctuary was established in 1972 on 967 sq. km. Of the Garhwasl Himlaya. The fascinating garhwal Himalyas present a spectacular viewing of mountains and valleys, forests and grasslands, butterfles and flowes, Snow leopard, leopard, thr, serow, snow cock and musk deer have made their habitation in this beautiful sactuary. Kaleej and monal pheasants are among the many birds to be seen here.

Tourist Attraction in Uttaranchal

Garhwal
The Garhwal Himalayas area is remote and mountainous, filled with oak forests and alpine meadows. The forests are home to a number of endangered animal species and have historically been managed by local community institutions. In recent years, however, overgrazing and overharvesting in government-controlled forestlands has begun to threaten the area’s biodiversity

Char Dham
The state of Uttaranchal is considered the holy land or the Devbhoomi. The Garhwal division of Uttaranchal is famous for the Char Dham Yatra. It includes the four most revered and holy destinations of Garhwal Himalayas, namely, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is generally believed by the pilgrims that undertaking pilgrimages to these places not just wash away one’s sins but also liberates from the cycle of birth and death.

It is also believed that earlier all these dhams were placed together and with the onset of the Kalyuga, the distance between the four grew and they drifted apart. The Char Dham Yatra must be initiated from left to right or west to east, beginning from Yamunotri, Gangotri, moving to Kedarnath and ending in Badrinath.

Mussoorie
Mussoorie, with its green hills and varied flora and fauna, is a facinating hill resort. Commanding snow ranges to the north-east, and glittering views of the Doon Valley and Shiwalik ranges in the south, the town presents a fairyland atmosphere. Mussoorie is famous for its scenic beauty

Kumaon
Kumaon is a beautiful region in the newly formed state Uttaranchal . It is in the northern side of Uttar Pradesh .Kumaon is derived from “Kurmanchal” which meanes Land of the Kurmavtar (the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Preserver of Mankind as per hindu religion. Kumaon consists of six Districts Almora, Nainital, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar, Champawat and Udhamsingh Nagar. Kumaon is situated in Central Himalayas .Himalaya in the north , “Kali” river in east, Garwal in the west and Plain area in south make the typial boundry of this region

Nainital
A beautiful hill station in Kumaon hills, Nainital is popular for the its beautiful views, and boat rides. Hill Resorts in India provides complete information on the beautiful hill station Nainital. Nainital is located at an altitude of 1,938 metres in the state of Uttaranchal. Nainital has a number of tourist destinations that one can visit. Travel to Nainital with Hill Resorts in India.

Corbett National Park
Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve lies 280 km north-east of New Delhi in the Nainital and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttaranchal. Named after the celebrated hunter turned naturalist, Jim Corbett who immortalized the area through his famous books, Corbett is India’s first national park and was established in 1936.

Encompassing 1318 sq kms of foothills of the Western Himalayas and the adjacent terai region Corbett contains a wide range of habitats between 400 and 1200 meters. The thick Sal forests in the bhabar zone and the chaurs (or open grassland) are intersected by river valleys and streams ~ tributaries of the Ramganga and Kosi rivers creating primeval forests which are a hotspot of bio-diversity.

Haridwar
Haridwar is one of the most sacred cities of India. The city is situated on the banks of Ganga and it is said that Ganga enters the plains in Haridwar. Haridwar means Gateway (Dwar) to gods (Hari). Tere are many temples and ashrams in the town. The city is also famous for being host to Kumbh mela, the most sacred fairs of Hindus. The water of Ganga is supposed to be medicinally very strong in Haridwar, due to herbal secretions of the plants and herbs.

Adventure Sports
Uttaranchal is famous for its adventure sports activities. The state can boast about the host of adventure activities which it offers to visitors. The most famous ones are skiing, white water rafting, trekking, jungle safari and mountaineering. The geographical variations in the land of Uttaranchal offers some very intresting challenges.

Auli Skiing
Auli, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, is a new entrant in the tourist map of India. Located in the cradle of snow-capped mountains, Auli is one of the very few places in India where skiing is a major pastime. The bitter cold winds, the vast snow-covered landscape, the sylvan mountains, all add up to make Auli a skier’s paradise. Representing man’s constant endeavor to triumph over nature, Auli proves to be an ideal locale for the daring.

Climate of Uttaranchal

The state has two distinct climatic regions: the predominant hilly terrain and the smaller plain region. The climatic condition of the plains is very similar to its counterpart in the Gangetic plain. Summers are extremely hot with temperatures going over the 40°C mark and a lot of humidity. Winters can be chilly with temperatures going below 5°C at times.

The Himalayan region has Alpine conditions characterized by cold winters with snowfall for quite a long time, good rainfall in the monsoon, and mild summers. This climate attracts tourists seeking spiritual refuge, adventure or simply scenic beauty.

