4.5 Uttarakhand Tourism

"The Land of Gods"

Uttarakhand, India

Famously known as Devbhumi, or the Land of the Gods, Uttarakhand is a land of untouched natural beauty and sublime spirituality. Carved out from Uttar Pradesh, the state, formerly known as Uttaranchal, is a place that not only boasts of a scintillating view of the Himalayas but also exhibits a cultural ethos which speaks of a simplistic and harmonic coexistence with nature. With oaks, birches, silver firs and rhododendrons adorning the steep mountain slopes, Uttarakhand offers you a glimpse into an untainted, idyllic world, straight out of the pages of some ancient pastoral literature.

Uttarakhand is a very popular pilgrimage site, seeing as it is the originating spot of the Ganga and the Yamuna, two of the most sacred rivers for Hindus. Uttarakhand is home to the Char Dhams, which are four of the most pious sites of pilgrimage revered by the Hindus – Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. Thousands of tourists visit Uttarakhand annually to pay homage to the Char Dhams.

Ancient temples, forest reserves, national parks, hill stations, and mountain peaks welcome you in the calm, cooling air of Uttarakhand and the joy doubly increases as we reveal that you can visit some of the famous hill stations of India in Uttarakhand. Mussoorie, Nainital, Dhanaulti, Lansdowne, Sattal, Almora, Kausani, Bhimtal, and Ranikhet are ever embracing hill stations in the state best for all kinds of trips be it a family holiday or a honeymoon. 

What's Great?

Serene views and full of natural beauty. Not so extreme weather. Calm and soothing state.

What's not so Great?

Transportation problems. Hilly regions can be dangerous for driving.

For Whom

Nature and peace lovers. Wildlife fanatics. Perfect for adventure enthusiasts and religious people.

People and Culture of Uttarakhand

The people of Uttarakhand are simple folk and are known to be warm and welcoming. Among the prominent ethnic groups in the state are the Bhotias, the Jaunsaries, the Tharus, the Bokshas and the Rajis. Pahari is spoken by the locals while Hindi is also spoken and understood in the state. Religion is a vital part of daily life for the people of these hills. Large segment of the people in Uttarakhand are heterodox Buddhists and Hindus.

Dances like the Langvir Nritya, Dhurang, Pandav Nritya, Chholiya, Hurka Baul and Jharva are popular, particularly during fairs and festivals. Wood carving is the prominent, Kumaoni art often is geometrical in nature, while Garhwali art has long been known for its closeness to the Mughal style of painting. Other crafts of Uttarakhand include handcrafted jewellery- usually of gold; basketry from Garhwal; woolen shawls and scarves and rugs.

Read more about Culture of Uttarakhand

Geography of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, located in the northern part of India, shares its borders with Nepal, Tibet, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The Nanda Devi Mountains divide the state into two parts- Kumaon and Garhwal. Both these regions have scintillating views and sceneries. Dehradun, the capital of the state, is the largest city. Other prominent peaks of Himalayan ranges like Kedarnath, Trishul, Bandarpunch are in Uttarakhand. The Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga and Sharda rivers form a part of the geography of the state.

History of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is also referred to as Dev Bhoomi or the Land of Gods because many Hindu pilgrimage spots are located here. The state has been ruled by the Kushanas, Kudinas, Kanishka, Samudra, Guptas, Pauravas, Katuris, Palas, Chandras, Pawaras and the British. After Independence, the Tehri princely state was merged into Uttar Pradesh state, while Uttarakhand composed the Garhwal and Kumaon Divisions. Until 1998, Uttarakhand was the name most commonly used to refer to the region.

People belonging to both the regions- Garhwal and Kumaon began agitating for a separate state. Rampur Tiraha firing case on the night of October 1, 1994, led to public uproar and eventually to the division of the state of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. The term Uttaranchal came into use when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) initiated a new round of state reorganisation in 1998 and introduced its preferred name. However, many controversies took place after this. Nevertheless, the name Uttarakhand remained popular in the region.

Local Food and Cuisine of Uttarakhand

The food in Uttarakhand is simple, prepared with local ingredients, using herbs and spices which make the food highly energetic. The cooking methods here, are generally elaborate and time-consuming and make use of a generous dash of distinct spices.

Uttarakhand doesn’t have one uniform cuisine; instead, the local dishes keep changing as you move from place to place. The staples are mostly North Indian, though, with a major part of the eateries and restaurants – especially in an around the pilgrimage sites – being vegetarian.

The cooking often uses charcoal and dishes are completed by a generous use of 'Ghee'. The food is also usually prepared using lentils and pulses. The area fosters both Garhwali and Kumauni cuisines which are though somewhat similar in elements but differ slightly in styles. Also though the food is mostly vegetarian, one can find equally mouth-watering preparations of chicken and mutton in the area. Rice and Hash seeds known as 'Bhaang' are essential elements of any platter here. Bhatt ki Churdkani, Arsa (a sweet dish), Kafuli(a preparation of local green leafy vegetables), Phannu, Badi, Rus( preparation of a number of lentils), Gulgula (a sweet snack), Kandalee ka Saag, Palau are the local and unique preparations almost unique to the area, with which the cuisine of Uttarakhand is defined.