Uttarakhand, often called the "Land of the Gods" (Devbhumi), is a state in Northern India renowned for its Himalayan beauty and Hindu pilgrimage sites.
General Information
* Establishment Year: November 9, 2000, as the 27th state of India, carved out of Uttar Pradesh. It was initially named Uttaranchal and renamed Uttarakhand in January 2007.
* Borders:
* North: Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
* East: Nepal.
* South: Uttar Pradesh.
* North-West: Himachal Pradesh.
* Population (as per 2011 Census): 10,116,752.
* Languages Spoken:
* Official Languages: Hindi and Sanskrit.
* Principal Spoken Languages: Hindustani (a mix of Hindi and Urdu), Garhwali (Pahari language), and Kumaoni (Pahari language). Other languages include Jaunsari and Punjabi.
* Religion (as per 2011 Census):
* Hinduism: ~82.97%
* Islam: ~13.95%
* Sikhism: ~2.34%
* Other minor religions include Christianity, Buddhism, and Jainism.
Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand: List and Tenure
| Chief Minister | Joined Date | Left Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nityanand Swami | 09 November 2000 | 29 October 2001 |
| Bhagat Singh Koshyari | 30 October 2001 | 01 March 2002 |
| Narayan Dutt Tiwari | 02 March 2002 | 07 March 2007 |
| Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri | 07 March 2007 | 26 June 2009 |
| Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank | 27 June 2009 | 10 September 2011 |
| Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri | 11 September 2011 | 13 March 2012 |
| Vijay Bahuguna | 13 March 2012 | 31 January 2014 |
| Harish Singh Rawat | 01 February 2014 | 27 March 2016 |
| Harish Singh Rawat | 21 April 2016 | 22 April 2016 |
| Harish Singh Rawat | 11 May 2016 | 18 March 2017 |
| Trivendra Singh Rawat | 18 March 2017 | 10 March 2021 |
| Tirath Singh Rawat | 10 March 2021 | 04 July 2021 |
| Pushkar Singh Dhami | 04 July 2021 | Incumbent (Re-elected March 2022) |
President's Rule Imposed
The state of Uttarakhand has been under President's Rule (Article 356) Two Times in a single political crisis in 2016:
* First Instance: From 27 March 2016 to 21 April 2016 (25 days).
* Second Instance: From 22 April 2016 to 11 May 2016 (19 days).
The President's Rule was imposed due to a political crisis involving a rebellion by Congress MLAs, leading to the collapse of the Harish Rawat government.
Famous Places and Products
Uttarakhand is well-known globally and nationally, primarily for its natural beauty, pilgrimage sites, and biodiversity.
Famous Places
| Category | Famous Places (Worldwide/India) | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Pilgrimage/Religious | Char Dham (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri), Haridwar (Kumbh Mela site), Rishikesh (Yoga Capital of the World). | Source of major rivers (Ganga and Yamuna), most revered Hindu pilgrimage circuit. |
| National Parks/Wildlife | Jim Corbett National Park | India's oldest national park, famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger. |
| Natural/Adventure | Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Auli (skiing destination), Dehradun, Mussoorie, Nainital (Lake District of Kumaon), Chopta. | Stunning floral diversity, major hill stations, and adventure tourism hubs. |
Famous Products
* Pahari Traditional Products: Uttarakhand is known for promoting organic products and traditional crafts.
* Woolen Handicrafts: Items like Thulma (a type of woolen blanket/shawl), Pankhi (woolen shawls), and traditional carpets.
* Ayurvedic and Herbal Products: Due to its rich medicinal flora, the state is a source of various medicinal plants and ayurvedic preparations.
* Basmati Rice: High-quality Basmati rice is grown in the Doon Valley (Dehradun region).
* Ringal Handicrafts: Products made from Ringal (a local dwarf bamboo) like baskets, mats, and household items.