Getting in Utttaranchal

By Air

Jolly Grant near Dehradun is the only airport. There are regular flights to Delhi by Indian Airlines. Otherwise, one has the option to travel to Delhi by road or rail and then take the air route to various destinations.

By Rail

Dehradun, Haridwar, and Kathgodam are the major railway stations connected to almost all parts of the country with regular trains. Not many places in the state are connected by rail because of tough terrains. For those visiting places in the higher altitudes, trekking and road routes are the only options available.

By Road

Almost all the important places in the state are connected by all-weather metalled roads. Many places in the higher altitudes may still remain off for a period in the year due to landslides and snowfall. National Highways such as 58, 73, 74, and 87 connect places in the state to other parts of the country.

Regular bus services connect Delhi and other major centers in North India with Dehradun. The road distances of some prominent destinations from Dehradun are as follows: Mussoorie, 35 km; Delhi, 255 km; Mumbai, 1927 km; Chennai, 2488 km; Haridwar, 54 km; Rishikesh, 43 km; Shimla, 221 km; Nainital, 485 km; Kedarnath, 270 km; Badrinath, 344 km; Gangotri, 301 km; Yamunotri, 265 km; Chakrata, 92 km; Corbett National Park, 236 km; Har-Ki-dun, 187 km; Valley of Flowers and Hemkund, 342 km.

History of Uttranchal

Uttaranchal is an amalgamation of the two hilly divisions of former Uttar Pradesh, Kumaon and Garhwal, the regions that are known according to Hindu legends as Devbhoomi (land of the gods). Both the divisions, though they are spelled in the same breath, show sufficient diversity in their history, culture and ethnicity so much so that they are often considered separately.

The Garhwal Himalayas have nurtured civilization from the wee hours of history. It appears to have been a favorite locale for the voluminous mythology of the Puranic period. The traditional name of Garhwal was Uttarakhand and excavations have revealed that it formed part of the Mauryan Empire. It also finds mention in the 7th-century travelogue of Huen Tsang.

However, it is with Adi Shankaracharya that the name of Garhwal will always be linked, for the great 8th-century spiritual reformer visited the remote, snow-laden heights of Garhwal, established a math (Joshimath) and resorted some of the most sacred shrines, including Badrinath and Kedarnath.

The history of Garhwal as one unified whole began in the 15th century, when king Ajai Pal merged the 52 separate principalities, each with its own garh or fortress. For 300 years, Garhwal remained one kingdom, with its capital at Srinagar (not to be confused with the capital of Kashmir). Then Pauri and Dehradun were perforce ceded to the Crown as payment for British help, rendered to the Garhwalis during the Gurkha invasion, in the early 19th century.

Humankind has been around in Kumaon for a very long time. Evidences of Stone Age settlements have been found in Kumaon, particularly the rock shelter at Lakhu Udyar. The paintings here date back to the Mesolithic period.

The early medieval history of Kumaon is the history of the Katyuri dynasty. The Katyuri kings ruled from the seventh to the 11th century, holding sway at the peak of their powers over large areas of Kumaon, Garhwal, and western Nepal. The town of Baijnath near Almora was the capital of this dynasty and a center of the arts. Temple building flourished under the Katyuris and the main architectural innovation introduced by them was the replacement of bricks with hewn stone.

On a hilltop facing east (opposite Almora), is the temple of Katarmal. This 900-year-old sun temple was built during the declining years of the Katyuri dynasty. The intricately carved doors and panels have been removed to the National Museum in Delhi as a protective measure after the 10th-century idol of the presiding deity was stolen.

After an interregnum of a couple of centuries, the Chands of Pithoragarh became the dominant dynasty. The magnificent temple complex at Jageshwar, with its cluster of a hundred and sixty-four temples, was built by the Chand rulers over a space of two centuries. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the evocative carvings are complemented by the beautiful cedar forest around it.

Economy of Uttaranchal

Agriculture

About 90 per cent of the population of Uttaranchal depends on agriculture. The net cultivated area in the State is 12,61,915 hectares

Industry and Minerals

The State is rich in mineral depositys like limestone, rock phosphate, dolomite, magnesite, copper greyphyte, soap stone, gypsum, etc. The number of small scale industries is 41, 216 with an investment of Rs. 305.58 crore providing employment to 1,53, 229 persons. One hundred and ninenty one heavy industries with an investment of Rs.2,694.66 crore employ 50,802 persons. Most of the industries are forest-based.

Irrigation and Energy

Agricultural land uner irrigation is 5,19,806 hectares (year 1994-95) which is 56 per cent of the total agricultural land. The State has excellent potential for hydropower generation. There are a number of hydro-electric projects on the rivers Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Ganga, Ramganga and Sharda, generating electricity. Out of 15,669 villages, 12,315 villages have been electrified.

