Historical and Geographical introduction of Uttarakhand

Geographical Introduction

Historical and Geographical introduction of Uttarakhand : Uttarakhand, located in the northern part of India, is a Himalayan state with most of its area falling in the Himalayas. Its total geographical area is 53,483 sq km, of which 93% is mountainous and 64% is covered with forest. Some key geographical aspects of Uttarakhand are:

Location and Boundaries

• Located between 28°43′ to 31°27′ N latitudes and 77°34′ to 81°02′ E longitudes
• Bordered by Himachal Pradesh in the northwest, Nepal in the northeast, and Uttar Pradesh in the south
• Has a maximum north-south extent of about 255 km and maximum east-west extent of about 300 km

Physiographic Divisions

Uttarakhand can be divided into following physiographic zones from north to south:

1. The Greater Himalayas: Consists of snow-clad high mountain peaks like Nanda Devi (7,817 m), Kamet (7,756 m), Badrinath (7,138 m), and Kedarnath (6,940 m). It lies to the north of the Great Himalayan range.
2. The Lesser Himalayas: Extends from the Great Himalayan range in the north to the Shivalik range in the south. Consists of beautiful valleys like Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri, Gangotri, etc. and hill ranges like Nag Tibba, Bandarpoonch, etc.
3. The Shivalik Range: Forms the southern boundary of the state. It is the outermost and geologically youngest range of the Himalayas with altitude varying between 300-1,500 m.
4. The Tarai Region: Comprises of flat alluvial plains created by rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, etc. Rich agricultural lands ideal for growing crops like rice and sugarcane.

Drainage

• Main rivers flowing through the state are Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Kali, Kosi and their tributaries.
• These rivers originate from glaciers in the Greater Himalayas.
• The rivers have carved beautiful valleys and gorges in the Lesser Himalayas.

Climate

• Varies from alpine in the snow-bound Greater Himalayas to temperate in middle Himalayas and sub-tropical in Shivaliks and Tarai plains.
• Winter temperatures can go below freezing point in higher reaches while summer temperatures can exceed 40°C in lower plains.
• Average annual rainfall also varies widely from region to region, ranging from about 2,000 mm in outer Himalayas to less than 1,000 mm in rain-shadow inner Himalayan valleys.

Natural Vegetation

• Alpine pastures and meadows in higher Himalayas.
• Coniferous forests (deodar, pine, fir, spruce, etc.) in middle hills.
• Deciduous forests (sal, teak) in Shivaliks.
• Thorny bushes, scrub forests and tall grasses in Tarai region.

This covers some of the major geographical aspects of Uttarakhand. Next, we look at the historical introduction.

Historical Introduction

Uttarakhand has a very rich history and culture spanning several millennia. Some key historical aspects are highlighted below:

Earliest Inhabitants

• Earliest inhabitants were probably tribal hunter-gatherer societies who practiced animism and nature worship.
• They spoke archaic forms of Tibeto-Burman languages. Remnants survive as minority tribal groups like Tharus, Jaunsaris, Bhotiyas, etc.

Advent of Aryans

• Advent of Aryan people in Uttarakhand happened around 2000 BCE to 1000 BCE.
• They introduced elements of Vedic Hindu culture, practices and Sanskritic languages.

Mahabharata References

• Several places in Uttarakhand like Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, etc. find mention in the Hindu epic Mahabharata composed between 400 BCE to 400 CE.

Buddhist and Jain Period

• Many Buddhist monasteries and shrines came up between 6th century BCE to 11th century CE indicating strong Buddhist cultural influence. Important sites – Kushinagar (Kapileshwar), Guptakashi, etc.
• Jainism also flourished under the Chand kings who ruled parts of Kumaon during 11th and 12th centuries CE.

Medieval Period

• Parts of Garhwal and Kumaon were ruled by Katyuri kings (7th century CE onwards), Chand kings (11th century CE onwards) who built temples and promoted arts.
• Temple building activity continued under the Panwar rulers of Garhwal (9th to 18th century CE).

Gurkha and British Rule

• Gurkhas from Nepal captured Kumaon and Garhwal during late 18th and early 19th century.
• The British defeated the Gurkhas and took over these territories between 1815 to 1817.

Uttarakhand State

• Uttarakhand emerged as the 27th state of India on 9th November 2000 after struggle of several decades.

This gives a broad historical outline. More details on different periods are given in the following sections.

Historical and Geographical introduction of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand is a scenic Himalayan state with geographic diversity and a rich ancient culture and history. This article presented an introduction to the state covering some key aspects of its geography and history.

FAQ’s on Historical and Geographical introduction of Uttarakhand :

What is Uttarakhand’s geography like? 

Uttarakhand is located in the Himalayas and contains mountain peaks, glaciers, dense forests, and many river valleys.

When was Uttarakhand established as a state?
Uttarakhand became the 27th state of India on November 9th, 2000 after separation from Uttar Pradesh.

Who were some important rulers of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions? 

Key rulers included the Panwar dynasty, Chand dynasty, Parmars, Raikas and Gurungs in the Kumaon region and the Parmars, Panwars, Chands in the Garhwal region.

What religions are practiced in Uttarakhand? 

The main religions are Hinduism (majority), Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity.

What are some key aspects of Uttarakhand’s culture? 

Important cultural elements include music and dance forms like Jaagar, Chhopati, Chounphula, music of the Bhotiyas, local festivals, cuisine, architecture and costumes.