Carved out of the state of Uttar Pradesh, chiefly Uttaranchal consists of two hilly divisions, Kumaon and Garhwal. Hindu legends name this region as Devbhoomi (Land of the Gods) and houses some of the most important pilgrimage sites in the country.

The Kumaon and the Garhwal regions are quite similar in terrain, however they differ in terms of their history, culture and ethnicity. For example, the Garhwal Himalayas finds place in the mythological stories of the Puranic period. The traditional name of Garhwal was Uttarakhand and excavations have revealed that it formed part of the Mauryan Empire. It also finds mention in the 7th-century travelogue of Huen Tsang. However in more recent times, Garhwal came to be associated with Adi Shankaracharya who established the Joshimath and resorted the sacred shrines of Kedarnath and Badrinath.

Kumaon has an equally intriguing history. Certain evidences of stone-age settlements have been found in Kumaon. The paintings in the rock shelter at Lakhu Udyar date back to the Mesolithic period. In the medieval years, Kumaon was the seat of the Katyuri Dynasty between the 7th and 11th centuries. Baijinath near Almora was the capital of the dynasty and a center for art. Temple building flourished under the Katyuris and the main architectural innovation introduced by them was the replacement of bricks with hewn stone.

The earliest historical references to the region are found in the Vedas, paeans to the purity of the Himalayas. Specific mention of the mountains exists in the Mahabharata, dated to about 1000 BC, when the protagonists of the epic, the Pandavas, are said to have ended their life on earth by ascending the slopes of a peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini - literally, the 'Ascent to Heaven'. The epic also mentions this region as the home of the Kirata, Pulinda and Tangara tribes.

Succeeding the Macedonian march across the Himalayan foothills, an imperialist tradition was instituted around 330. AD, by the Gupta's.This was followed by the Vardhanas in the fifth century AD. The ultimate downfall of the Vardhana empire saw the emergence of a number of small principalities controlled by petty chiefs. Subsequently during the time of the Turkish onslaught on the plains. they were subject to change in size and power as additional waves of migration took place.

At Jyotirmath, now Joshimath, he set up an institution of Hindu learning and instruction, a tradition that remains till this day. At Badrinath, he installed the image of Lord Vishnu near the source of the Alaknanda River, and at Kedarnath he chose to enshrine Lord Shiva himself. He died in 820Ad at Kedarnath and his samadhi (memorial) lures thousands of pilgrims till today.

Garhwal today remains a land of myth and legend, where every stone tells a story. Kumaon which lies almost south to the great Himalayan range, is moderate in it's constitution. The lie of its land is gentler in its undulations, its lore more lyrical. What permeates the open valleys is a simpler, singular faith in the presiding deity of Kumaon - Nanda Devi, the goddess of Bliss. The graceful peak of Nanda Devi , is visible from almost everywhere in Kumaon. Nanda Devi who is said to be the reincarnation of Parvati is said to represent the icy, unmoving form of Parvati in endless anticipation of her desired consort, Lord Shiva.

Major Attraction in Uttaranchal:


Gangotri:
Couched in the magnificent Garhwal hills, Gangotri is at an altitude of 3048 meters above sea level. Gangotri is situated in the northernmost part of the state of Uttaranchal and is very near the Indo-Tibetan border. It is approximately 300 km from Dehradun, 250 km from Rishikesh. The most famous site nearby is the Gaumukh (literal meaning, cow's mouth) glacier, which is at an altitude of 4200 meters above sea level. It is the geographical origin of the Ganges and is at a distance of 18 km from Gangotri uphill. The Ganges is called the Bhagirathi here.

Yamunotri:
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. Perched at an altitude of 3293 meters above sea level, Yamunotri is 278 km from Dehradun and 236 km from Rishikesh. The Yamunotri Temple is the major attraction of this site. The temple is dedicated to the river Yamuna, who is represented in the form of a silver idol, bedecked with garlands. According to legend, Yamuna is the sister of Yama, the God of death, and so anyone bathing in the waters of the river is spared a painful death. The glacial lake of Saptarishi Kund, on the Kalind Parbat, nearby at an altitude of 4421 m, is the real source of the Yamuna River.

Rajaji National Park at Chilla is 16 km from Rishikesh. The park (820 sq km) has abundant wildlife and is especially known for its wild elephants.

Govind National Park:
In Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal is Govind National Park, established in 1955. The park spreading over an area of 953 sq. km is popular with tourists for reasons more than one. The wildlife, the snow covered peaks and glaciers, all these make Govind National park a great vacation spot. The wildlife is mainly that of Himalayan Black Bears, Tahr, Serow, Monal, Snow Leopard, Brown Bears Trogopan, Bharal, Musk Deer, Koklas, Kaleej Pheasants and Chukor.

Binsar Sanctuary:
The sanctuary came into being in 1988 with the efforts of locals. Spread in an area of 50 kilometres, the sanctuary is thirty five kilometres from Almora. One of the most beautiful places in Kumaon, the terrain of the place has been formed by running waters on the slopes. The animals and birds found here are generally high altitude living creatures. You will spot Leopards, Civet Cats, Serow, Gharial, Musk Deer, Brown Bear and Pheasants. If you are a keen bird watcher, then come here for Himalayan birds. The flora of the place is also notable. The vegetation mainly consists of mixed deciduous, coniferous sub alpine trees. The best time to be here is February to April both for wildlife spotting and to catch flowers in their full bloom.