Origins of Uttarakhand: a brief overview

Uttarakhand is referred as "Devbhumi" or "Land of the Gods", due to the large number of Hindu pilgrimage sites located here. Uttarakhand is home to the Char Dham pilgrimage sites, which are some of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. The Uttarakhand region was originally a part of the larger state of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, the Uttarakhand state was created out of the northwestern districts of Uttar Pradesh. The name Uttarakhand is derived from the Sanskrit words uttara meaning "north" and khaṇḍa meaning "land" or "region". The region has a long history, with evidence of human habitation dating back to the Stone Age. It was also the home of several ancient civilizations, such as the Kunindas, the Katyuris, and the Panchalas. Later, the region was ruled by the Maurya and Gupta empires. More>>