Architecture and History

 

• Uttarakhand better known as Devbhoomi is a recognized for rich Indian culture, history, and natural beauty.

 

• In history a large part of the state has description of the Kuru and the Panchal kingdoms (mahajanpads) during the Vedic age.

 

• It is believed that famous sage Vyas composed the epic of Mahabharata in Uttarakhand.

 

• Various tribal communities - nomadic and those hailing from the Indo-Aryan descent settled in ancient Uttarakhand.

 

• Diversified races of Proto-Australoid, Mongoloid, Nordic races and the Dravidians, have seen settlement flourishing in the state. The ethnic groups like Jaunsari and Bhotias are mixed with other communities in the state.

 

• The houses are built using locally available materials like stone-filled solid platforms and there is an extensive use of wood, which make them earthquake resistant.

 

• The height of these houses is usually 7 to 12 metres above the base. The traditional houses usually have five floors.

 

• Koti Banal style of architecture is a human response to the seismic disturbances in nature, utilizing the potential of the local resources and community knowledge.

 

• Traditionally, people of Kuman prefer to use stones, slate and wood for the construction of their houses.

 

• There are two types of houses found in Uttaranchal. They are :

 

• Row House type
• Independent Single House type.

 

• Some other local architectural features in practice are as follows :

 

• Construction is conducted with maximum sunlight allowed to enter in a long linear pattern.

 

• Solid Structures are placed along the side contour to render minimum disturbance to the terrain.

 

• Stone walls and timber is used for structural supports with slates for roof. At some places, sun-dried bricks are utilized for walls.

 

• Clay and dung used on the exterior walls to utilize its insulation properties to keep the rooms cool in summers and mild warm in winters. Mud paste is used for plastering the inner and outer walls.

 

• Sunshade over windows are made for shading and rain protection, while sloping roofs provide  natural rainwater drainage.

 

• Height of doors and windows are less to contain the interior warmth. Floors are kept low for the same reason.

 

 

Houses in Kumaon Region:

 

 

• The walls are made of stone while the flooring is done with wooden planks or mud to keep them insulated. Slated roof and detailed wooden carvings add design patterns to the buildings.

 

• The buildings give way to an entry called Kholi. The house is divided into two parts on wither side of the stairs starting from the center.

 

• The ground floor, called Goth, is used to keep cattle and storage. The first floor consists of a living room, Chakh, a multi-utility room, Majhala, with a central wooden pillar.

Houses in Garhwal Region:

 

• The houses are near water sources and provide protection from cold winds.

 

• The traditional houses are 2-3 storey high and are rectangular in shape.

 

• The living and cooking areas are higher than the space used to keep cattle and fodder storage.

 

• A balcony in front of the house is an part of the building while the staircase runs through the side of the house.

 

• Construction is done with stone and wood. The floors and ceilings are made with wooden planks and the beams and columns are made of delicately carved timber adding designer patterns.

 

• There are sloping slate roofs supported by wooden structure. These houses have a grain storage area, called the Kothar.

 

• Sumers are buildings that are 7-8 storey high with wooden structures made of timber frame. They act as shelters and watch towers.

 

• The state is known for being prone to landslides and earthquakes. 

 

• There are various styles of temples in Uttarakhand made in wood and stone. Some of the old temples are made with high end technology of laying stones by interlocking technique.

 

Demographic Location

 

 

• The state of Uttarakhand is a land of rocky, hilly and high mountain region. The mountains are snow capped and have scattered population in distant villages.

 

• The state is engulfed by four states. Uttar Pradesh lies towards the south of the state, Himachal Pradesh lies on the west and north west side.

 

• Uttaranchal shares international border with Tibet in north and Nepal in east.

 

• The state has 13 districts spread across Kedarkhand (Garhwal) and Manaskhand (Kumaon) region.

 

• The Great Yamuna and Ganga rivers originate from the higher reaches of the state.

 

• There are about 1439 glaciers in Uttarakhand. Famous glaciers in the state is located in the Nanda Devi range, Dhauliganga range, Kamet range, Gangotri range, Satopanth range and Bandar Poonch range of mountains.

