Kedarnath temple reopens for pilgrims

The doors of famous Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath on Sunday reopened for pilgrims after a gap of six months with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank among those having early darshan of Lord Shiva.

Amid blowing of conches and chanting of vedic hymns and shlokas, Chief priest of Kedarnath shrine Bhimshankar Ling opened the locks of the temple at 0530 hrs in the morning in the presence of senior administrative and police officials, official sources said.

During the opening ceremony, hundreds of devotees were present outside the sanctum sanctorum chanting "Bam Bam Bhole" braving chilly winds blowing in the area.

While Nishank performed puja along with his family members, Uttarakhand Disaster Management Minister Khajan das and Principal Secretary Tourism Rakesh Sharma were also among the first ones, who paid the obeisance at the temple.


Meanwhile, the doors of the Badrinath shrine would also be thrown open for pilgrims on Monday.

The Chardham Yatra comprising pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri nestling in Garhwal Himalayas was kicked off with the opening of portals of both Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on May 6.

Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are situated at a height of 3200 meter and 3615 meter respectively in Uttarkashi district. Badrinath is located in Chamoli district a height of 3133 meter and Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district at a height of 3584 meter.

The Chardhams reopen in April-May every year after a gap of six months as the area remain snow-bound during the winter period.

The annual yatra is considered as a backbone of the thriving religious tourism in the state that attracts nearly 15-16 lakh pilgrims every year from home and abroad.

The government has taken various steps for smooth conduct of yatra and directed all the departments to work in tandem during the period.

indian express

Kedarnath temple reopens for pilgrims

The doors of famous Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath on Sunday reopened for pilgrims after a gap of six months with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank among those having early darshan of Lord Shiva.

Amid blowing of conches and chanting of vedic hymns and shlokas, Chief priest of Kedarnath shrine Bhimshankar Ling opened the locks of the temple at 0530 hrs in the morning in the presence of senior administrative and police officials, official sources said.

During the opening ceremony, hundreds of devotees were present outside the sanctum sanctorum chanting "Bam Bam Bhole" braving chilly winds blowing in the area.

While Nishank performed puja along with his family members, Uttarakhand Disaster Management Minister Khajan das and Principal Secretary Tourism Rakesh Sharma were also among the first ones, who paid the obeisance at the temple.

Meanwhile, the doors of the Badrinath shrine would also be thrown open for pilgrims on Monday.

The Chardham Yatra comprising pilgrimage to Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri nestling in Garhwal Himalayas was kicked off with the opening of portals of both Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines on May 6.

Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines are situated at a height of 3200 meter and 3615 meter respectively in Uttarkashi district. Badrinath is located in Chamoli district a height of 3133 meter and Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district at a height of 3584 meter.

The Chardhams reopen in April-May every year after a gap of six months as the area remain snow-bound during the winter period.

The annual yatra is considered as a backbone of the thriving religious tourism in the state that attracts nearly 15-16 lakh pilgrims every year from home and abroad.

Yamunotri

Perched amidst sprawling Garhwal Hills, Yamunotri is another revered pilgrim spots in the state of Uttarakhand. It is one of the Char Dham in India and holds great religious importance. Yamunotri is the source of sacred river Yamuna and also the abode of goddess Yamuna. It is famous for its thermal springs, glaciers and scenic locales. In effect, it is one of the must visit places from travel and tourism point of view.

According to Hindu mythology, this hilly spot was once the abode of an ancient sage by the name, Asit Muni. Owing to its legendary significance, thousands of devotees visit this silent yet hustling-bustling pilgrimage place. There are a many worth visiting places here, one of the most important being the Yamunotri temple. This temple was built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the 19th century. The shrine is dedicated to goddess Yamuna.

She resides here in the form of a silver idol adorned with garlands. It is believed that a holy dip in the sacred water of river Yamunotri here relieves everyone from a painful death. This is because she is the sister of Yama, the God of Death. As a result, pilgrims visit the place in order to seek the blessings of Yamuna and save themselves from the agony of death. Apart from this there is Surya Kund which is known for its thermal springs.

