Page 46 - ParentsWorld June 2020

he state of Uttarakhand (pop. 10.4 million) is sacred rivers, including the Ganges, which originates in
arguably India’s most high-potential tourism Gaumukh in the far north of the state and winds its way to
destination. Carved out of the mammoth state the plains through the pilgrimage centres of Rishikesh and
Tof Uttar Pradesh (pop. 215 million) in 2000, Haridwar.
this quaint and charming Himalayan state, initially called Richly endowed with natural splendour, Uttarakhand
Uttaranchal and renamed in 2006, attracts over 35 million offers tourists panoramic vistas of the Himalayan ranges.
domestic and foreign tourists annually. Spread over an area Snow-capped peaks, magnificent glaciers, pilgrimage cen-
of 53,483 sq. km, of which nearly 93 percent is mountain- tres including the char dhams — the four most sacred and
ous and 63 percent under forest cover, Uttarakhand (‘Land revered Hindu temples (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri
of the North’) encompasses the hill regions of Garhwal and Yamunotri) — rich cultural traditions, hill stations and
and Kumaon. Blessed with rolling hills and snow-covered a cool and invigorating climate make this state an idyllic
mountains, it is nourished by some of Hinduism’s most destination for stressed visitors from the plains. Planned