 

• Milam glacier is located in Pithoragarh of Uttarakhand, placed in the valley between peaks of Trishuli and Kohli. The Gori Ganga River, tributary of the River Kali originates from the Milam Glacier.

 

• There are numerous seasonal and rivers from Glaciers in Uttarakhand that takes the water to the plains and ultimately helps in creating the great deltas with fertile alluvial soil.

 

• Some of the well known rives here are :

 

• Ganga from Gangotri Glacier
• Yamuna from Yamnotri Glacier
• Bhagirathi River 
• Alaknanda River
• Bhilangna River
• DhauliGanga River
• Gaula River
• Kali River
• Kosi River
• Mandakini and Nandakini River
• Saryu River and many more seasonal rivers.

 

 

• There are well known peaks, namely

 

• GAUMUKH
• KEDARNATH PEAK
• BHAGIRATHI PEAK
• SHIVLING
• NANDA DEVI EAST
• CHAUKHAMBA
• TRISHUL

 

 

 

Season and Climate

 

 

 

• Uttarakhand is generally sub tropical climate. The high mountains in the state act as natural barriers on the way of the moist winds that blow at high altitude.

 

• During the monsoon season, there is often medium to heavy rainfall.

 

• Uttarakhand has two climatic regions, namely, the hilly terrain and the smaller plain region.

 

• Auli is the coldest place in Uttarakhand. The place is famous for its snowy slopes.  Auli is one of the best ski destinations in India.

 

• Often the western disturbance in the winters bring heavy to very heavy snowfall to the region. The winds from the high altitudes influence the feel like temperature of the nearby plains and plateau regions.

 

• Uttaranchal has 4 major forest types :

 

• Alpine Meadows in the extreme north
• Temperate forests in the Great Himalayas
• Tropical Deciduous forests in the Lesser Himalayas
• Thorn forests in the Siwalik Range and in areas of the Tarai region.

 

• Soil in Uttarakhand is prone to erosion. In the north, the soil is debris from glaciers to stiff clay. In the south, Brown forest soil is gravelly, shallow and rich in organic matter.

 

• The soil cover is thin found on the temperate slopes while southern slopes contain colluvial deposits.

 

 

Culture and Education

 

 

• People are divided into regions and are thus better recognized as Kumaoni (Inhabitants of Kumaon Region) and Garhwali (Inhabitants of Garhwal Region).

 

• Uttarakhand is home to ethnic groups like Bhotias, Jaunsaries, Tharus, Bokshas, and Rajis.

 

• Majority of the people speak native languages like Kumaoni and Garhwali, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi.

 

• A Large number of people in Uttarakhand are Hindus. Some minorities practice Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and Christianity.

 

• Woodwork is a significant art form in Uttarakhand. Paintings from Garhwal School of Paintings and murals like Aipan demonstrate skills of the locals.

 

• The Ringaal Handicraft is famous form of art.

 

• Traditional dress for women in Uttarakhand is Sarong, a mantle-type dress, tightened with a blouse and an Odani and Khorpi.

 

• In the weddings or special occasion, native women are seen wearing the attractive Rangwali Pichora or Ghagra Choli.

 

• Women wear a significantly large nose ring  called nath and necklace during special occasion. Married women wear Rangwali Pichora.

 

• The ancestor spirit worship, Jaagar, is held to wake the Gods and the local deities to solve their problems and shower on them many blessings.

 

• Barada Nati, Bhotiya Dance, Chancheri, Chhapeli, Choliya Dance, Jhora, Langvir Dance, Langvir Nritya, Pandav Nritya, Ramola, Tribal Folk Dances and Jhainta are communal dance forms performed in Uttarakhand.

 

• Women prepare traditional dishes and sing folk songs in festivals.

 

• Some of the more Popular Local Languages in Uttaranchal are :

 

• Hindi
• Kumaoni
• Garhwali
• Jaunsari
• Bhotiya

 

Religion

 

• Hindus
• Sikhs
• Muslims
• Christians

• Jainism

 

Religious Faiths

 

• Shivaism
• Shaktism
• Vaishnavism

• People of Uttaranchal love and enjoy eating Daal, Bhaat, Kafuli, Phaanu, Baadi, Ras, Bhatt Ki Churdkani, Arsa,  Gahat ke Paranthe, Bhang Ki Chutney, Aalu Ka Jhol, Chainsoo, Aalu Gutook, Kumaoni Raita, Sisunak Saag, Thhatwani, Dubuk, Singodi, Jhangora Ki Kheer.