The temperature of the water here is approximately 190 degree Fahrenheit. Also, there are a number of hot water pools here, which are used to cook rice and potato as Prasad (holy offerings to God). Divya Shilla is a rock pillar here, which is worshipped by the devotees before entering the Yamunotri temple. Other tourist places near Yamunatri are Janaki Chatti, Hanuman Chatti and Saptrishi Kund.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri

Perched amidst sprawling Garhwal Hills, Yamunotri is another revered pilgrim spots in the state of Uttarakhand. It is one of the Char Dham in India and holds great religious importance. Yamunotri is the source of sacred river Yamuna and also the abode of goddess Yamuna. It is famous for its thermal springs, glaciers and scenic locales. In effect, it is one of the must visit places from travel and tourism point of view.

According to Hindu mythology, this hilly spot was once the abode of an ancient sage by the name, Asit Muni. Owing to its legendary significance, thousands of devotees visit this silent yet hustling-bustling pilgrimage place. There are a many worth visiting places here, one of the most important being the Yamunotri temple. This temple was built by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur in the 19th century. The shrine is dedicated to goddess Yamuna.

She resides here in the form of a silver idol adorned with garlands. It is believed that a holy dip in the sacred water of river Yamunotri here relieves everyone from a painful death. This is because she is the sister of Yama, the God of Death. As a result, pilgrims visit the place in order to seek the blessings of Yamuna and save themselves from the agony of death. Apart from this there is Surya Kund which is known for its thermal springs.

The temperature of the water here is approximately 190 degree Fahrenheit. Also, there are a number of hot water pools here, which are used to cook rice and potato as Prasad (holy offerings to God). Divya Shilla is a rock pillar here, which is worshipped by the devotees before entering the Yamunotri temple. Other tourist places near Yamunatri are Janaki Chatti, Hanuman Chatti and Saptrishi Kund.

Landslides hit pilgrimage to Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri

DEHRA DUN: Fresh landslides triggered by rains today disrupted the pilgrimage to Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

The landslides hit various places in Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts blocking the routes to the shrines of Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC) said here.

While Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway was blocked by landslides at Chhinka area, Rishikesh-Gangotri national highway was hit at Karmkund blocking vehicular traffic, they said, adding the road leading to Yamunotri has been blocked at Ranachatti.

Teams comprising personnel of police, ITBP and BRO have been pressed into service to clear the debris and reopen the routes for vehicular traffic.

The rains also pushed up the water level of a pond at Dhakrani area of Vikasnagar near here damaging 15 houses this morning.

Moderate to heavy rains continued to lash most parts of Uttarakhand with Banbasa receiving maximum 117 mm of rainfall followed by Champawat with 113 mm, Nainital 102 mm, Srinagar and Rishikesh 73 mm, Haridwar 65 mm and Dehra Dun 60 mm during the past 24 hours, Met office here said.

Yamunotri

Yamunotri
Altitude : 3165 mts
Climate : Summer-Cool during the dayy and cold at night.
Winter - Snow bound. Touching sub-zero.
Clothing : April to July - Light woollens
Language : Hindi, Garhwali & English

The Sacred Origin Of the Yamuna
The Garhwal Himalayas have been blessed with some of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites and Yamunotri is one such. One of the Char Dhams according to Hindu mythology, Yamunotri is the origin of the sacred river Yamuna. Famous for its thermal springs and glaciers, it is one of the most important stopovers on the itinerary of the Hindu pilgrim. According to an old legend, Asit Muni, the revered sage, used to reside here.

Location and Climate
Perched at an altitude of 3293 meters above sea level, Yamunotri is located in the Uttarkashi district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. It is very close to the Indo-Chinese border and is surrounded by the Himalayan offshoots on all sides. Yamunotri, lies near the Bandarpunch Mountain, which is 6315 m high and lies to the north. The glacial lake of Saptarishi Kund, on the Kalind Parbat, at an altitude of 4421 m, is the real source of the Yamuna River. Yamunotri is at a distance of 278 km from Dehradun, 236 km from Rishikesh, 176 km from Chamba, and 21 km from Sanya Chatti. It remains cool even during summers. The winters are snow-bound and temperatures fall below 0°C. One is advised to carry light or heavy woolens depending on the time of visit.

The first stopover for the Char Dham Yatra is the westernmost shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, it is perched atop a flank of the Bandar Poonchh peak (3165 mts. above sea level) and is situated opposite to Gangotri. The shrine attracts devotees in large numbers from May to October.

Yamunotri is the source of the revered river Yamuna which originates from the Champassar Glacier lying 1 km ahead of the shrine, at an altitude of 4421 mts. Pilgrims do not frequently visit the source of the river as it is not easily accessible.

