Uttarakhand State Symbol

The emblem of Uttarakhand shows mountainridge with the flow of holy river ganga, and in middle of mountain peaks is the national emblem of India depicting 'Satyamev jayate'. The State bird of Uttarakhand is Monal, state animal is Kasturi Mrig. The State tree is Burash, while the flower is BrahmaKamal.

Nirmal Pandey

Born on 1961 in Nainital, Uttarakhand, Nirmal Pandey was educated at Almora and Nainital. He graduated from the National School of Drama, Delhi. Nirmal Pandey was an Bollywood actor, who was known for his famous role 'Vikram Mallah' in Shekhar

Kapur's Bandit Queen (1994), for portrayal of a transvestite in Daayraa (1996) for which he won a Best Actor Valenti award in France, Train To Pakistan (1998) and Godmother (1999). After leaving the National School of Drama he moved to London, with a theatre group, Tara, performing plays like Heer Ranjha, Antigone, and has acted in around 125 plays. After doing two small roles, he first got noticed in Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen (1996), thereafter he received positive reviews for films like, Amol Palekar's Daayra (Square Circle) (1996), Train To Pakistan (1998), Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin and Hum Tum Pe Marte Hain. He also acted in movies like Laila, 'Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya', 'One 2 ka 4' and 'Shikari' and acted in several television serials, including Hatim, and Princess Dollie Aur Uska Magic Bag (2005) (Star Plus). In addition to being an actor, he was also a singer, who released an album called Jazba. In 2002, he directed, Andhayug, a Hindi play, written by noted playwright Dharamveer Bharati, which follows the 18 days following the Mahabharata war. The play has a cast of 70 actors, all of whom belong to Sanvedna, a theatre group started by him in 1994. He also has an acting institute "Fresh Talent Academy" in Ghazaiabad, and also conducts theatre workshops. He was supposed to watch his latest film Lahore on 22 February 2010 at a special screening with Humorist R. K. Laxman and Music Maestro MM Kreem. Lahore, scheduled to be released in 19 March 2010, would prove to be Pandey's last film. He died at the age of 48 on 5 February 2010 from a heart attack in Mumbai.

Burash

Burash or Rhododendron arboreum is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. Burash is also the state tree of Uttarakhand. Its scientific name means "tending to be woody or growing in a tree-like form". Usually it has a height and spread up to 12 m. In mid-spring, trusses of 15-20 bell-shaped flowers, ve black nectar pouches and
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5 cm wide and 35 cm long are produced in red, pink or white. They have black nectar pouches and black spots inside. Burash is used in making flavoring agents, jam etc and the juice is used in the treatment of cough and diarrhoea.

Kasturi Mrig

Kasturi Mrig or Musk deer is the state animal of Uttaranchal. Kasturi Mrig are more primitive than the true deer, in not having antlers or facial glands, in having only a single pair of teats, and in possessing a gall bladder, a caudal gland, a pair of tusk-like teeth andof particular economic importance to humansa musk gland. The musk gland is found only in adult males. It lies in a sac located between the genitals and the umbilicus, and its secretions are most likely used to attract mates. Musk deers have been hunted for their scent glands which can fetch up to $45,000/kg on the black market.

Indian Military Academy, Dehradun

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The Indian Military Academy, Dehradun is the officer training school of the Indian Army. IMA was established in 1932. The academy is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, about 8 km west of Dehradun in Uttarakhand. Built in 1930, the Chetwode Hall on the Drill Square houses the administrative headquarters of the IMA and is also the hub of academic training. A newer wing of the Chetwode Hall, added in 1938, houses the Central Library. It has over 100,000 volumes and subscriptions to hundreds of periodicals from across the world, besides multimedia sections. In addition, there are two branch libraries closer to the cadet barracks across the campus.

The IMA Museum on the campus displays artifacts of historic importance. Among other war relics, it displays the pistol of Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi of the Pakistan Army which he surrendered to Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora after signing the Instrument of Surrender to end the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. The IMA helipad is located in the Tons Valley in the northwest of the campus.

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

The Forest Research Institute is an institute of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and is a premier institution in the field of forestry research in India. It is located at Dehradun in
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Uttarakhand. It was established in 1906 and is one of the oldest institutions of its kind. In 1991, it had been declared a deemed university by the University Grants Commission. The Forest Research Institute is spread over 4.5 km, with the outer Himalayas nearby. The main building has Greco-Roman and Colonial styles of architecture. It has laboratories, a library, herbarium, arboreta, printing press and experimental field areas for conducting forestry research. Its museums, in addition to being a source of scientific information, are an attraction for tourists. Within its campus FRI hosts IGNFA (Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy), which is a separate organisation of MoEF for training officers selected for Indian Forest Services by Union Public Service Commission. It also hosts CASFOS (Central Academy for State Forest Services). Wild life Institute of India was previously within the campus but now has shifted to other location Chandrabani; outside the campus and is now an independent organisation under MoEF. IIFM is an independent autonomous organisation of MoEF and has a good liasoning with FRI for forestry research and related activities. FRI also contains a museum on forestry. It is open from 9:30am to 5:00pm daily, which an entry fee of Rs15 per person and a nominal entry fee for vehicles. There are six sections in the museum namely Pathology Museum,Social Forestry Museum, Silviculture Museum, Timber Museum, Non-Wood Forest Products Museum and Entomology Museum.

BrahmaKamal

The flower of Lord Brahma(God of creation), BrahmaKamal is also known as king of Himalayan flowers. The scientific name for BrahmaKamal is Saussurea obvallata. In Uttarakhand, it is found at an altitude of around 4500 m. BrahmKamal is also the state flower of Uttarakhand. The plant is considered an herb in Tibetan medicine. Its name is Sah-du Goh-ghoo. It has a bitter taste, promotes heat. Used to treat paralysis of the limbs and cerebral ischemia. The entire plant is used. It is endangered because people are cutting it down for their own use.
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Monal

The Himalayan Monal, (Scientific name Lophophorus impejanus) also known as Danphe is a bird of genus Lophophorus of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is the state bird of Uttarakhand. Himalayan Monal is also the national bird of Nepal. Traditionally, the Himalayan Monal has been classified as monotypic. However, studies have shown that the male Himalayan Monals of northwestern India lack the white rump that other Himalayan Monals have, and have more green on the breast, indicating the possibility of a second subspecies

Jaspal Rana

Born on 28 June 1976, Jaspal Rana is an Indian shooter. He contested mainly in the 25 m Centre Fire Pistol category. He was a gold medallist at the 1994 Asian Games, 2006 Commonwealth Games, and 2006 Asian Games. At present, Rana coaches at the Jaspal Rana Institute of Education and Technology in Dehradun.

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Rana made his national debut at the age of 12, at the 31st National Shooting Championship at Ahmedabad and won won a Silver Medal. He shot into Standard Pistol shooting fame when he won a Gold at the 46th World Shooting Championship (Junior Section) with a world record score at Milan, Italy, in 1994. Jaspal Rana is also member of a political party 'Bharatiya Janata Party'. In 1994, he was awarded Arjuna Award, the second highest award for achievement in sport, by the Indian government at an age of eighteen, by twenty one he became PadamShree and in between he was awarded National Citizen award by Mother Teresa.

Veer Chandra Singh 'Garhwali'

Chandra Singh Garhwali was born on 25th December, 1891 in village Ranisera (Masau), Thalisain in the district of Pauri Garhwal. He is known popularly as the hero of Peshawar Kand and thus Veer has been added to the name, Chandra Singh Garhwali. After his primary education at home he joined the India army, but even though he was serving the colonial power he remained at heart a staunch nationalist and had his sympathies with the heroes of the freedom movement. His meeting with Gandhiji and the Gandhian influence on him follows an interesting anecdote.
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During Indias freedom movement Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was leading the civil disobedience movement in the North West Frontier Province. April 23 has a special meaning for all of Uttaranchalis. On this day in 1930, the British rulers asked Garhwal Rifles to march forward and crush an agitation on SALT SATYAGRAHA by the Balooch people (PATHANS) in Peshawar. Angered, he ordered the Garhwal Rifles to fire on the demonstrators. Chandra Singh Garhwali who was leading the unite refused to comply and told his men not to fire on the nonviolent satyagrahis and he ordered a cease-fire. For his defiance of his Commanders orders Chandra Singh Garhwali along with 59 soldiers were arrested and court-martialed. Barrister Mukandi Lal went from Lansdown to Peshawar fought his case and saved him from the death penalty. However they were sentenced to life imprisonment and all their properties were seized. After serving this term in several jails for 11 years 3 months and 18 days, Chandra Singh Garhwali was finally released in year 1941. While he was in jail he came in contact with several national leaders. In 1946 he returned to his village and settled down, but remained active in social movements, leaning to leftist ideology. On 1 October 1979 he died in a hospital in Delhi, after a long illness. Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali will be remembered for posterity as a brave soldier and a revolutionary, who had shown great courage, patriotism as a freedom fighter while serving as a soldier. To commemorate his contribution as a freedom fighter the India government released a postal stamp in his honor in 1994.
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Nain Singh Rawat