Festivals of Uttaranchal

The world famous Kumbh Mela/Ardh Kumbh Mela is held at Hardwar every twelfth/sixth year interval. Other prominent fairs/festivals are Devidhura Mela (Champawat), Purnagiri Mela (Champawat), Nanda Devi Mela (Almora), Gauchar Mela (Chamoli), Baisakhi (Uttarakashi), Maga Mela (Uttarkashi), Uttaraini Mela (Bageshwar), Vishu Mela (Jaunsar Vavar), Peerane-Kaliyar (Roorkee), and Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra held every twelfth year.

Dehradun: Uttaranchal

Dehradun, previously called Dehra Doon, is the capital city of Uttaranchal state of India and is also the headquarter of Dehradun District. It is located in the Doon valley, 230 kilometers north of Indian captial New Delhi and the Delhi metro. It is surrounded by the Himalayas mountains on the north, Shivalik Hills on the south, and the river Ganges east and the river Yamuna on the west.

The water divide of Ganga and Yamuna passes through the city. It is also located on the northern side of the fertile Gangetic plains of India. Before the creation of Uttaranchal on November 9th 2000, Dehradun was a part of the historic state Uttar Pradesh. Neighbouring cities and towns include Haridwar, Rishikesh, Roorkee, Mussoorie and Saharanpur. A popular item that has made Dehradun known across the world is “Dehradooni basmati rice”, which is grown in the fields surrounding the neighbouring Saharanpur.

Facts
Latitude: 30° 19′ North
Longitude: 78° 04′ East
Altitude: 635 meters (2,100 feet) above sea level
Area: 3088 kilometers square
Temperature: Summer (April-July): 16°C – 36° C. Winter (November-Feburary): 2°C – 24°C .
Telephone area code (STD code within India): 0135
Telephone area code (International): +91 (0)135
Languages spoken: Hindi, English, Garhwali, Punjabi, Sindhi, and Urdu.
Population (1991 census) : 1,025,680 (55% males and 45% females)

History

It is believed that in the Vedic times, the Garhwal Mandal, of which Dehradun is a part, was known as the Kedar Khand. Legend has it that Guru Dronacharaya, a Brahmin teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharat and son of the mighty river Ganges, set up his ashram or ‘dera’ here. Eventually, the Dron Ashram came to be known as Dehradun. According to another legend, Lord Rama and his brother undertook a penance in Dehradun for killing Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.

The earliest tangible evidence of the history of Dehradun dates back to 300 BC, as indicated by a rock inscription at Kalsi, discovered in 1860. The inscriptions located at the northern outskirts of the city are attributed to King Ashoka. In the inscription, there are 14 edicts carved on a rock and adjacent to these is the site where Raja Shilvarma of the Vrisheri dynasty made three horse sacrifices during his rule in the 3rd century BC.

At the site, large inscribed bricks are arranged to form the shape of a bird with a fire altar in the middle. There is no evidence of any kind of quite a long period after that, and the next prominent rulers of the valley were the Katyuris of Garhwal.

Next, this stronghold of the Katyuri dynasty, passed into the hands of the Sikhs and Mughals and later, the Gorkhas of Nepal ruled here for a long time till the British came into the picture. For many centuries the region formed part of the Garhwal kingdom with some interruption from Rohillas. For about two decades till 1815 it was under the occupation of the Gorkhas. In April 1815 Gorkhas were ousted from Garhwal region and Garhwal was annexed by the British.

Districts in Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal is divided into 13 districts: Almora, Bageshwar, Chamoli, Champawat, Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Pauri (Pauri Garhwal), Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Tehri (Tehri Garhwal), Udham Singh Nagar, and Uttarkashi.

These districts form two divisions; Garhwal division includes Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri, and Uttarkashi districts, and Kumaon division includes Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar.

Geography of Uttaranchal

Uttaranchal lies on the south slope of the mighty Himalaya range, and the climate and vegetation vary greatly with elevation, from glaciers at the highest elevations to tropical forests at the lower elevations. The highest elevations are covered by ice and bare rock. The Western Himalayan Alpine Shrub and Meadows ecoregion lies between 3000-3500 and 5000 meters elevation; tundra and alpine meadows cover the highest elevations, transitioning to Rhododendron-dominated shrublands below.

The Western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests lie just below the tree line; at 3000-2600 meters elevation they transition to the Western Himalayan broadleaf forests, which lie in a belt from 2,600 to 1,500 meters elevation. Below 1500 meters elevation lies western end of the drier Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands belt, and the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests. This belt is locally known as Bhabhar.These lowland forests have mostly been cleared for agriculture, but a few pockets remain.

Indian National Parks in Uttaranchal include the Jim Corbett National Park at Ramnagar in Nainital District, Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park in Chamoli District, Rajaji National Park in Haridwar District, and Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Gangotri National Park in Uttarkashi District.