Yamunotri finds a special mention in the Hindu mythology. According to a legend, this secluded hilly spot was the home of an ancient sage, Asit Muni.

Among the major attractions of Yamunotri are hot water springs nearby. Devotees prepare rice and potatoes to offer at the shrine, by dipping them in these hot water springs, tied in muslin cloth.

The trek to Yamunotri is spectacular, dominated by a panorama of rugged peaks and dense forests.

From Rishikesh, a 213 kms. journey by road takes one to Hanumanchatti. From here, the remaining 13 kms. trek is covered on foot or on ponies. Palanquins and Porters are also available on hire.


Prime Pilgrimage Attractions
Yamunotri Temple
The main temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The present temple was built by Maharani Guleria of Jaipur in the late nineteenth century. Once destroyed by an earthquake, it has been rebuilt. A holy dip in the nearby tank filled by hot springs and cooking rice in its water are common rituals performed by the devotees.

Surya Kund
One of the important thermal springs known for its very high temperature of 190°F. Pilgrims cook rice and potatoes here to offer to the deity in the temple.

Divya Shila
A huge rock pillar venerated before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

Hanumanchatti
The confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna rivers forms the starting point for the scenic Dodi TaL Trek.

Sayanachatti
A scenic spot along the banks of river Yamuna that makes a lovely sight enroute the trek upto Yamunotri.

Chamba
A sylvan spot on way to Tehri that offers an excellent view of the Himalayan peaks. Situated at an altitude of 1,676 mts., Chamba is an ideal summer retreat.

Accessibility
Airport
Jolly Grant, 196 kms. from Yamunotri via Dehradun
Rail
Rishikesh, 213 kms. & Dehradun, 172 kms.
Road
Dharasu, 107 kms. Tehri, 149 kms. Rishikesh, 213 kms.& Dehradun, 172 kms

Source: http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/chardham/yamunotri.html

Yamunotri

Yamunotri
Altitude : 3165 mts
Climate : Summer-Cool during the dayy and cold at night.
Winter - Snow bound. Touching sub-zero.
Clothing : April to July - Light woollens
Language : Hindi, Garhwali & English

The Sacred Origin Of the Yamuna
The Garhwal Himalayas have been blessed with some of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites and Yamunotri is one such. One of the Char Dhams according to Hindu mythology, Yamunotri is the origin of the sacred river Yamuna. Famous for its thermal springs and glaciers, it is one of the most important stopovers on the itinerary of the Hindu pilgrim. According to an old legend, Asit Muni, the revered sage, used to reside here.

Location and Climate
Perched at an altitude of 3293 meters above sea level, Yamunotri is located in the Uttarkashi district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. It is very close to the Indo-Chinese border and is surrounded by the Himalayan offshoots on all sides. Yamunotri, lies near the Bandarpunch Mountain, which is 6315 m high and lies to the north. The glacial lake of Saptarishi Kund, on the Kalind Parbat, at an altitude of 4421 m, is the real source of the Yamuna River. Yamunotri is at a distance of 278 km from Dehradun, 236 km from Rishikesh, 176 km from Chamba, and 21 km from Sanya Chatti. It remains cool even during summers. The winters are snow-bound and temperatures fall below 0°C. One is advised to carry light or heavy woolens depending on the time of visit.

The first stopover for the Char Dham Yatra is the westernmost shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas. Dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, it is perched atop a flank of the Bandar Poonchh peak (3165 mts. above sea level) and is situated opposite to Gangotri. The shrine attracts devotees in large numbers from May to October.

Yamunotri is the source of the revered river Yamuna which originates from the Champassar Glacier lying 1 km ahead of the shrine, at an altitude of 4421 mts. Pilgrims do not frequently visit the source of the river as it is not easily accessible.

Yamunotri finds a special mention in the Hindu mythology. According to a legend, this secluded hilly spot was the home of an ancient sage, Asit Muni.

Among the major attractions of Yamunotri are hot water springs nearby. Devotees prepare rice and potatoes to offer at the shrine, by dipping them in these hot water springs, tied in muslin cloth.

The trek to Yamunotri is spectacular, dominated by a panorama of rugged peaks and dense forests.

From Rishikesh, a 213 kms. journey by road takes one to Hanumanchatti. From here, the remaining 13 kms. trek is covered on foot or on ponies. Palanquins and Porters are also available on hire.