Nain Singh Rawat was born to Lata Burha in 1830 in Milam village in the valley of Johar(presently in district Pithoragarh). He was one of the first of the pundits who explored the Himalayas for the British. He hailed from the Johaar Valley of Kumaon. He mapped the trade route through Nepal to Tibet, determined for the first time the location and altitude of Lhasa, and mapped a large section of the Tsangpo, the major Tibetan river. The pundit (explorer) cartographer Nain Singh Rawat (19th century CE) received a Royal Geographical Society gold medal in 1876. In 1865, with his cousin Mani Singh, Nain Singh left Dehra Dun, the Geometrical Survey of India's northern India headquarters, for Nepal. From there Mani returned to India by way of western Tibet, but Nain went on to Tashilhunpo, where he met the Panchen Lama, and Lhasa, where he met the Dalai Lama. During his stay in Lhasa, his true identity was discovered by two Kashmiri Muslim merchants residing at Lhasa, but not only did they not report him to the authorities, they lent him a small sum of money against the pledge of his watch. Nain Singh returned to India by way of Mansarowar Lake in western Tibet. On a second voyage, in 1867, Singh explored western Tibet and visited the legendary Thok-Jalung gold mines. He noticed that the workers only dug for gold near the surface, because they believed digging deeper was a crime against the Earth and would deprive it of its fertility. In 1873-75, he traveled from Leh in Kashmir to Lhasa, by a route more northerly than the one along the Tsangpo that he had taken on his first journey. In recognition of his prodigious feats of exploration, regarding which Colonel Henry Yule commented that "his explorations have added a larger amount of important knowledge to the map of Asia than any other living man", Nain Singh was presented with an inscribed gold chronometer by the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) in 1868. This was followed by the award of the Victoria or Patron's Medal of the RGS in 1877. The Society of Geographers of Paris also awarded Nain Singh an inscribed watch. The Government of India bestowed two villages as a land-grant to him. Nain Singh Rawat died of a heart attack in 1895, while visiting his Jagir, a plains village granted to him by the British in 1877. On June 27, 2004, an Indian postage stamp featuring Nain Singh was issued commemorating his role in the Great Trigonometrical Survey.

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Govind Ballabh Pant

Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was a statesman of India, an Indian independence activist, and one of the foremost political leaders from Uttarakhand and of the movement to establish Hindi as the official language of India. Govind Ballabh Pant was born on September 10, 1887 in Khoont village of Shyahi Devi hills in District Almora. His mother's name was Govindi. His father, Manorath Pant, was constantly on the road. Govind was brought up by his grandfather, Bandri Dutt Joshi, who played a significant part in molding his political views. As a lawyer in Kashipur, Pant began his active work against the British Raj in 1914, when he helped a local parishad, or village council, in their successful challenge of a law requiring locals to provide free transportation of the luggage of travelling British officials. In 1921, he entered politics and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. He served as Union Home Minister from 1955-196. In 1955, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna. As Home minister, his chief achievement was the establishment of Hindi as an official language of India. In 1960, he had a heart attack. After this his health started deteriorating and he later died on March 7, 1961 after spending several days in a coma.

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Badri Dutt Pandey

Born on 15 February 1882 in Kankhal, Haridwar, Badri Dutt Pandey was a great freedom fighter and literate from Uttarakhand. After doing various odd job he started a newspaper in 1913 from Almora, called Almora Akhabar, which was more of a mission for him to awaken public consciousness against the British rule, and fight against such oppressive practices as Coolie Beggar. In 1916 he became the founder member of Kumoun Parishad. Late Shre Badri Dutt Pandey ji was also the first MP from Almora. He had written famous book 'Kumoan ka Itihas'. In fact Badri Dutt Pandey Ji was the first person who demanded for separate state of uttarakhand. He died on 13 February 1965. For his dedication to the cause of his people he is often referred to as Kumaon Kesari.

Major Somnath Sharma

Major Som Nath Sharma (19231947) was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, the highest Indian gallantry award. He was awarded the medal posthumously for his bravery in the Kashmir operations in November 1947. He died while evicting Pakistani infiltrators and raiders from Srinagar Airport during the IndoPak war of 1947-48 in Kashmir. He belonged to the 4th Kumaon Regiment. Major Som Nath Sharma was born on 31 January 1923 in a Brahmin family at Jammu India. He came from a well-known military family, his father, Major General Amar Nath Sharma, was also a military officer (retired as Director, Medical Services (Army)) as were his brothers Lt. General Surindar Nath Sharma (retired as Engineerin-chief) and General Vishwa Nath Sharma (retired as Chief of Army Staff, 19881990), and his sister Major Kamla Tewari (Medical Doctor). He did his schooling at Sherwood College, Nainital, before enrolling at the Prince of Wales Royal Military College in Dehra Dun and later joined the Royal Military Academy. He was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment (later 4th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment)[3]:148 of the Indian Army (then British-Indian Army) on 22 February 1942. He also saw combat during the second World War in the Arakan Operations.

Tinchari Mai

Tinchari Mai was born in 1917 as Deepa Nautiyal in Majyur village of Thailsain block. At the age of two she lost her mother and by the time she was five, her father also died. An uncle took her under his shelter. There were no educational facilities those days in that area and girls were married off very early in their life. Deepa also got married at the age of seven to Ganesh Ram of Gravani village who was 17 years her senior. Ganesh Ram was a havaldar in the army and was posted in Rawalpindi. Deepa's husband was a kind man. He treated her as a child, bathing her and dressing her up before leaving for his work. Her childhood and years as a teenager were actually spent with her husband. But he was killed in battle when Deepa was hardly 19. An officer in charge of the division called her and explained to her about the money that was due to her husband. The money would be handed over to her. But there was the question of where she was going to live. She had no parents and her in-laws would not be too eager to take care of a widow. Deepa made up her mind to stand on her own feet sometime in her life. Accompanied by an escort she came to Lansdowne where a senior British officer put her money in her name in a post office and told the pradhan of Gravani village to take her to her inlaws. No one really wanted her there and the fact that there was no financial benefit in supporting her must have added to the ill-treatment they meted out to her. Many widows may have put up with their lot and died in silence. But not Deepa. One day she left the house of her in-laws and went to Lahore and took shelter in a temple. There she met a sanyasin with whose guidance and blessings she became a sanyasin. She was given the name of Ichhagiri Mai.
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As Ichchagiri Mai she went to Haridwar in 1947. She stayed at Chandi Ghat for nine months. There were so many sham ascetics and monks there having opium and alcohol. Ichhagiri Mai decided to expose them for what they were. They were so many and she was alone but she took up the struggle of opposing their deeds and revealing their true selves to those who believed and had faith in them. Having done that she began to travel. She reached Sigaddi Bhabar in Kotdwar. She built a thatched hut for herself. Soon she realised that the Siggadi village had a serious water problem. The women of the village had to walk long distances to fetch water. Ichhagiri Mai took up the task of bringing water to the village as her mission. She went to the Deputy Collector and apprised him of the water crisis in the village. But nobody seemed to be listening to her. Ichhagiri Mai did not allow that to deter her in her mission. She went to Delhi where she headed straight towards Prime Minister Nehru's house. She sat outside his house in protest demanding water for Siggadi village. When Nehru came out to go to office she stood in front of his car resisting the policemen on duty who were trying to pull her away. Nehru got down from his car and she told him about the travails of the women of her village to fetch water. Ichhagiri Mai was running a temperature having travelled all that way. When Nehru held her hand he realised that she needed medical attention and wanted her sent to hospital. But she told him that she would leave only if he promised water to the village. He reassured her and within a few days Siggadi village got its regular water supply.

Never one to settle down in one place, Ichhagiri Mai now went to Motadhak. A teacher gave her shelter and looked after her. He told her that there was no school in that village. Being illiterate herself Mai did not want any child to be deprived of education. She had some money which became the first contribution towards a school building. She raised some more funds through donations and within three or four months the school building came up. Mai had a stone laid in the memory of her husband. Today this school has become an intermediate college. Once the school building came up Mai moved on as was her wont. She went to Badrinath and then to Kedarnath where she lived in a temple for four years. From there she went on to Pauri and stayed with the conservator of forests who took care of her. One day Mai was sitting on the porch of the local post office and she saw a man come out of the local toddy shop totally drunk. A group of women were on their way to the forest to collect fuel and fodder. The drunkard began to abuse them. Mai saw all this and she was enraged. She went at once to the Deputy Commissioner and told him he should come and see what was happening under his administration. He took her in his jeep. She showed him the scene and told him that since he could do nothing she would see to it there was going to be no more toddy drinking in that place. The Deputy Commissioner left the place without a word. With kerosene and matches in her hands Mai stood in front of the shop. The shop was locked from inside. She broke open the door with a huge stone and the men inside began running away in fear for, she looked so fierce. She poured kerosene all over the shop and threw a burning matchstick. Within a few minutes the entire shop was burnt down. Immediately she went to the Deputy Commissioner and told him that he could arrest her if he wanted. He detained her at his residence for the day and in the evening he drove her to Lansdowne.