 

• People play Dhol, Damoun, Daur, Dholki, Turri, Bhankora, Ransinghla, Masakbeen to celebrate festive mood and occasion.

 

• Some of the popular fairs and get together are Devidhura Mela, Nanda devi Mela, Ardh Kumbh Mela, Gauchar Mela, Purnagiri Mela,

 

• People celebrate with their faith and belief festival of Harela, Diwali, Basant Panchami, Raksha Bandhan, Ganga Dasseera, Bitauli, Holi, Navratri.

 

Famous Spots

 

 

Garhwal Division Districts

 

• Dehradun
• Haridwar
• Tehri Garhwal
• Uttarkashi
• Chamoli
• Pauri Garhwal
• Rudraprayag

 

 

Kumaon Division Districts

 

• Almora
• Bageshwar
• Champawat
• Nainital
• Pithoragarh
• Udham Singh Nagar

 

 

AquaLife, Flora and Fauna

 

• Almost 150 species of orchids are found in Uttaranchal in North India.

 

• The state is home to some 102 species of mammals, 623 types of avifauna, 124 varieties of fish, 19 types of amphibians and 69 categories of reptiles.

 

• Some of the highly endangered species of animal in Uttarakhand are Asian elephant, snow leopard, tiger, musk deer, Himalayan monal, king cobra and bharal.

 

• The state has 6 wildlife sanctuaries and 6 national parks. The the Corbett National Park was the first national park of India.

 

• Uttarakhand is largely dependent on its agriculture for the revenue. farmers grow here Basmati rice, wheat, soybeans, groundnuts, coarse cereals, pulses, and oil seeds.

 

• Farmers have orchids and gardens growing fruits like apples, oranges, pears, peaches, litchis, and plums.

 

• Animals commonly living in Uttaranchal and Himalayan region are Himalayan Bear, Musk Deer, the wild Goat Ghoral, Blue Goat, Wolves, Snow Leopards and varieties of deer such as Barking Deer.

 

• The vegetation of the state majorly comprises alpine trees and tropical rainforests.

 

• Some of the species of fishes that are found in hilly river water of Uttaranchal are :

 

• Variety of Anglers in Uttarakhand are: Mahaseer, Golden Mahseer, Trout, Goonj, Kalabassu.
• In Garhwal Himalayas: Bhagirathi River, Alaknanda River, Tons, Song, Nayar, Aglar, Amlawa, Yamuna, Dodital.

 

• Wild life Sanctuary in Uttaranchal are :

 

Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary

 

• Birds migrating to this sanctuary are Forktail, Blackbirds, Laughing Thrush, Pheasant, Nuthatches and Monal.
• Some of the animals living here are Barking Deer, Himalayan Bear, leopard, for, musk deer, porcupine, langur, chital, flying squirrel and several others.

 

Pangot And Kilbury Bird Sanctuary

 

• Located in Nainital district.
• Common birds here are Brown Wood Owls, White-Throated Laughing Thrushes, Fork Tails and Collared Grosbeaks.
• Some of the animals and mammals are Leopard Cat, Sambhar, Himalayan Goral, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Red Fox

 

Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary

 

• Tiger Reserve located near Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun
• Wildlife species such as tiger, leopard, Himalayan bear, cheetah, hog deer, barking deer, Nilgai, Goral, Jackal, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Civets, Sloth Bears, Pythons, King Cobra, Common Krait and Monitor Lizard live here.
• There is a river that flows through the sanctuary provides shelter to several species of fish like goonch, chilwa, trout and mahseer.

 

Corbett National Park

 

• Home for Royal Bengal Tiger on the foothills of Himalayan Uttaranchal.

 

• Some of other well known wild life reserve parks are Askot Sanctuary, Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary and Benog Wildlife Sanctuary.