Prime Pilgrimage Attractions
Yamunotri Temple
The main temple is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The present temple was built by Maharani Guleria of Jaipur in the late nineteenth century. Once destroyed by an earthquake, it has been rebuilt. A holy dip in the nearby tank filled by hot springs and cooking rice in its water are common rituals performed by the devotees.

Surya Kund
One of the important thermal springs known for its very high temperature of 190°F. Pilgrims cook rice and potatoes here to offer to the deity in the temple.

Divya Shila
A huge rock pillar venerated before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

Hanumanchatti
The confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna rivers forms the starting point for the scenic Dodi TaL Trek.

Sayanachatti
A scenic spot along the banks of river Yamuna that makes a lovely sight enroute the trek upto Yamunotri.

Chamba
A sylvan spot on way to Tehri that offers an excellent view of the Himalayan peaks. Situated at an altitude of 1,676 mts., Chamba is an ideal summer retreat.

Accessibility
Airport
Jolly Grant, 196 kms. from Yamunotri via Dehradun
Rail
Rishikesh, 213 kms. & Dehradun, 172 kms.
Road
Dharasu, 107 kms. Tehri, 149 kms. Rishikesh, 213 kms.& Dehradun, 172 kms

Source: http://www.pilgrimage-india.com/chardham/yamunotri.html

Gangotri

Gangotri is a town and a nagar panchayat in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi. It is on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,042 m.

Gangotri Temple
Gangotri templeGangotri, the source of the river Ganga and seat of the goddess Ganga, is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The river is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name Ganga from Devprayag onwards where it meets the Alaknanda. The origin of the holy river is at Gaumukh, set in the Gangotri Glacier, and is a 19 km trek from Gangotri. Gangotri can be reached in one day's travel from Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun, or in two days from Yamunotri, the first site in the Char Dham circuit. More popular and important than its sister site to the east, Gangotri is also accessible directly by car and bus, meaning that it sees many more pilgrims than Yamunotri.

This small town is centered around a temple of the goddess Ganga, which was built by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the late 18th or early 19th century. The temple is closed on Diwali day every year and is reopened in May. During this time, the idol of the goddess is kept at Mukhba village, near Harsil.

Ritual duties are supervised by the Semwal family of pujaris. The aarti ceremony at the Gangotri is especially impressive, as is the temple, a stately affair that sits on the banks of the rushing Ganga. Adventurous pilgrims can make an overnight 18 km trek to Gaumukh, the actual current source of the river Ganga.


Bhagirathi River at GangotriFor a large number of tourists, Gangotri town serves as the starting point of the Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapovan and Gangotri-Kedartal trekking routes.

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga - the daughter of heaven, took the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Bhagirath's predecessors, following his severe penance of several centuries. Lord Shiva received Ganga into his matted locks to minimize the impact of her fall.

According to this legend, King Sagar, after slaying the demons on earth decided to stage in Ashwamegh Yagya as a proclamation of his supremacy. The horse which was to be taken on an uninterrupted journey around the earth was to be accompanied by the King's 60,000 sons born to Queen Sumati and one son Asmanjas born of the second queen Kesani. Indra, supreme ruler of the gods feared that he might be deprived of his celestial throne if the 'Yagya' (worship with fire) succeeded and then took away the horse and tied it to the ashram of Sage Kapil, who was then in deep meditation. The sons of the King Sagar searched for the horse and finally found it tied near the meditating sage. Sixty thousand angry sons of King Sagar stormed the ashram of sage Kapil. When he opened his eyes, 60,000 sons had perished by the curse of sage Kapil. Bhagirath, grand son of King Sagar, is believed to have meditated to bring down the Ganga to cleanse the ashes of his ancestors and liberate their souls, granting them salvation or Moksha. The Bhagirathi 'Shila' is located near the temple of Ganga where the holy Ganga first descended on earth from heaven.

Bhavishya Badri Temple
Dense forests near Tapovan surround the Bhavishya Badri. The Bhavishya Badri is at a distance of about 17 km. east of Joshimath. Pilgrims trek beyond Tapovan up the Dhauliganga River to reach this holy spot. The idol of narsingha (the god with the head of lion) is enshrined here. Traditionally, it is believed that a day will come when the present route to the Badrinath will be inaccessible and the Lord Badrinath will be worshipped here and this is why the place is called Bhavishya Badri.