Toddy is known as tinchari in this region and after this incident she began to be known as Tinchari Mai. She went to many other villages in the region to wage her fight against alcoholism. Urging women to get educated and telling men not to drink became her tireless mission. Tinchari Mai died in 1992 at the age of 75. Little child Deepa who grew up as an orphan, cared for by a husband who was old enough to be her father, widowed and alone in this world as a teenager, still made her life meaningful for herself and for others. She could have lived and died as a struggling widow but she chose not to. Throughout her life she fought for two causes which she took up as the mission of her life - one was education, as she was uneducated, and the other was the fight against alcoholism. That is why maybe her name is taken with great reverence in the villages of Uttarakhand.And her story will be told for many more years to the future generations in these villages.

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Radha Behn

Born on 16 October 1934 in village Dhuraka, Almora, Radha Behn has made exemplary contribution in the fields of womens education and employment. She quit formal education after her intermediate in 1951, and joined Sarla Ben at her Laxmi Ashram in Kausani, to undertake social work. From 1957 to 1961 she was active in Bhoodan Yatra and toured various regions of Uttarakhand. She took active part in movements against mining, alcoholism and deforestation. For her contributions to social empowerment she was honored with Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 1992. She has authored several books and articles.

Deep Joshi
"Civil society needs to have both head and heart. If all you have is bleeding hearts, it wouldn't work. If you only have heads, then you are going to dictate solutions which do not touch the human chord."

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Deep Joshi is an Indian social worker and NGO activist and the recipient of 2009 Magsaysay award. He is recognized for his leadership in bringing professionalism to the NGO movement in India.He co-founded a nonprofit organisation, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) of which he was the Executive Director till 2007. He was awarded the 2009 Magsaysay award for Community Leadership for his work for "development of rural communities". Deep Joshi was born in 1947 in village Puriyag, in a remote area of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand in the Himalayas to Harikrishan Joshi, a farmer and was one of the seven children. He received his early education at the local primary school, and later he took his engineering degree from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad and also holds a masters engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and another on management from Sloan School, MIT. Returning to India, Deep Joshi worked with the Systems Research Institute, and as a program officer with Ford Foundation in India. In the coming decades he worked in the field of rural development and livelihood promotion. In 1983, also co-founded a non-profit organisation, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN),that recruits college graduates to do community work, which recruits university-educated youth from campuses across India and trains them for grassroots work. Pradan was jointly awarded NGO of the Year 2006 at the first ever India NGO Award event. PRADAN is involved in building Self help groups, developing land and water resource, Natural Resource Management, forest based livlihood, horticulture & agriculture etc. Pradan formed its first SHG in Alwar, Rajasthan, in 1987. He also advises the Government of India on poverty alleviation strategies and also was a member of Working Group on Rainfed Areas for the Eleventh Five Year Planning Commission, Govt of India. In 2006, Deep received the Harmony Silver Award for his contributions to society. Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced Deep among others as winner of 2009 Magsaysay awards. And, on the eve of Republic Day (26 January 2010) he was honoured with prestigious Padma Shri award, by the Govt of India.

Harshwanti Bisht

Dr. Harshvanti Bisht, India's Leading woman mountaineer, has been actively associated with mountaineering and Himalayan Tourism Research work for the past two decades. She has Climabed Baby Shivling (5660 M.) Gangotri (6672 m) and Nanda Devi(7817 M) in Garhwal Himalaya. She has participated in the Indian Everest Expedition of 1984. For her exceptional mountaineering skills and outstanding Achievements, Dr. Harshvanti

Bisht was awarded the Arjuna Award and Directorate of Higher Education, Government Of U.P. Gold Medal. In mountaineering circles, she is widely known as Harsha. She is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and member of several mountaineering and environment conservation societies. She has many research papers and radio talks to her credit. She has worked as principal Investigator to a major research project, " Growth of Himalayan Tourism and Pilgrimage in Gangotri region: an impact on physical Resources and Economy," Supported by ministry of Environments and forests Deptt. of Ministry of Environment & forests, Deptt. Of Environment, forests & wildlife, Govt. of India New Delhi. Currently she is teaching Economics in Govt. Postgraduate College, Uttarkashi and actively working for the Eco-conservation of Gangotri in Garhwal Himalaya.

Manasvi Mamgai

Manasvi Mamgai, born on 10th October 1987 is an Indian model who was crowned Femina Miss India 2010, Miss Tourism International 2008 and Elite Model Look, India in 2006. She represented India at the Miss World 2010. Winner of Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2010 Manasvi is a Garhwali origin girl and spent her childhood years in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. She was born in Delhi and brought up in Chandigarh. Since childhood she was good at studies and extra-curricular activities like theatre, dancing, acting, etc. She did her schooling from Hansraj Public School and Carmel convent in Chandigarh. She moved back to Delhi after finishing School in 2006. Manasvi Mamgai then signed up with Elite Model Management India and won the competition in the same year. She also debuted as a model at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week and walked the ramp for famous designers like Tarun Tahiliani, Manish Malhotra, Ranna Gill, Lecoanet Hemant, etc. She has also done commercial with Fair & lovely. She won Femina Miss India World 2010 on April 30, 2010 and represented India in Miss World 2010 (China). She won five subtitles in the pageant namely, miss catwalk, girl with a golden heart, best skin, beauty with a purpose and natural beauty. She holds the maximum number of subtitles anyone won in the pageant history. She is also the winner of Miss Tourism International 2008.

www.printwhatyoulike.com/print?url=http%3A%2F%2Futtarakhand-times.blogspot.in%2Fsearch%3Fu

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Barrister Mukundi Lal

Mukundi Lal was born on 14 October 1885 in village Patali in the district of Chamoli Garhwal. After his early education at home he went to Pauri, Almora, Dehradun, Calcutta and Allahabad for his higher education. While he was studying in Allahabad he came in contact with the eminent nationalist leaders Motilal Nehru, Sardar Ballabh Bhai Patel, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Purushottam Das Tandon, which imbued in him a strong nationalist spirit. In 1905 he published his first article in Garhwali which discussed forest law in detail and stressed the rights of the hill people to their habitat. The editor of Garhwali, Bishambar Dutt Chandola was very much impressed with this article and asked him to contribute regularly to his newspaper. Mukundi Lal and Chandola became close friends. Mukundi Lal wanted to study law in England but had no money to take him there. Sensing his difficulty Chandola discussed the matter with a wealthy philanthrope Ghananand Khanduri, who offered help and arranged to send Mukundi Lal to England where he studied law from 1913 to 1919. He married an English woman. After his release Mukundi Lal returned to Garhwal and campaigned on behalf on congress for active participation in the freedom movement. At about this time there was a movement in Kumaon against Coolie Begar. Mukundi Lal took over the leadership or the movement in Garhwal among with such stalwarts like Anusuya Prasad Bahuguna, Bhairav Dutt Dhulia and Keshar Singh Rawat, and due to the strong movement they built up, the British government had to put an end to the Coolie Begar system in 1923. In 1926 Mukundi Lal was elected to the legislative council as a Swaraj Dal candidate, and was made the Vice Chairman of the council. After independence he fought elections to the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha as an independent candidate from Lansdowne constituency, and was an MLA from 1962 to 1967. Thereafter he quit active politics, and devoted himself to promoting art and culture of Garhwal. He was especially interested in the works of the great artist Molaram and the Garhwal school of Painting. In 1969 he published his most important book, Garhwal Paintings, which is a significant contribution to the understanding of Indian art. Barrister Mukandi Lal is credited for popularizing the history of Garhwali Chitrakala or Garhwali art all over the globe. He died on 10th January, 1982 in Bareilly after a protracted illness.

Girish Tiwari 'Girda'

Born in 1945 in village Jyoli, in the district of Almora, Girish Tiwari, popularly known as Girda was a poet and playwright of the people. Passionately devoted to the culture of Uttarakhand he has shown his creativity in various genres. During the movement for creation of Uttarakhand he carried his message to the masses though his lyrics. He wrote the plays 'Nagare Khamosh Hain' and 'Dhanush Yagya' and directed many Plays. After working for several years in the Song and Drama Division of the government of India, Nainital, he took voluntary retirement in 1996 and devoted himself to creative writing. Among his published works 'Kavita ke Ankhar', 'Shikharaon ke Swar' and 'Rang Dari dio Alwelin' have become very popular.

