Brief Snapshot

Uttranchal came into existence on 9 November 2000 as the 27th state of the Republic of India after its disintegration from Uttar Pradesh. The state borders Tibet to the north and Nepal to the east, while its neighboring states are Himachal Pradesh to the west and Uttar Pradesh in the south. Dehra Dun is the capital of the state.

The northern areas of the state are parts of Greater Himalyan ranges that are covered by the high peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills, which were once denuded by the British log merchants and forest contractors after independence, are now densely forested.

Two of India's mightiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna take birth in the glaciers of Uttaranchal, and are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts, and streams in the region.

Uttaranchal is comprised of two regions, the western half known as Garhwal and the eastern region known as Kumaon. The two have varied histories, linguistics, and culture due to their proximity to different cultures. The inseparable and complementary nature of their geography, economy, culture, language, and traditions, however, has created strong bondages between the two regions.

According to the 2001 Census, the population of the state is 8 479 562, with an average density of 159/km². Hindi, Garhwali, and Kaumaoni are the official language of Uttaranchal.

The tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy of Uttaranchal. The Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve; the nearby hill-stations of Nainital and Bhimtal; and others summer destinations like Mussoorie, Almora, and Ranikhet are among the most frequented places by tourists in India.

The unique Himalayan ecosystem of the state helps its play host to a large number of animals (bharal, snow leopards, leopards, and tigers), plants, and rare herbs.

Some of the holiest Hindu shrines also belong to the region. For almost 2000 years now, pilgrims have been visiting the temples at Haridwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Jageshwar. Rishikesh near Haridwar houses the major spiritual and yoga centers of India. Thousands also throng at Gangotri and Yaminotri, the sources of the Ganges and Yamuna.

Food
Picturesque state of Uttaranchal has a simple yet delectable cuisine. The food is extremely nutritious to suit the high energy requirements of the hilly and cold region. It is cooked with love and affection over charcoal or wood fire.

People of Uttaranchal basically take a vegetarian meal though mutton and chicken are also savored by many. Characteristic feature of the Kumouni cuisine is the sparing use of milk and milk based products. This is due to the geographical nature of the state as hill cows do not yield good quantity of milk. Rice is the staple food for the people of Uttaranchal.

Favorites of the Pahari people are the lentils. Locally grown bhatt (a variety of soya bean) and the rust brown gahat also called kulath are appreciated more than others. Large dried balls of urad dal, called badis and their smaller version prepared from moong dal called mangodi are also relished by the people here. These help the people to combat the chilly winter months.

Also common is the use of coarse grain with high fibre content Munduva (Buck wheat) in the interior regions of Kumaun. Linguda grown on the borders of Tibet and Nepal is also a part of the Pahari cuisine as it helps to keep the stomach in order. Medium of cooking is normally mustard oil or pure ghee. Use of tomato is minimal in the Kumaoni cuisine. Simple recipes of this state are made interesting with the use of bhanga or hash seeds as spice.