Soruce: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangotri

Gangotri

Gangotri is a town and a nagar panchayat in Uttarkashi district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is a Hindu pilgrim town on the banks of the river Bhagirathi. It is on the Greater Himalayan Range, at a height of 3,042 m.

Gangotri Temple
Gangotri templeGangotri, the source of the river Ganga and seat of the goddess Ganga, is one of the four sites in the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The river is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name Ganga from Devprayag onwards where it meets the Alaknanda. The origin of the holy river is at Gaumukh, set in the Gangotri Glacier, and is a 19 km trek from Gangotri. Gangotri can be reached in one day's travel from Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun, or in two days from Yamunotri, the first site in the Char Dham circuit. More popular and important than its sister site to the east, Gangotri is also accessible directly by car and bus, meaning that it sees many more pilgrims than Yamunotri.

This small town is centered around a temple of the goddess Ganga, which was built by the Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the late 18th or early 19th century. The temple is closed on Diwali day every year and is reopened in May. During this time, the idol of the goddess is kept at Mukhba village, near Harsil.

Ritual duties are supervised by the Semwal family of pujaris. The aarti ceremony at the Gangotri is especially impressive, as is the temple, a stately affair that sits on the banks of the rushing Ganga. Adventurous pilgrims can make an overnight 18 km trek to Gaumukh, the actual current source of the river Ganga.


Bhagirathi River at GangotriFor a large number of tourists, Gangotri town serves as the starting point of the Gangotri-Gaumukh-Tapovan and Gangotri-Kedartal trekking routes.

According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga - the daughter of heaven, took the form of a river to absolve the sins of King Bhagirath's predecessors, following his severe penance of several centuries. Lord Shiva received Ganga into his matted locks to minimize the impact of her fall.

According to this legend, King Sagar, after slaying the demons on earth decided to stage in Ashwamegh Yagya as a proclamation of his supremacy. The horse which was to be taken on an uninterrupted journey around the earth was to be accompanied by the King's 60,000 sons born to Queen Sumati and one son Asmanjas born of the second queen Kesani. Indra, supreme ruler of the gods feared that he might be deprived of his celestial throne if the 'Yagya' (worship with fire) succeeded and then took away the horse and tied it to the ashram of Sage Kapil, who was then in deep meditation. The sons of the King Sagar searched for the horse and finally found it tied near the meditating sage. Sixty thousand angry sons of King Sagar stormed the ashram of sage Kapil. When he opened his eyes, 60,000 sons had perished by the curse of sage Kapil. Bhagirath, grand son of King Sagar, is believed to have meditated to bring down the Ganga to cleanse the ashes of his ancestors and liberate their souls, granting them salvation or Moksha. The Bhagirathi 'Shila' is located near the temple of Ganga where the holy Ganga first descended on earth from heaven.

Bhavishya Badri Temple
Dense forests near Tapovan surround the Bhavishya Badri. The Bhavishya Badri is at a distance of about 17 km. east of Joshimath. Pilgrims trek beyond Tapovan up the Dhauliganga River to reach this holy spot. The idol of narsingha (the god with the head of lion) is enshrined here. Traditionally, it is believed that a day will come when the present route to the Badrinath will be inaccessible and the Lord Badrinath will be worshipped here and this is why the place is called Bhavishya Badri.