Indramani Badoni

Indramani Badoni was born on 24th December, 1924 in village Akhori in Tehri. He is popularly known as Gandhi of Uttarakhand for leading a historical movement for the creation of Uttarakhand state. The movement remained thoroughly non-violent in spite of provocation from several quarters. His name has become synonymous with the Uttarakhand movement that was launched to demand the separate hill state, and indeed it was with his long struggle and vigorous leadership that the hill state could eventually become a reality. The explorers soul in his body took him to the unknown places in the central Himalayas or Uttarakhand. It was he who discovered the Khatling glacier, the source of river Bhilangana. Since his student life Indramani Badoni was active in socio-political movements. In 1962 he was elected the Chief of Jakholi Block and in 1969 he got elected to U.P. state assembly from Devprayag constituency. He was also deputy chairman of the Hill Development Council. Convinced that the proper development of the hills could be ensured only in a new hill state he lent his voice to the long-standing demand for Uttarakhand. On 2nd August, 1994, he started an indefinite fast unto death at Pauri, headquarters of Garhwal division, to press for the demand of a separate state. Through his Madho Singh Bhandari folk ballet, Badoni had also tried to make the masses understand how important it was to make sacrifices for the people and their welfare. On August 7, 1994, he was forcibly sent to the Meerut jail and later shifted to the AIIMS in New Delhi for treatment, where he was forcibly discharged. The people of Uttarakhand must not feel defeated and keep on the flag of their cause flying high till they achieve their goal, he had said in his last message to the people whom he loved the most. His arrest enraged the people and the movement gained momentum resulting in the creation of Uttarakhand on 9 November 2000. Alas, Indramani Badoni could not see the new state as he died on 18 August 1999.

Aipan

The word 'Aipan' is a derived from 'Arpan'. A commonly used word for it is 'Likhai' (writing), as it is a pattern made with the fingers. Aipan are used as ritual designs for Pujas, festivals and ceremonies connected with birth,naming, janeu (the sacred thread ceremony), and marriage. In Uttarakhand, the art form of Aipan is carried on from generation to generation. Women pass on the patterns to their daughters and daughters-in-law. Some of the patterns are significant from a religious point of view and are especially made at the time of ceremonies to perform rituals. Each and every Aipan design has a particular meaning attached to it and is drawn with a specific purpose in mind. The raw material used is simple ochre (Geru) colour and rice paste. It is mostly women who paint the designs on the floors and walls of their homes using the last three fingers of the right hand. Once the ochre base is ready the artist draws the pattern free hand. Chowkies are made with mango wood and painted with special designs for each occasion. Pattas & Thapas are made directly on the walls or on paper and cloth. Earlier the paint used was made from natural 'dyes. Today, poster and oil paints both are used. Pichhauras or dupattas are also decorated in this manner. Some of the most popular Aipan designs in Uttarakhand are: Traditional Aipan or Dehli Aipan of Door Step Dhuliarghya ki chowki Laxmi Chowki Bhuiyan (daridrya) Jyoti Patta Lakshmi Padchinha Vasudhara Dhuliarghya Var Chauka Bhadra Laxmi-Narayan Namkarna Chauki Chowki

Khorik Swastika Janeo Astadal Kamal Lakshmi Peeth Acharya Chauka

Tehri Dam

Tehri Dam is a major hydroelectric project centered near Tehri Town in Uttarakhand. It is the primary dam of the Tehri Development Project. It is located on the Bhagirathi River, the principal tributary of the holy River Ganges. The Tehri Dam has a height of 855 feet, making it the fifth tallest dam in the world. Tehri Dam was approved in 1972 and its construction was started in 1978.

The dam's capabilities include a power generation capacity of 2400 MW, irrigation to an area of 270,000 hectares, irrigation stabilization to an area of 600,000 hectares, and a supply of 270 million gallons of drinking water per day to the industrialized areas of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

The Tehri dam has witnessed continuous questioning and protest by various people, including the noted environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna who has virtually made it his life-long mission to stop the construction of the dam by living at the dam site and by going on periodic fasts. Construction of the Tehri Dam was complete in 2006.

Lakshmi Asharam, Kausani

Lakshmi Ashram is a Gandhian Basic Education school for girls, as well as a center for the inspiration and practical training of rural community activists. It is also a base for voluntary work, and a place where wome from rural areas can organize themselves to define and solve their own problems.

Lakshmi Ashram, also known as Sarla Ashram is instituted by Sarla Ben (Katherine Mary Heilemann). This n institution, established in 1948, has the objectives of well beings of the girls in the Himalayan ranges. Sarla Behn was the great admirer of the Mahatma Gandhi, who left London in 1931 to join with the movements of Mahatma Gandhi. The Ashram runs a boarding school for the girls, located at the lust green foothills of Himalaya in Kausani. This School is self sufficient and run independently by the Lakshmi Ashram. The Ashram conducts many programs for the uplift of local woman. Several skills like growing vegetables, cooking, caring for the animals and cleaning are taught to over 70 orphaned poor girls and woman who live in the ashram. Lakshmi ashram is located in a quiet place up the hills which lends a serene atmosphere to the ashram. Lakshmi Ashram usually has between sixty and one hundred residents, including about ten teachers. The students range in age from about seven to twenty, and are distributed in ten grades of classes. Most of the women and girls at the ashram come from Hindu villages in Kumaon, although some come from the Garhwal Division of Uttarakhand. Some also come from Dalit or Bhotiya families, and many come from troubled backgrounds. Adult women at the ashram are sometimes widows, and some have left abusive marriages. Some women and girls there have minor physical handicaps. For many women and girls, training at the ashram is their only means for achieving the self-confidence and self-reliance necessary to lead dignified adult lives.

Sarla Ben

Sarla ben, formerly known as Katherine Mary Heilman is known as Mahatma Gandhis english daughter. In the 1920s, Sarala Ben had come into contact with Indian students and followers of Gandhi in London, and was very moved by reports of the growing nationalist movement there. On June 4, 1932, at the age of 31, she boarded a ship in Liverpool and came to India in order to join Gandhis nationalist movement. She participated actively in the freedom struggle against British colonial rule and was imprisoned twice for this reason. However, by 1941, her health had become so poor that Gandhi sent her to the hills of Kumaon to recover and to see what sort of work she could do with Gandhians there. She began to feel better shortly after arriving in the mountains, and soon began to work again. She became actively involved with the anti-colonial struggle in the hills and with work to improve hill womens living conditions. She established 'Lakshmi Ashram', also called 'Kasturba Mahila Utthan Mandal' in 1946 for promoting womens education on Gandhian lines. She dedicated her entire life in educating the underprivileged women and serving the society. A benefactor, who was an ardent follower of Gandhiji, gave her his four room house to start the school, and named it Lakshmi Ashram, after his wife Lakshmi. Sarala Ben, at the age of 41 years, dedicated the rest of her life to the women of Kumaon, in particular to educating them at the Ashram. Sarla Ben passed away on July 8,1982.

Shri Dev Suman

In 1930 when he was only 14 he participated in the Salt Satyagraha in Dehradun. He was arrested and sentenced to 15 days imprisonment. In 1938 he came in contact with Zakir Hussain and Kaka Kalelkar. He was instrumental in the formation of several organizations, from the Himalaya Seva Sangh, to the Himalayan States Peoples Federation and Garhdesh Seva Sangh. He was one of the first proponents of the unity of the entire Uttarakhand. At this convention Shrived Suman brought to the notice of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Vijay Laxmi Pandit the tyrannies inflicted by the rulers of Tehri on the common people. He was invited as a representative of the hill states, to a conference held in February 1939 presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru in Ludhiana. In 1942 Suman went to see Gandhiji in Wardha to seek his blessing for the Praja Mandal movement. On returning to Tehri he was arrested by the police who had been trailing him. He was barred from entering the state of Tehri and was arrested every time he tried to do so. But Suman had vowed to fight the autocratic regime in Tehri even at the cost of his life. On 27 December 1943, when he was trying to enter the state of Tehri he was stopped at Chamba, arrested and locked up in the Tehri jail on 30 December 1943, and was subjected in inhuman tortures. He was forced to confess to his crimes and apologize but Sumans was not the spirit to be subdued. On 21 February 1944 Suman was tried for treason against the state and such was the terror of the ruler that no one came forward to defend him. He was his own defence and refuted all the charges leveled against him. In the prison he was mistreated in all possible manners and on 3 may 1944 Suman launched his historic indefinite fast in protest against the misbehavior of the jail authorities. His condition started deteriorating and by 11 July it had become critical. He was persuaded to end his fast and secure his freedom but he refused to do so. After 84 days hunger strike Suman could no longer bear it and breathed his last, a martyr, in the cause of freedom. Shri Dev Suman died on 25 July 1944. His dead body was thrown into the Bhilangna River without a funeral.

Rajula Malushahi

Rajula Malushahi is one of the most comprehensive ballads of Kumaon, Uttarakhand. This epic ballad has been sung in the Kumaon Himalayas for at least a thousand years. Rajula Malushahi is the love story of King Malushahi, perhaps a historical personage and Rajula, daughter of a Tibetan trader visiting the kings dominions. Set at the time when the Katyuri dynasty was fragmenting into independent fiefdoms, the ballad traces its origins to around the 10th century A.D., when a king no longer reigned from the capital of Kartikeyapur. Instead, the ballad tells the tale of one successor king, Malushahi, who ruled from Bairath, near present-day Dwarahat The king, although already married to seven queens, falls in love with Rajula, the beautiful and intelligent daughter of Sunapati Shauka, a Bhotiya trader of Tibetan goods. Their romantic adventures in search of one another take them to the far corners of the Himalayas, where intrigue, treachery, violence, black magic, and even death conspire to keep them apart. In their travels, the principle characters visit many places and deal with at least three distinct cultures - the Katyuri, Bhotia (Shauka), and Tibetan (Huniya). Unlike other tales, the characters never become gods, nor are overpowered by them, as Malushahi and especially Rajula use their wits to escape danger time and time again. All three main versions of the ballad end in the marriage of Malushahi and Rajula. Sung at a stretch in a village courtyard or home on a happy social occasion the ballad takes ten or 12 hours to perform.

