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UTTARANCHAL - HEAVEN ON EARTH
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Uttaranchal Map
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Uttaranchal, its beauty in diversity is simply enchanting. The mighty snow
bound Himalayas, breathtaking glaciers giving birth to rivers such as Ganga
& Yamuna that are almost a faith, lush green valleys and meadows, calm
mountain lakes, stately forests with varied flora & fauna, heartland of
vedic civilization and abode spiritualism, mythology, shrines in some of the
most traditional costumes, classical music and dance and a rich culture.
From times, immemorial, Uttaranchal has been the favorite haunt of tourist,
pilgrims, and history lovers and adventure seekers.
Uttaranchal is a state of natural beauty and some of the untouched and untouched natural places.. Also famous for it's lakes, mountains, forests, national parks, sanctuaries and is also a favorite destination of wildlife lovers. Uttaranchal is also known as Dev Bhoomi, is situated in the north – west portion of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most popular state. Opportunities for tourism are in this state – be it nature, wildlife, adventure & pilgrimage tourism. The major destinations are Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Almora, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, Gangotri, Jim Corbett National Park, Nainital, Ranikhet & Pithoragarh.
Uttaranchal is also a major destination for adventure sports lovers. Many national and international competitions of Skiing, Water rafting, Mountaineering, Rock climbing etc. are held every year. Many adventure sports places are here.
Uttaranchal is a region of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the northern parts of the state are art of Greater Himalaya ranges, covered by the high Himalayan peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills were densely forested till denuded by the British log merchants and later, after independence, by forest contractors. Recent efforts in reforestation, however, have been successful in restoring the situation to some extent. The unique Himalayan ecosystem plays host to a large number of animals (including bharal, snow leopards, leopards and tigers), plants and rare herbs. 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 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 shrub lands below. The Western Himalayan sub alpine 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.
CHAR DHAM OF UTTARANCHAL HILLS
The sources of two rivers, Gangotri and
Yamunotri are devoted to the female deities - Ganga & Yamuna. They both,
along with Badrinath and Kedarnath from the Char Dham of the Uttaranchal
Hills, the four most hallowed shrines in the Himalayas.
The Ganga,
especially, is the river of India, beloved of her people, around which are
entwined her memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her
victories and defeats. She has been the symbol of India's age-long culture
and civilization, ever-changing, ever-flowing and yet ever the same Ganga.
Ancient India gave countless names to the Ganga. Among them is Loknadi
or River of the World. In its most pristine form, Goddess Ganga as she is
reverentially known, first descended to Earth from Heaven at Gangotri where
Lord Shiva received her into his matted locks to counter the immense impact
of her fall. From there the mighty Ganga emerged into a number of streams;
the one which commenced from Yamunotri was termed Yamuna, from Gangotri -
Bhagirathi, from Kedarnath - Mandakini and the one which commenced from
badrinath was termed Alaknanda.
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