Soruce: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangotri

Statistics of Uttarkhand State

Statistics State symbols
State animal - Musk Deer
State bird - Monal
State tree - Rhododendron
State flower - Brahma Kamal
Total Geographical area: 51,125 km²
Hill Area: 92.57%
Plain Area: 7.43%
Area Covered By Forest: 63%
Location
Longitude 77° 34' 27" East to 81° 02' 22" E
Latitude 28° 53' 24" North to 31° 27' 50" N
Total Population: 8,479,562 (2001 Census)
Male to Female Ratio: 1000 : 964
Male: % 50.9
Female: % 49.1
Literacy Rate: 72%
Villages: 15620
Cities and Urban Areas: 81
Railway Stations:
Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Haldwani, Lalkuan, Kathgodam, Ramnagar, Roorkee, Tanakpur, Laksar
Airports: Jolly Grant, Pantnagar, Nainisain, Gauchar (Helipad)
Major Peaks: (height in metres above sea level) Nanda Devi (7816), Kamet (7756), Badrinath (7140), Chaukhamba (7138), Trishul (7120), Dunagiri (7066), Panchchuli (6910), Nanda Kot (6861), Gangotri (6614), Gauri Parvat (6590) Major Passes Mana La (5450), Niti La (5070), Lipu Lekh pass (5122), Lumpia Dhura (5650)
Industry
Tourism, Hydroelectric Power, Dairy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Sugar, Manufacturing, and other small scale industries.
Famous Temples in Uttarakhand
Bheem Shankar Mahadev Mandir (Shringar View), KashipurRudreshwar Mahadev Temple near Sanara, Golu Devta Temple, Nanda Devi Mandir, Binsar Mahadev Temple, Bhoomiya Devta Temple, Badri Kedar, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedar Temple near Masi, Bheem Shankar (Moteshwar)Mahadev, (Kashipur), Purnagiri(Tanakpur), Jageswar(Almora), Devidhura temple(barahi mata) Champawat
Festivals
Uttarani, Nanda Devi Mela, Holi, Diwali, Dasara, Kandali, Hilljatra, Bikhoti, Bagwal, Harela, Ghugutee, Khirsu Gwarh (Mela) Events Sardotsav, Basantotsav, Nanda Devi Raj Jat, Chipla Kedar Jaat, Kedarnath Yatra, Badrinath Yatra, Kumbh Mela, Ardh Kumbh Mela, Ramleela, Uttarakhand Mahotsav (Dehradun), Mahashivatri Fair at Rudreshwar Mahadev Temple
Trade Centers
Haldwani, Rudrapur, Roorkee, Tanakpur, Dehradun, Haridwar, Kotdwara, Rishikesh, Kashipur
source: wikipedia.org

Statistics of Uttarkhand State

Statistics State symbols
State animal - Musk Deer
State bird - Monal
State tree - Rhododendron
State flower - Brahma Kamal
Total Geographical area: 51,125 km²
Hill Area: 92.57%
Plain Area: 7.43%
Area Covered By Forest: 63%
Location
Longitude 77° 34' 27" East to 81° 02' 22" E
Latitude 28° 53' 24" North to 31° 27' 50" N
Total Population: 8,479,562 (2001 Census)
Male to Female Ratio: 1000 : 964
Male: % 50.9
Female: % 49.1
Literacy Rate: 72%
Villages: 15620
Cities and Urban Areas: 81
Railway Stations:
Kotdwara, Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Haldwani, Lalkuan, Kathgodam, Ramnagar, Roorkee, Tanakpur, Laksar
Airports: Jolly Grant, Pantnagar, Nainisain, Gauchar (Helipad)
Major Peaks: (height in metres above sea level) Nanda Devi (7816), Kamet (7756), Badrinath (7140), Chaukhamba (7138), Trishul (7120), Dunagiri (7066), Panchchuli (6910), Nanda Kot (6861), Gangotri (6614), Gauri Parvat (6590) Major Passes Mana La (5450), Niti La (5070), Lipu Lekh pass (5122), Lumpia Dhura (5650)
Industry
Tourism, Hydroelectric Power, Dairy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Sugar, Manufacturing, and other small scale industries.
Famous Temples in Uttarakhand
Bheem Shankar Mahadev Mandir (Shringar View), KashipurRudreshwar Mahadev Temple near Sanara, Golu Devta Temple, Nanda Devi Mandir, Binsar Mahadev Temple, Bhoomiya Devta Temple, Badri Kedar, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedar Temple near Masi, Bheem Shankar (Moteshwar)Mahadev, (Kashipur), Purnagiri(Tanakpur), Jageswar(Almora), Devidhura temple(barahi mata) Champawat
Festivals
Uttarani, Nanda Devi Mela, Holi, Diwali, Dasara, Kandali, Hilljatra, Bikhoti, Bagwal, Harela, Ghugutee, Khirsu Gwarh (Mela) Events Sardotsav, Basantotsav, Nanda Devi Raj Jat, Chipla Kedar Jaat, Kedarnath Yatra, Badrinath Yatra, Kumbh Mela, Ardh Kumbh Mela, Ramleela, Uttarakhand Mahotsav (Dehradun), Mahashivatri Fair at Rudreshwar Mahadev Temple
Trade Centers
Haldwani, Rudrapur, Roorkee, Tanakpur, Dehradun, Haridwar, Kotdwara, Rishikesh, Kashipur
source: wikipedia.org