Jaagar

Jaagar is a form of spirit or ghost worship practiced in the hills of Uttarakhand, both in Kumaon as well as Garhwal. The word jaagar comes from the Sanskrit root , jag or to wake, jaagar is a medium or way in which gods and local deities are called or waked from their dormant stage and asked for favors or remedies for certain problems plaguing the person. It is attached to the idea of divine justice and is organised to seek penance for a crime or seek justice from the gods for some injustice. Music is the medium through which the gods are invoked. The singer or Jagariya sings a ballad of the gods with allusions to the great epics like Mahabharat and Ramayana and which describes the adventures and exploits of the god being invoked. These traditions are the part of a kind of Folk Hinduism prevalent, in fact, all across the Himalayas, which have been there along with the mainstream Hinduism for ages. The hard life of the Himalayas and constant exposure to the vagaries of nature inspired a strong belief in paranormal phenomena and also in numerous folk gods who were given great reverence and respect. Every village had its own god protecting its boundaries Bhoomial Devta or Khitarpal , each family its Kul Devta and numerous other benevolent demi-gods and malicious spirits which could reward or torment people and had to be appeased. The isolation of the Kumaon and Garhwal Himalayas promoted the emergence of local religious traditions which are still strong in these regions along with mainstream Hinduism Jaagar ceremonies are of two types one is the Dev Jaagar, the invocation of a god, usually local gods in the body of the medium and the other is the Bhoot Jaagar the invocation of a deceased person spirit or soul in the mediums body, although other forms like Masaan Puja also exist. Today, Jaagars are seen more as cultural and musical heritage in the need of preservation than the religious ceremony itself. But it is still highly revered especially in the rural areas. For years of evolution Jaagar singing has transformed into an art which is greatly cherished and the exponents of which are often heralded as living heritages.

Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers is located on the slopes of the western Himalayas in India. Almost inaccessible to tourists due to the high altitude and huge distance from the nearest town, Ghangaria (almost 8 hours to climb the Himalayan slopes), the Valley of Flowers was and it is still considered one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Included in the Hindu mythology, it was brought to the international public in 1931, when a British mountaineer, Frank S. Smythe, arrived by chance at the edge of the huge natural garden. He authored a book called "The Valley of Flowers" which unveiled the beauty and floral splendours of the valley and thus threw open the doors of this verdant jewel to nature-enthusiasts all over the world.

Coulntless wildflowers, with as many different colors, completely covering the valley in the Himalayas, create a breathtaking view. Currently, Valley of Flowers is part of Nanda Devi National Park (the park covers an area of over 85,000 square miles). Actually the Valley of Flowers itself is 8 km long and 2 km in width, located at an altitude of 3500 - 4000 m, with over 500 species. On more than 2500 hectares, over 600 species of subalpine, alpine and alpine plants grow, such as the Himalayan blue poppies and maple, which, along with three other species are not found anywhere else. Another 31 species are recognized as endangered species, while 45 others are medicinal plants, applied daily by local residents. Fauna of the Valley of Flowers is also very specific. In the valley there are 114 species of birds. Also, 13 rare and endangered species such as the yellow pine marten, blue sheep, black bear and snow leopard live here. The valley is home to many celebrated flowers like the Brahmakamal, the Blue Poppy and the Cobra Lily. It is a much sought after haunt for flower-lovers, botanists and of course trekkers, for whom a sufficient excuse to embark on a mission to reach a place, is that it exists! No wonder that such a magnificent creation of nature has become a pilgrimage site. Furthermore, by the entrance to the park, in the village of Gangria, by the Lokpal lake the is located a Sikh temple in the honor of the Hemkund Sahib, and the Hindu temple Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. Getting to the Valley of Flowers is easy, so thousands of people visit it and other tombs every year, although it is strictly forbidden to do camping in the valley, as the park has no conditions for human habitation. It is included, since 1988, in the UNESCO heritage. Locals are still convinced that the Valley is populated by fairies and elves. In 1939 Miss Margaret Legge, a botanist deputed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh arrived at the valley for further studies. While she was traversing some rocky slopes to collect flowers, she slipped off and was lost for ever. Her sister later visited the valley and erected a memorial near the spot. The memorial is still there. "I will lift mine eyes unto the Hills from whence cometh my strength"

Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM)

Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi was established on 14th Nov 1965 to honor the great desire of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, who was an ardent mountain lover. NIM is rated as one of the best mountaineering institutes in India and also considered a prestigious mountaineering institute in Asia.

Perched beautifully on the turtle back hill across the east bank of river Bhagirathi, the Institute overlooks the sacred town of Uttarkashi and the confluence of Indravati with the Bhagirathi. In a historic development in November 2001, with the newly formed State of Uttarakhand coming into existence, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand became the Vice President of the Institute. The Institute was fortunate to receive patronage from the highest level since its inception from the Government of India, the government of Uttar Pradesh and now, the Government of Uttarakhand. The found fathers in Shri Y.B.Chauhan, then the Honble Defence Minister of India and founder President NIM and Smt Sucheta Kriplani then the Honble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and founder Vice Prisident NIM, gave their unstinted support to the Institute. Brigadier Gyan Singh the first Principal of NIM with his wide experience gave a very strong footing to the Institute and nurtured it through its formative years. Late Shri H C Sarin, who was secretary NIM for 22 long years, ensured that the Institute had all the bureaucratic support and the facilities needed for a premier national Institute. The Institute took shape in 1965 at the Provincial Armed Constabulary Campus at Gyansu on the north bank of the river Bhagirathi. The present location, about 5 Kms away, across the Bhagitrathi River, was selected in 1970 by a team comprising Late Shri Harish Sarin (then Secretary), Captain M.S.Kohli and the architect Mr. Rahman. NIM moved to its new location in 1974. It is now located at 4300 ft altitude in the Ladari Reserve Forest, amidst a dense pine forest, overlooking the sacred river and the valley of gods. It has a sprawling campus, spread over almost seven hectares of prime forest land. In 2001, Tekla Rocks, an area of almost 3.5 hectares of Rock and boulders, area was added to the real estate of the Institute. The Institute is now in the process of acquiring a NIM Beach in Rishikesh for conducting its adventure training on the river Ganges. The campus is well laid out and meticulously maintained. It offers its trainees a wide number of services catering to their ideal physical and mental development. The sylvan surroundings of the Institute and the exquisite natural surrounding have made NIM the sanctum sanctorum of mountain and nature lovers. In 1989, Col. J.K.Bajaj (credited as Col. V.K.Bajaj in some articles), the principal head of NIM, was part of India's second expedition to Antarctica. He also visited the South Pole that year as part of an international expedition.

Auli

Auli located in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand is the most popular skiing destination of Uttarakhand. Considered among the worlds top skiing destinations, Auli is nestled in the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, at an average altitude of 2800 meters above sea level.

Auli is known as 'Bugyal' in the regional language which means meadow. In fact some French and Australian experts consider Auli to be one of the best ski resorts in the world. The slopes of Auli are considered amongst the best skiing place in Asia by the skiers of different countries. Here is world's highest man-made lake, right next to the hotel, Clifftop Club. Auli lies on the way to Badrinath. Auli is blessed with a breathtaking panoramic view of the lofty peaks of the greatest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas. The slopes here provide enough thrill to professional skier and novice as well. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (GMVNL) have imported snow beater to maintain slopes. Auli also boasts the Asia's longest - 4 km - cable car (Gondola). It also has a Chair Lift and a Ski-Lift. Apart from Skiing there is an interesting trek route also. There is a training facility of Indo-Tibetan Border Police. A small temple having connection to great epic Ramayana is also present. Auli was the venue for Skiing Festivals since 1986. Today it also hosts National Championships, under the aegis of Winder Games Federation of India(WGFI), in the months of February and March. Auli hosted SAF winter games in year 2010. Besides being a snow sports destination, Auli is also a famous pilgrimage destination. Narsimh Mandir and Sankaracharya Tapastali of Joshimath, Nandaprayag, Rudraprayag and Pandukeshwar Badrinath Mandir are the pilgrimage destinations in and around Auli. Gurso Bugyal, Gondola ropeway, Chattrakund, Kwani Bugyal, Hot Spring Point and Chenab Lake are the other popular attractions of Auli.

