Uttaranchal

Area : 53,484 sq km

Population: 84,70,562; growth rate (1991-2001): 19.220%

Density per sq km: 159

Sex ratio (females per 1,000 males): 964

Literacy rate: 72.28% (males: 84.01%; females: 60.226%)

Capital: Dehradun

No. of Districts: 13

Legislature: Unicameral

Principal Cities, Towns and Religious/ Tourist Places:

Almora, Mussoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet (Magnificent scenic beauty spots), Hardwar (Holy place year), Rishikesh, Pauri, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamnotri (ancient places of pilgrimage), Hemkund Sahib, Nanakmatta (Sikh pilgrimage places), Dehradun (Capital city and known for Forest Research Institute and Indian Military Academy), Gairsen (the proposed new capital), Gopeshwar, Pithoragarh and Rudrapur (Populous towns), Pindari Glacier and Corbett National Park.

Judicature: Common High Court with Uttar pradesh at Allahabad and a Bench at Lucknow.

Location: Uttaranchal is bounded by Tibet (China) in the North and Uttar Pradesh in the South, Nepal in the east and Himachal Pradesh in the west.

History:

Uttaranchal is the sacred land (Puniya Bhumi) where so many ancient shrines and places of pilgrimage are scattered. The damand for a separate hill state of Uttarakhand arose in 1930 for rapid development of Kumaon and Garhwal regions.

Many committees of the government of Uttar Pradesh considered it from time to time but did not find it economically feasible until the agitation by the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal became violent. That brought out ultimately the new State on November 9, 2000.

Economy:

Almost entire State is a hilly carved out except two districts of Hardwar and Udhamsingh Nagar. 63% area is covered by forests and hardly 12.5% land is fit for cultivation. The State also does not have many big industries. It comes to that the economy o0f the new State is likely to remain in a non-self-sustainable condition.

The State mainly depends on remittances for people employed in North India. It has been granted special status by Planning commission to come over its teething financial constraints. Fortunately, the State has the high potentiality for development of tourism, forestry and hydroelectric power which if fully harnessed could help to make Uttaranchal a prosperous State.

Uttaranchal State India