Uttarakhand formerly known as Uttaranchal is often referred to as the Devabhumi (‘Land of the Gods’) due to a large number of Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Dehradun is the capital and the largest city in Uttarakhand. It borders Tibet to the north, the Sudurpashchim Pradesh of Nepal to the east, the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west as well as Haryana on its south-western corner.
Uttarakhand formerly known as Uttaranchal is often referred to as the Devabhumi (literally “Land of the Gods”) due to a large number of Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Dehradun is the capital and the largest city in Uttarakhand.
It borders Tibet to the north, the Sudurpashchim Pradesh of Nepal to the east, the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west as well as Haryana on its south-western corner.
Uttarakhand’s name is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘uttara’ meaning ‘north’, and ‘khaṇḍa’ meaning ‘land’. The name finds mention in early Hindu scriptures as the combined region of “Kedarkhand” (present day Garhwal) and “Manaskhand” (present day Kumaon). Uttarakhand was also the ancient Puranic term for the central stretch of the Himalayas.