Hemkund Sahib

Hemkund Sahib is a high-altitude lake (4329 m) surrounded by seven huge snow-covered mountains, which are collectively called Hemkund Parvat. It is an important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Sikhs, as well as for people from other faiths. There is a Sikh Gurudwara and a Lakshman temple built on the bank of the lake. It is said that Shri Guru Govind Singh Ji (the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs) meditated on the bank of this lake wher a number of sages and religious teachers from the Hindu mythology, including Rishi Medhasa of the Markandeya Purana and Lakshman, the brother of Lord Ram performed penance. It is believed that Lakshman, meditated by the lake and regained his health after being severely wounded by Meghnath, son of the demon Ravana, during battle.

The lake is the source of the Laxman Ganga (alternatively called Hem Ganga) stream that merges with the Pushpawati stream flowing from the Valley of Flowers, at Ghangaria. From this point on, the river is called Laxman Ganga. Encircled by seven snow clad peaks and their associated glaciers, it reflects its surroundings enchantingly on its crystal clear serene waters. The glaciers from Hathi Parvat and Saptrishi peaks feed the lake and a small stream called Himganga flows out of this lake. The lake is about two kilometres in circumference. It has clear, still water mirror images of the Saptashringa peaks (5500 m) that surrounds it. Hemkund is a 15 km trek from Govindghat. The trek takes one through pine forests where rhododendron (burans), wild roses, ferns and alpine flowers abound. With breathtaking views of the surging waters of the Lakshman Ganga, the last five kilometres of the trek entails a steep climb from Ghangharia, which is a base for visiting Hemkund. Despite its ancient connections, Hemkund/Lokpal was discovered by a Sikh Havaldar, Solan Singh and became a major pilgrimage centre only after 1930.

Shailesh Matiyani

Ramesh Singh Matiyani 'Shailesh' was born on October 14, 1931, in Barechhina, Almora. His first novel, Borivilli se Boribander tak was published in 1959, and in his career spanning five decades, he wrote numerous short stories, novels and published many collections of stories and essays. He was also known for his stories for children. He remained the editor of two publications, 'Janpaksh' and 'Vikalp', for many years . Thereafter, he moved to Haldwani, where he spent the rest of his years, though suffering a depression attack in July, 1995, he would often travelled to Delhi and Lucknow, for treatment, despite that he continued writing prolifically Dainik Jagaran's article "Shailesh Matiyani: likhna ek aahat paida karna hai". He became most known for his short stories, depicting the struggles and the fighting spirit of the Indian lower and lower-middle class, which he embodied himself and expressed through his writings all through his life, and which gave him the title - Peoples Writer or Jankathakar He was awarded Mahapandit Rahul Sanskrityayan Award for his contribution to Hindi Literature in 2000. In 1994, he was awarded an honorary degree of D.Litt by Kumaun University, Nainital He died on April 24, 2001, in Delhi and was cremated at Haldwani. After his death, 'Shailesh Matiyani Smriti Katha Puraskar' was established by Madhya Pradesh Government.

Hiljatra

This term comprises two words Hil meaning slush and jatra meaning trvel. Thus literally it means a travel in the rainy season when the fields are covered.Monsoon is te time when the festival is celebrated in the Sor valley of Kumaon.When the Hiljatra started, no one can tell, but according to local belief, four brave men of the Mahar clan brought this festival from Nepal to the Sor valley in the times of King Pithorashahi. It was in the Kumaud village that Hiljatra was first organized. Hiljatra is fmous for its novel dance form in which the participants dance wearing masks of animals. The zeal is easily felt in this colourful festival that is more close to folk-theatre. Men disguised as women enact them working in the fields. The end is brought up by the appearance of a character called Lakhiya'. He wears a queer and fearful mask and is believed to symbolize rudra one of the incarnations of Lord Shiva.

Bhim Pul

Bhim Pul(Bridge) is located on one side of Mana village opposite to the rock cave Vyas Gufa in Chamoli District.

Bhim Pul is a huge rock, which forms a natural bridge across the unruly Saraswati River. This is a natural bridge built from a huge rock by the Pandava brother Bhima for his wife Draupadi. It is believed that this was the place from where the Pandava brothers started their 'accent to heaven' (swargarohan). During their transit, Draupadi was unable to cross the river and hence Bhima lifted a huge rock and placed across the river to enable Draupadi cross the river which today is known as the Bhim Pul.

Neem Karoli Baba

Neem Karoli Baba was a Hindu guru and devotee of the Hindu deity Hanuman. He is known outside India for being the guru of a number of Americans who travelled to India in the 1960s and 1970s, the most well-known being the spiritual teachers Ram Dass and Bhagavan Das, and the musicians Krishna Das and Jai Uttal. His ashrams are in Kainchi, Vrindavan, Rishikesh, Shimla, Bhumiadhar, Hanuman Ghar, Lucknow, Delhi in India and in USA. He died on September 11, 1973, in Vrindavan, India.

Maiti Movement

The Maiti movement of Uttaranchal, is a unique grassroots afforestation programme. Maiti derives from mait, Kumaoni for a marriedwomans paternal home. As part of every marriage ceremony, the bride and groom plant a tree.

These Maiti groves which are looked after by Maiti behene (unmarried village girls) become a self-sustaining village asset. Today, maiti trees are planted on other happy occasions too. The women-centric movement, which involves a unique ritual of planting a sapling by a newly-wed couple, was initiated in a small town of Gwaldam in Uttarakhand by environmentalist Kalyan Singh Rawat in 1994.

Gaura Devi

Gaura Devi born on 1925 in lata village (Tehri). She got married in the age of twelve with Meharban Singh. His husband died after eight years of the marriage. She was the founder lady of the Chipko movement in Chamoli. She got first Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra award on november,1986. 'Chipko woman' Gaura Devi died on 4 July 1991.

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Chandi Prasad Bhatt

Chandi Prasad Bhatt (born 1934) is an Ghadhian and social activist, who founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal (Society for Village Self-Rule) in Gopeshwar in 1964 which offered jobs in Indian village and small-scale forest-based industries, which later became a mother-organization to the Chipko movement, in which he was one of the pioneers. Since then, the movement has spared Indias forests from further denudation, organized informative ecoconservation camps for scientists and students, launched reforestation projects and seedling nurseries, and successfully negotiated with the government to increase the number of protected forest areas Today he is known for his work on subaltern social ecology, and considered one of India's first modern environmentalist. Chandi P Bhatt continues to educate communities through his popular multi-sectoral ecodevelopment camps, and serves as a senior adviser to government planning and policy-making bodies. He has been awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1982 (Chipko Movement), followed by the Padma Bhushan in 2005.

Chholiya

Chholiya is a dance form practised in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is basically a sword dance accompanying a marriage procession. It is especially popular in the districts of Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar, Almora of Kumaon and has even spread to the Garhwal.

Dating back to over a thousand years, the Chholiya Dance has its origins in the warring Kshatriyas of Kumaunthe Khasas, when marriages were performed at the point of the swords. The native Kshatriyas were united by the Chand king who arrived on the scene in the 10th century. Flux of immigrants Rajputs who made native kshatriyas a small minority also took on the hill customs and influenced pahari culture with their traditions & language.The days of marriages on the point of sword were over but the traditions attached to it still continued. That is why the groom is still known as Kunwar or Raja(King) in Kumaun. He rides a horse in the marriage procession and wears a Khukri in his belt. Chholiya is performed in marriages and is believed to be auspicious as it provides protection from evil spirits and demons. Marriage processions were believed to be vulnerable to such spirits who target peoples happiness. It was a common belief that demons followed a marriage procession or Baryat to bewitch the newly married and performance of Chholiya could prevent this.

Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park named for the hunter and conservationist Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishmentis the oldest national park in India. The park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park. Situated in Nainital of Uttarakhand the park acts as a protected area for the critically endangered Bengal tiger of India, the secure survival of which is the main objective of Project Tiger, an Indian wildlife protection initiative. The Jim Corbett National Park is a heaven for the adventure seekers and wildlife adventure lovers alike. Corbett National Park is India's first national park which comprises 520.8 km2. area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grass lands and large lake. Winter nights in Corbett national park are cold but the days are bright and sunny. It rains from July to September. Corbett National Park is one of the thirteen protected areas covered by World WildLife Fund under their Terai Arc Landscape Programme.The programme aims to protect three of the five terrestrial flagship species, the tiger, the Asian Elephant and the one-horned-Rhinoceros, by restoring corridors of forest to link 13 protected areas of Nepal and India to enable wildlife migration.

Jhanda Mela, Dehradun

Jhanda Mela is celebrated annually in Dehradun on the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Rai ji Maharaj which falls during Maha Panchami. In 1676, Guru Ram Rai ji came to this place from Punjab and established his settlement here. Because of his settlement here the Doon Ghats were then called Dehra Doon and now referred as Dehradun. A 97-feet high Sal tree has been selected from the nearby Dundhali forests for the Jhanda mela. The devotees worship the flag and bathe it in milk, curd and holy water of river Ganges and then wrap it with muslin cloth. Old coverings are removed and new ones are added.The numerous scarves that are tied around the mast, symbolise the devotion and faith of the pilgrims who pray for fulfilment of their wishes. Twenty persons tie the satin scarf (the second cover) and only one gets the honour of tying the sacred scarf known as Darshani cover. Such is the fervour and devotion that the advance bookings for the sacred scarf have already been made till Circa 2082.

