Land of God: Uttrakhand

Uttarakhand, formerly known as Uttaranchal, a state of India, located in the northwestern part of the country. Its capital is Dehradun; the Northwest city. 

Uttrakhand is bordered by some northern National lands of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh. And to some International lands of Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Nepal.

Area- 19,739 square miles (51,125 square km).

Uttaranchal was carved out of Uttar Pradesh, On the day of November 9 2000, and was given a new name “Uttrakhand”, On the day of January 2007.

Economy of Uttarakhand

Agriculture and forestry

Although roughly three-fifths of the working population of Uttarakhand is engaged in agriculture, less than one-fifth of the total area of Uttarakhand is cultivable. Steep slopes require careful terracing and irrigation, with water drained from the upper levels used to irrigate the lower ones. This method of terrace cultivation allows fields to be sown more than once per year.

Many farmers of Uttarakhand practice animal husbandry. The largest concentration of cattle to support dairy farming is found in the southern foothills. Goats and sheep are more common in the mountainous areas, although some cattle are kept in every village. The search for flourishing grassland has resulted in a tradition of transhumance, whereby livestock are led to graze in the mountain pastures during the warmer months but are transferred to the lower elevations for the winter. Some communities in the Siwalik Range historically have specialized in such seasonal herding.

Crops

Wheat is the most widely cultivated crop, followed by rice and various types of millets, which are planted on the drier leeward slopes.

Sugarcane is grown extensively in the gently rolling foothills of the southern region.

Other important crops include pulses (legumes) such as peas and chickpeas, oilseeds such as soybeans, peanuts, and mustard seeds, and assorted fruits and vegetables.

 

Plant and animal life

Four major forest types are found in the Uttarakhand, including alpine meadows in the extreme north, temperate forests in the Great Himalayas, tropical deciduous forests in the Lesser Himalayas, and thorn forests in the Shiwalik Range and in parts of the Tarai. According to official statistics, more than 60 percent of Uttarakhand is under forest cover; in actuality, however, the coverage is much less. The forests provide not only timber and fuelwood but also extensive grazing land for livestock. Only a small portion of the state’s total land area has permanent pastures.

Plants and Trees

Common tree species of the temperate forests include Himalayan cedar (Deodar cedar), Himalayan (blue) pine, oak, silver fir, spruce, chestnut, elm, poplar, birch, yew, cypress, and rhododendron. Tropical deciduous forests of sal, teak, and shisham—all hardwoods—occur in the submontane tract. Thorn forests of dhak (a type of flowering tree), babul (a type of acacia), and various bushes occur in the south.

Animals

Uttarakhand has a rich array of animal life. Tigers, leopards, elephants, wild boars, and sloth bears are among the state’s large mammals. Common birds include pigeons, doves, ducks, partridges, peacocks, jays, quail, and woodpeckers. Crocodiles are found in some areas. Lions and rhinoceroses have become extinct in the region. A number of national parks and sanctuaries have been established to preserve Uttarakhand’s wildlife.

 

Tourism

The top ten of them are:

Haridwar
Auli
Nanital
Mussoorie
Rishikesh
Munsiyari
Chakrata
Harsil
Almora
Jim Corbett National Park

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