The state of Uttaranchal was formerly a part of Uttar Pradesh, before it was formed on November 9th, 2000 as the 27th state of the Indian Union. Uttaranchal protected by the Himalayas since ages is one of the most healthy and wholesome tourist destination in India. Peace-lover's paradise, Uttaranchal is entirely the most idealistic destination for the tourist searching for nature and peace. Leaving apart its natural beauty, every corner of Uttaranchal has numerous attractions for display, showcasing numerous temples dotting it topography since the primitive ages. Lying in the north of India and cradled in the awesome beauty and calm serenity of the stately Himalayas, Uttaranchal is an expression of divinity, austerity, meditation, penance and attainment.

Showcasing some very magnificent snow clad peaks, rolling meadows, lush valleys, meandering rivers and rivulets, the untouched natural beauty of Uttaranchal is just bewildering. For a lot of people who decide to visit Uttaranchal the main interest is to relax and refresh themselves in the salubrious settings of the luring Uttaranchal. No other tourist destination in India offers the same opportunities to see such diverse natural abundance, often in very close proximity.

Besides the spectacular natural beauty and salubrious climate, the places of pilgrimages, abundant wildlife, and beautiful countryside - all these together make Uttaranchal a sizzling travel destination.

Also known as the "Devbhumi", Uttaranchal has attracted tourists and pilgrims from world over since time immemorial. Travel to Uttaranchal – a vast land amidst the majestic Himalayas known for its immense natural beauty. Uttaranchal has many excellent trekking routes and innumerous tourist destinations. Travel to Uttaranchal and know its panoramic sights, salubrious climate, vibrant culture and colourful folk dance. Travel to the picturesque Nainital, spiritual Rishikesh, wild Corbette National Park and the serene Char Dhams on your tour to Uttaranchal. Travel tour packages to Uttaranchal offers you a once in a lifetime experience, the memories of which will be cherished by you throughout the life.

pronunciation (help·info) (Hindi: उत्तरांचल) became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000. Uttaranchal borders China in the north and Nepal to the east, while its neighbour states are Himachal Pradesh to the west and Uttar Pradesh (of which it formed a part before 2000) in the south. The region is traditionally referred to as Uttarakhand in old literature and scriptures which derives from the Sanskrit for North Country. The provisional capital of Uttaranchal is Dehra Dun which is also a rail-head and the largest city in the region. The small hamlet of Gairsen has been mooted as the future capital owing to its geographic centrality but controversies and lack of resources have led Dehra Dun to be the provisional capital.The High Court of the state is in Nainital.

Uttaranchal is a region of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the northern parts of the state are part of Greater Himalya ranges, covered by the high Himalayan peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills were densely forested till denuded by the British log merchants and forest contractors after independence. Recent efforts in forestation, 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.

The tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy of Uttaranchal, with the Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve and the nearby hill-stations of Nainital and Bhimtal and several other hill-stations like Mussoorie, Almora and Ranikhet being among the most frequented destinations of India. To this region also belong some of the holiest Hindu shrines, and for almost 2000 years now, pilgrims have been visiting the temples at Haridwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath and Jageshwar in the hope of salvation and purification from sin. Rishikesh near Haridwar has the major spiritual and yoga centers of India. Gangotri and Yamunotri, the sources of the Ganges and Yamuna also fall in this region and are revered by many. Besides these most popular pilgrim centers, the state has an abundance of temples and shrines, references to most of which can be found in Hindu scriptures and legends. The architecture of most of these temples is typical of the region and slightly different from other parts of India, the ancient temples at Jageshwar being the most popular for their architectural importance.

Uttaranchal is comprised of two regions, the western half known as Garhwal and the eastern region going by the name of Kumaon, the two having different chieftains in history and different lingual and cultural influences due to proximity and neighbourhood of different cultures. The inseparable and complementary nature of their geography, economy, culture, language and traditions, however, has formed strong bondages between the two regions.

Recent developments in the region include initiatives by the state government to capitalise on the burgeoning tourist trade as well as tax incentives to lure high-tech industry to the state.

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.

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.

The languages of the different regions are distinct. The language of the western parts, called (Khadiboli) is the basis for the official Hindi language, imposed during the late 19th century. The most commonly spoken language in urban areas is Urdu/Hindi. Regardless of the script used, the language of Lucknow is called Lucknowie Urdu. It is a pure form of literary Urdu used by most Urdu poets. Urdu is one of the two official languages of the state. Other languages are Awadhi, Koshali, Braj (which is more than two thousand years old), Koeli, Bagheli, Bundeli and Bhojpuri. The Bhojpuri ethnic homeland is divided between Nepal in the north, Bihar state in the east and Uttar Pradesh in the west.

Dehradun, Mussorie, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Corbett, Nainital, Auli, Shivpuri, kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Ranikhet,