RoopKund

Roop Kund is situated in the eastren part of Chamoli District, Uttarakhand (in the lap of the Trishul Massif, 7122 mts.) This kund is on the Nanda Raj Jat route to Hom kund. It is not a very large kund and is rather shallow, having a depth of only about 2 metres. The edges are snow covered for most parts of the year. This lake has a special significance for goddess Nanda and her devotees. This Glacial Lake is famous due to more than five hundred human skeletons found at the edge of this lake.There are many theories to explain the findings but none satisfying to everybody. Hence the lake is also known as the "mystery lake". The location is uninhabited and is located in Chamoli at an altitude of about 5,029 mts.

Pindari Glacier

The Pindari Glacier is a glacier in the Bageshwar District, falls in the Kumaon Himalaya , to the southeast of Nanda Devi & NandaKot. The glacier flows to the south for a short distance of about 3 km (1.9 mi) and gives rise to the Pindar river which meets the Alaknanda at Karnaprayag in the Garhwal. The trail to reach the glacier crosses the villages of Saung, Loharkhet , crosses over the Dhakuri , continues onto Khati village (the last inhabited village on the trail), Dwali,Phurkia and finally Zero Point the end of the trail. Though most of the trail is along the banks of the Pindari River, the river is mostly hidden until after Khati. The Pindari Glacier trail provides for a 90 km (56 mi) round-trip trek that is comfortable to complete in six days. This world famous glacier is a trekkers paradise, as it is easier to visit than most other glaciers. The glacier is at an altitute of 3353 mts.

Sumitra Nandan Pant

Sumitranandan Pant was one of the four pillars of Chhayavaadi school of Hindi literature. He was a literary critic and also a short story writer. He was born on 20th May, 1900 at Kausani village of Bageshwar. Initially he was educated in Almora. After passing matriculation he went to Kalakankar near Prayag and got admitted to Prayag University. He left the college to respond Gandhi's call and joined Indian Freedom Movement though he continued to read English, Sanskrit and Bengali literature. He knew Persian as well. Pant was influenced by the poetic creations of Shelley, Keats and Wordsworth and Tagore.

Sumitranandan Pant was one of the four pillars of Chhayavaadi poems. He mixed the Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram ideology of Indian Philosophy in his poem; but when the Chhayavaadi movement`s popularity was on the decline he changed the main theme from aesthetic mysticism to Marxist ideology. He was famous for his poem collection `Pallav`, comprising thirty-two poems written between 1918 and 1925. His other major works are Veena, Uchchhavaas, Granthi, Gunjan, Lokayatan Pallavini, Madhu Jwala, Manasi, Vaani, Yug Path, Satyakaam, Anguthita, Gramya, Trapith, Mukti Yagna, Yugant and Swachchand. He has authored in all twenty eight published works which include poetry, verse plays and essays. He derived inspiration from the beauties of nature of his native Kumaon. He has written some poetic dramas and Jyotsna (The Rays of the Moon) is the most famous among them. He was essentially lyrical. His poetic dramas are basically dialogues. He was also a literary critic. Sumitranandan Pant was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan in 1961.He was also honored with Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi. Soviet Union gave him Nehru Peace Prize for Lokayatan. Sumitranandan Pant, passed away in the year of 1977. Pant's childhood house, in Kausani, has been converted into a museum. This museum displays his daily use articles, drafts of his poems, letters, his awards etc.

Bagwal Mela, Devidhura

Devidhura is situated at a distance of 45 kms from Lohaghat in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand. Devidhura is famous for its Barahi temples. A very unusual fair(mela), which attracts people from Kumaon, Nepal, and even other places, is held every year at the temple of Barahi Devi on the day of Raksha Bandhan. During this festival, known as Bagwal, two groups(khams) of dancing and singing people throw stones at each other, while they try to protect themselves with the help of large wooden shields. The participants don't care about the injuries and the injuries are believed to be auspicious. It is also a worth noticing fact that there had been no loss of life till today during this unusual fair. This fair is also known for its enchanting folk songs and dances

NandaDevi Raj Jat Yatra

Nanda Raj Jat Yatra takes place every 12 years in Uttarakhand. The continuity of this tradition for five thousand years speaks of the tremendous faith that is widespread among the people of Kumaun and Garhwal. Nanda Devi is considered as the Isht- Devi, by the hill folk. The royal family of Garhwal conducts the Nanda Raj Jat to please the Isht- Devi, in order to seek blessings for a prosperous kingdom and the defecit of their enemies. Her relationship with the people is just the same as that of Sita with Mithila, similarly Gaura is known to be the daughter of Uttarakhand. Daughter of the king of mountains, Himavat. Gaura was married to the ash- smeared, leapord skin wearing yogi. It is popularly believed that according to the Indian calendar, during the Krishna Paksha of Bhado (2nd week of August) the Devi visits her mother's place and the event is celebrated with the performance of special rituals and prayers on Nanda Ashtami in the numerous Nanda devi temples spread all over the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. The event marks the coming of Nanda Devi to her mother's place (mait). During this time Uttarakhand reverberates with festivities. The event finishes when the people of her maiti (mother home), escort her in a procession is called the Nanda Jat. The entire scene is beautifully protrayed in the folk songs and jagars sung by the woman of Uttarakhand. Such Nanda jats are held in almost all the places in the hills, where there is a Nanda Devi temple. Every Garhadhipatis in the hills took out Nanda Jats to place the Isht -Devi. Every Twelve years the Nanda Raj Jat replaces the annual Raj Jat on the route of Homkund, from the temple of Nanda Devi. The dolis of other devtas also know as the 'Birs of Nanda Devi' also join the Raj Jat..The Goril dev of Kumaon and the Lattu Dev of Bandhan are the prominent devtas. This Raj jat yatra originates from the kurur village 30 km from nandprayag,in ghat tahsil of Uttarakhand. The Kunwar of village Kansua inaugurates the ceremony. The legend is this that Nanda Devi, consort of Lord Shiva left her village and went to the nanda devi parbat. Therefore when the yatra starts, heavy rain occurs as if the devi is crying. The festivities come to a standstill, when the time comes for the Devi to leave for her sauras (husbands home). Special prayers and rituals are performed and the offerings are loaded on the four- horned Ram just like the things given to a daughter in her marriage are sent. The deity is decorated like a bride, ready to leave for her husbands home. The scene becomes pathetic when the devotees, in tears, bid farewell to the Devi, as if they are bidding farewell to their own daughter.

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond, born 19 May 1934 in Kasauli, and lives in Landour, Mussoorie, with his adopted family is an Indian author of British descent. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. Besides The Room on the Roof, his published works include the novels A Flight of Pigeons, Delhi Is Not Far, The Sensualist and A Handful of Nuts, and the short story collections Night Train at Deoli, Time Stops at Shamli, Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra and When Darkness Falls. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra". and the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature.

Sundar Lal Bahuguna

"We in Himalaya are facing a crisis of survival due to the suicidal activities being carried out in the name of development... The monstrous Tehri dam is a symbol of this... There is need for a new and long-term policy to protect the dying Himalaya. I do not want to see the death of the most sacred river of the world - the Ganga - for short-term economic gains."

Sunderlal Bahuguna was born 9 January 1927 in village Maroda, near Tehri. He is a noted environmentalist, Chipko movement leader and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Non violence and Satyagraha. For years he has been fighting for the preservation of forests in the himalayas, first as a member of the Chipko movement in 1970s, and later spearheaded the Anti-Tehri Dam movement starting 1980s, to early 200. In the late 1980s, Bahuguna joined the campaign that already for many years had been opposing construction of a proposed Himalayan dam on the river near his birthplace of Tehri. In 1989 he began the first of a series of hunger strikes to draw political attention to the dangers posed by the dam and in due course the Chipko Movement gave birth to the Save Himalaya Movement. Bahuguna ended a 45-day fast in 1995 when the Indian government promised a review of the Tehri dam project. But the promise was not kept and the following year he committed himself to another fast, only broken after 74 days when the Prime Minister gave a personal undertaking to conduct a thorough review, largely on Bahuguna's terms. The veteran environmentalist, then in his 70th year, told the Prime Minister that the Himalayan glaciers were receding at an alarming rate. If this was not checked, the glacier feeding the Ganges would disappear within 100 years. In 2009, Bahuguna was honoured with Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award.

JAGWAL (1983)

JAGWAL (Movie, 1983) First Garhwali Feature Film 'JAGWAL' (The Long Wait), produced by Parashar Gaur was released on May 4th, 1983 at Mavalankar Hall In Delhi. The main strength of the film lies in the way it captures the innocence of the hill people.

Jagwal is poignant tale of a young woman Indu. At her wedding the bridegrooms youngest brother who is a dumb, is involved in a quarrel with priest. The bridegroom Biru intervenes. In the process the priest accidentally received fatal injuries. On the nuptial night the police arrest the bridegroom. He is tried and imprisoned for 10 years. Biru advises his wife not to wait for him, but to get married with his younger brother Sheru. But she chooses to wait. After facing hardships she finally emerges triumphant and the JAGWAL ends on a happy note when she meets her husband again. The film was made in record time of 28 days and passed by the censor board in just 24 hours, the film was was first screened in a non-commercial hall at the Mavlankarn Hall in Delhi.

