Capital of Uttarakhand

The state of Uttarakhand came into existence on the 9th of November 2000. It was carved out from the northwest region of the state of Uttar Pradesh. After its formation, the city of Dehradoon or Dehradun was chosen as the interim capital of the state. It is situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the state. To reach popular hill stations and pilgrim sites such as Nainital, Mussorie, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Haridwar and Rishikesh respectively, it acts as a gateway.

Historical Background of Uttarakhand

• In India, it is one of the oldest and popular cities among others.
• From ancient times it was the Centre for Uttarakhand rulers especially for Garhwal rulers.
• For about two decades till 1815, it was under the occupation of the Gorkhas.
• In April 1815 Gorkhas were ousted from the Garhwal region and Garhwal was annexed by the British.
• In that year the area now comprising tehsil Dehra Dun was added to district Saharanpur.
• In 1825, however, it was transferred to the Kumaon Division.

Important Facts About Uttarakhand

• When it was created it was formerly known as Uttaranchal. In Jan. 2007 the government changed its name to Uttarakhand.
• The state came to existence on the 9th of November 2000 as the 27th State of India and .
• It was carved out from north-western region of Uttar Pradesh.
• It is situated at the foothills of the Himalayas.
• The state is largely hilly around 88%.
• Char Dham (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri) the holiest site of Hindus, located in the state of Uttarakhand.
• The state is rich of natural resources such as forests, water, mountains and glaciers peaks.

Geographical Background of Uttarakhand

• The state of Uttarakhand is located at the foothills of the Himalayan mountain ranges.
• It has a geographic area of 53,483 km2, more than 60% of which is covered by forest.
• It lies between 28*44′ & 31*28′ N Latitude and 77*35′ & 81*01′ East longitude.
• Topography of the state is largely hilly around with large areas in significant height remain snow capped most of the time.
• State comprises of 02 regions 13 districts, 78 Tehsils and 95 community development blocks.

Economy of Uttarakhand

• Around 60% of population of the state is engaged in agriculture.
• Wheat, rice and Sugarcane are the most cultivated crops of the state.
• Presence of perennial rivers offer tremendous opportunity of Hydroelectric power to the state.
• Uttarakhand is one of the fastest-growing states in India.
• The main growth drivers in the economy have been identified as hill agriculture with emphasis on horticulture including aromatic and medicinal plants (promoted by AYUSH) and tourism.

Places to Visit in Uttarakhand

• The presence of several hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, pilgrimage places, and trekking routes make Uttarakhand an attractive tourist destination.
• The popular destinations among tourists in Uttarakhand are – Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Nainital, Jim Corbett Park, Almora, Auli, Chopta, Valley Of Flowers, and Hemkund Sahib, Chardham (Yamnotri, Gangotri, Badrinath, And Kedarnath) and many more.

Important Facts about Dehradun (Uttarakhand)

Population	569,578 (Acc. to 2011 census)
Foundation	1817
Municipality	1867
Literacy Rate and Sex Ratio	88.36 %, 907
Important rivers	Asan, Tons, Jakhan, Song, Suswa, Rispana, Chandrabhaga and Yamuna
Important sites	Robber’s Cave, Tapkeshwar, Sahastradhara, Buddha Temple, Asan Barrage, Dehradun Zoo, Malsi Deer Park, Clock Tower Dehradun, Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara, Khalanga War Memorial

FAQs on Capital of Uttarakhand-

What is the official language of Uttarakhand?

Answer -Hindi is declared as the first official language of the Uttarakhand. The second official language of Uttarakhand is Sanskrit. People here also speak the Garhwali and Kumaoni languages.

What is the capital of Uttarakhand?

Answer – The capital of the Uttarakhand is Dehradun. It is is located in the Doon Valley. It served as the economic growth engine of the state. Gairsain in Chamoli district was also declared as the summer capital of Uttarakhand.

Which are the 4 Dhams in Uttarakhand?

Answer – ‘Dham’ refers to destinations of utmost religious importance. Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are the 4 dams situated in the Himalayas in Uttarakhand.

Which state has 2 capitals in India?

Answer – Three states Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttarakhand have 2 capitals.