Uttarakhand

State of north India, situated at the foot of the Himalayas and bordered by Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh; area 51,125 sq km/19,739 sq mi; population (2001 est) 8,479,600. It was carved from Uttar Pradesh and was incorporated as a state in November 2000. The capital is Dehra Dun. Uttarakhand shares international borders with Nepal and China. Nanda Devi, one of the highest peaks in India at 7,817m/25,645 ft, is located in the Region; many rivers originate in Uttarakhand including the Ganges and Yamuna. The state's principal industry is tourism – an average of 83 million tourists visit the area every year, and Dehra Dun and Mussoorie, with the advantage of a cooler summer climate because of their high altitude, are leading hill resorts. Other industries include forest production, a developing herbal pharmaceutical industry, and hydroelectric power. Grains and horticultural crops such as apple, orange, pear, grapes, peach, plum, apricot, mango, and guava are also produced.

Uttarakhand consists of 13 districts and can be divided into three geographical regions: the high mountain, mid-mountain, and Terai region. Major cities include Haridwar, Almora, Pauri Garwhal, and Teri Garwhal.

The Hindu temples Gangotri, Yamnotrie, Kedarnath, and Badrinath are situated in Uttarakhand. The most sacred literature of Hinduism, the Vedas and Shastras, and The Mahabharath were written here.