Bachendri Pal
Mountains teach you to deal with critical situations. They force discipline and leadership qualities, humanity, courage, self respect and confidence, besides bringing one in contact with people from different areas and different cultures.

The first Indian women & fifth in the world to climb Mount Everest, Bachendri Pal belonged to a family of very moderate means. She was born in year 1954 in a Nakuri village in Garhwal. Bachendri was an active child and did well in her school, she excelled in sports too. Her first exposure to mountaineering was at the age of 12, when during a picnic she along with several schoolmates climbed a peak of altitude 4,000mts. She completed her graduation, becoming the first girl of her village to do so. She also secured the first position in a rifle shooting event during graduation. Her family was facing financial troubles and she wanted a job desperately. She shared with her parents her desire to become a professional mountaineer. The family was devastated, as for them, her relatives and local people, the most suitable job for a woman was teaching, not mountaineering. She joined the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering (NIM). She was declared the best student and was considered as Everest material. In 1982, while at NIM, she climbed Gangotri I (21,900 ft) and Rudugaria (19,091 ft). Around that time, she got employment as an instructor at the National Adventure Foundation. Bachendri was

selected as one of the members of the elite group of six Indian women and eleven men who were privileged to attempt an ascent to the Mount Everest in 1984. After an accident while climbing the Mt. Everest, members of the team go injured. Despite an injury on her head, Bachendri chose to continue the ascent. On 23 May 1984, Bachendri reached the summit of Mount Everest. She remained on the summit for about 43 minutes and became the first Indian woman to scale the Mount Everest, and the fifth woman in the world. In 1985, she led an Indo-Nepalese Everest Expedition team comprising of only women. The expedition created seven world records and set benchmarks for Indian mountaineering. In 1994, she led an all women team of rafters. The team coursed through the waters of the river Ganges, covering 2,500 km from Haridwar to Kolkata.

Narendra Singh Negi

Narendra Singh Negi, the voice of Uttarakhand is an eminent singer. He was born on 12 August 1949 in Pauri. By 1970s he established himself as a lyricist and singer of Garhwali folk songs. His common themes were the every day life of the common people, their struggle for existence, their sorrows and triumphs, the themes which resonate in every heart. His distinctive voice and prolific career made him a household name amongst Garhwalis both in India and abroad. He has composed and sung more than 200 folk song and has given state presentations at various functions. Besides bringing out more than 38 audio and video recordings of his songs, he has given music direction in several Garhwali films. One of his albums of folk songs Thando Re Thando has become very popular. Among his well known collections of songs are Kuchkandi, Ganyun ki Ganga Syanyun ka Samodar and Muthi Boti ki Rakh. He has also sung sad elegies to Tehri town, recently inundated by the Tehri dam, as well as fiery protest songs during the Uttarakhand separate state movement. He became a controversial figure when he released a satirical song (Nauchai Naraina) on former chief minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari.

Sheila Irene Pant

Sheila Irene Pant (Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan) was born in year 1905 in Almora, Uttarakhand (then United Provinces of Agra and Oudh). She obtained a first class Masters degree with honors in economics from the University of Lucknow in 1929. Begum Raana began her career as a teacher in the Gokhale Memorial School and was later appointed as Professor of Economics in the Indraprstha Girl College, Delhi. In April 1933, she was married to Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan. She then played a prominent role in the social and political life of Pakistan. After the reorganization of Muslim League, Begum Raana devoted herself to the task of creating political consciousness amongst the Muslim women. Her struggle for emancipation continued till the creation of Pakistan for Muslims of India in 1947. Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in 1951. Begum Rana continued her services for the social and economic uplift of women of Pakistan till her death in 1990. Begum Raana served as Pakistans ambassador to the Netherlands in the 1950s and as ambassador to Italy in the 1960s. She was the first woman Governor of Sindh province in the mid-1970s and the first Muslim woman delegate to the UN who also won the United Nations Human Rights Award.

Gaura Pant 'Shivani'

Gaura Pant (Shivani) holds a prominent place amongst the women writers of Uttarakhand. She was born on 17th October, 1923 in Rajkot, Gujarat to a Kumouni family. After her early education in Almora she was sent to Allahabad for higher education, and then she went to Shantiniketan where she had the fortune of academic

enrichment under the tutelage of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Right from her childhood she had a flair for writing. Embedded in the folk culture of Kumaon she conveyed the yearning if common man and woman in and their inter-relationship in her writings. In 1935, Shivanis first story was published in the Hindi Childrens magazine Natkhat, at age twelve. She wrote 30 novels, 13 short story collections and 8 volumes of memoir. Among her well known works are Vish Kanya, Kainza, Chaudah Phere and Bhairavi. In recognition of her contribution to Hindi literature she was given several awards and honours including Bhartendu Harishchandra Samman (1979); Padmashri (1981); Mahadevi Verma Samman (1994); Subramannyam Samman (1995) and Hindi Sewa Nidhi Rashtriya Puruskar (1997). She died in March 2003 in Lucknow.

Uttarakhand: Going the right way

Uttarakhand: Going the right way - 'The Economic Times'
Ever since Uttarakhand was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in November 2000, the new state has raced ahead. Overall, people are better off. There are more jobs, education and health facilities. Industry has streamed in and the growth rate has been healthy. More than 90% of the state is mountainous and forests cover 64% of the topography. Successive governments realized the need for connectivity and set about building roads and putting far-flung villages on the roadmap. This exercise transformed lives. By 2008-09, Uttarkhand had 30,754 km of roads and 10,798 km of village roads. Governments generated jobs, resulting in a steady rise in per capita income. "The per capita income stood at Rs 15,285 in 2000-1001. It rose to Rs 42,031 in 2009-10 and shot up to Rs 68,292 in 2010-2011 ," Alok Jain, principal secretary (finance) told TOI. The new state, he said, clocked a 9.9% rate of industrial development in 2001-2002 . Around 2002-2003 , it touched 20.9%. Between 2003 and 2004, corruption and scams blighted progress and industrial growth slumped to 9%. But a 10year industrial package provided by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, led to a turnaround and industrial growth leapt to 24.5%. But once the package expired in 2010, growth fell to 8.6% in 2010-2011 . The state GDP growth has risen to 9.1% in financial year 2010-2011. The state has generated jobs for 1,17,271 people in the last 11 years. The literacy rate has gone up. Total area: 53,483 sq km No. of districts: 13 Total population: 10,116,752

Famous Personalities in Uttarakhand

Anusuya Prasad Bahuguna BadriDutt Pandey Bachendri Pal Chandi Prasad Bhatt Chandra Singh Garhwali ChandraPrabha Aithwal Deep Joshi Dr. Harshwanti Bisht Gaura Devi Gaura Pant 'Shivani' Girish Tiwari 'Girda' Govind Ballabh Pant Hargovind Pant Himanshu Joshi Indramani Badoni Kalawati Rawat Major Somnath sharma Manglesh Dabral Radha Behn Ruskin Bond Sridev Suman Sarla Ben Shailesh Matiyani Sheila Irene Pant Sumitra Nandan Pant Tilu Rauteli Tinchari Mai

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Education in Uttarakhand
Universities in Uttarakhand G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology click here Gurukul Kangri VishwaVidyalaya click here Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University click here Kumaun University, Nainital click here Forest Research Institute,Dehradun click here IIT Roorkee click here Dev Sanskrit VishwaVidyalaya click here University of Petroleum and Energy Studies click here Himgiri Nabh VishwaVidyalaya click here Doon University,Dehradun click here Uttarakhand Sanskrit VishwaVidyalaya, Haridwar Uttarakhand Open University,Haldwani click here Uttarakhand Technical University click here Patanjali Yogh Vidyapeeth,Haridwar click here Himalaya Institute Medical university click here Graphic Era University click here Ayurvedic Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar

Uttarakhand - An Introduction
Uttarakhand( ), formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship. Known for its natural beauty and wealth of the Himalayas, the Bhabhar and the Terai, the state was carved out of the Himalayan and adjoining north-western districts of UttarPradesh on 9 November 2000, becoming the 27th state of the India. It borders the Tibet on the north, Nepal on the east and the Indian states of UttarPradesh to the south, Haryana to the west and Himanchal Pradesh to the north west. The region is traditionally referred to as Uttarakhand in Hindu scriptures and old literature, a term which derives from Sanskrit uttara ( ) meaning north, and kha ( ) meaning country or part of a country. It has an area of 20,682 sq mi (53,566 km). In January 2007, the name of the state was officially changed from Uttaranchal, its interim name, to Uttarakhand. The provisional capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, which is also a rail-head and the largest city in the region. The small hamlet of Gairsain has been mooted as the future capital owing to its geographic centrality but controversies and lack of resources have led Dehradun to remain provisional capital. The High Court of the state is in Nainital.