Visit To Uttaranchal
Tranquil lakes, gem like in their setting, some emerald and some sapphire - each remains with its associated legend.One recalls a goddess, mother an agricultural implement. Charming hill resorts - one invites introspection, a second throws open Himalayan grandeur. If one appears bristling new, the other has the ambience of more relaxed age. Pilgrim centres - one at the confluence of the holy rivers and another guarded by monarch sized deodars. Yet another is a venue for a mammoth fair - Uttaranchal, came into being on 9th November 2000 from the former northern Uttar Pradesh with its capital at Dehradun. It was forged from regions of Garhwal and Kumaon. It was named collectively as Uttarakhand. The Land of the North - Uttaranchal is a region of snow covered mountians and rolling hills, split by some of Hinduism's most sacred rivers. The most important is the Ganges, which arises at Gaumukh in the far north and flows down via the famous pilgrim centres of Rishikesh and Haridwar.
The extensive foothills surrounding the Himalayas northern to the state is home many popular hill stations like Nainital and Mussoorie. Further north, the high peaks of Himalayas have been a providing ground for some of the world's greatest mountaineers and trekkers.Garhwal is more visited than the Kumaon to the east. The region contains such treasures as the Valley of Flowers and offers some of the country's greatest trekking and white water rafting. The 'holy abodes' of the Gods attract yatra pilgrims to the mountian shrines. The most important among the pilgrim routes, which wind through the Uttaranchal Himalayas, are the Char Dham, which mark the spiritual sources of the Yamuna, Bhagirathi (Ganges), Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers. The Corbett National Park and Rajaji National Park are home to many rare species like wild tigers and elephants. Rishikesh is famous for its meditation centre since 1960 and Yoga fans do include them as a major part in thier itinerary. The border crossing at banbassa is passed through by quite a few to visit Nepal.
The region of Uttaranchal was originally home to the Kuninda people, an Aryan group who practiced a primitive version of Shaivism and lived a semi - nomadic existence, herding livestock and trading salt across the Himalaya to the neighbouring Tibet. Many of their shrines have been incorporated in modern Hindu mythology. The idea of carving a new state out of over populated Uttar Pradesh had existed almost since independence, but it wasn't until 1990s it gained momentum and after years of negotiations, the state formally declared with Dehradun as its capital.
