UTTARAKHAND GENERAL INFORMATION
Uttarakhand , earlier known as Uttaranchal, became the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000. Uttarakhand borders Tibet to the north and Nepal to the east, while its neighbor states are Himachal Pradesh to the west and Uttar Pradesh (of which it formed a part before 2000) in the south. The region is traditionally referred to as Uttarakhand in Hindu scriptures and old literature, a term which derives from the Sanskrit for Northern Country or Section. In January 2007, the name of the state was officially changed from Uttaranchal, its interim name, to Uttarakhand, according to the wishes of a large section of its people. The provisional capital of Uttarakhand is Dehra Dun which is also a rail-head and the largest city in the region.
This state is the source of the sacred Ganga river, high in the mountains, and the spiritual and physical life source of India. The mighty Himalaya astraddle the state, on its northern borders, and are widely believed to be throne of Gods. The Gangetic Plains forms three fourth of the state. Along with the holy places of Hinduism, this region has also distinctively shaped the development of Buddhism and Islam. For a traveller, a simple division would be the Hills and the Plains.Uttarakhand is a destination of all season, it has famous hill stations,National Parks, Rivers, Lakes, Pilgrimage places like Chardham, In uttarakhand we have wide scope for adventure enthusiast they have ample places for trekking, mountaineering, river rafting and sikking.

GEOGRAPHY OF UTTARAKHAND
Uttarkhand can be divided in 02 regions, garhwal and kumaon Uttarakhand is a region of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the northern parts of the state are part of Greater Himalaya ranges, covered by the high Himalayan peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills were densely forested till denuded by the British log merchants and forest contractors after independence. Recent efforts in reforestation, however, have been successful in restoring the situation to some extent. The unique Himalayan ecosystem plays host to a large number of animals (including bharal, snow leopards, leopards and tigers), plants and rare herbs. Two of India's mightiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna take birth in the glaciers of Uttarakhand, and are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts and streams in the region.

STATE CAPITAL
Nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Dehradun is the Capital of Uttarakhand. It is one of the most beautiful resort in the submountain tracts of India, known for its scenic surroundings. The town lies in the Dun Valley, on the watershed of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. The name Dehradun is a collection of two word "dera" meaning Camp and "dun" meaning valley. Some of the best public schools and convents are housed here. The Indian Military Academy, The Forest Research Institute, ONGC and many more offices of Central and State Govt. are also situated here.