History Of Uttarakhand
The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in northern India has a rich, varied, and profoundly spiritual past. Known as “Devbhumi” (Land of the Gods), Uttarakhand has been the site of significant pilgrimage routes, strong kingdoms, and ancient sages. An outline of its historical evolution is provided below:
The Ancient Era
Vedic Era (c. 1500–500 BCE): The Rigveda, Mahabharata, and Skanda Purana are among the ancient Hindu writings that make reference to Uttarakhand. It was a component of the Manaskhand and Kedarkhand region.
It is stated that sages and rishis such Adi Shankaracharya, Valmiki, and Vyasa meditated here.
The significance of mythology
It is thought that the area (Swargarohini) is where the Pandavas made their last trek (Mahaprasthana).
Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are among the significant pilgrimage sites that have been around for thousands of years.
The Medieval Era
The first significant kingdom to control a sizable portion of modern-day Uttarakhand was the Katyuri kingdom (7th–11th century CE). Baijnath, in the Kumaon area, served as their capital. The Baijnath Temple is one among the numerous temples they constructed.
After the Katyuris fell, the Chand Dynasty (11th–18th century CE) came to power in Kumaon. Almora became a center of culture after the Chands moved the capital there.
Garhwal Kingdom (9th century–1803): The Panwar (Parmar) dynasty ruled the Garhwal Kingdom, which arose in the western region. The term “Garhwal” comes from the 52 forts (garh) that made up the region.
⚔️ Contemporary Era
Gorkha Invasion (1791–1815): For about 24 years, the Gorkhas of Nepal invaded and conquered major portions of Garhwal and Kumaon.
British Rule (1815–1947): Kumaon and portions of Garhwal were given to the British by the Treaty of Sugauli (1815), which was signed following the Anglo-Nepalese War.
The United Provinces oversaw the administration of Kumaon and Garhwal.
Under the British, hill towns like Nainital and Mussoorie grew.
Post-Independence Period (1947–2000)
Uttarakhand stayed a part of Uttar Pradesh after independence, but as regional inequalities increased and hill regions were neglected, calls for a separate state grew.
Uttarakhand Movement (1990s): Students, activists, and residents spearheaded a large-scale movement calling for statehood. The 1994 Rampur Tiraha firing, in particular, heightened the movement.
The establishment of Uttarakhand (2000)
Created: Uttarakhand became the 27th state of India on November 9, 2000, when it was separated from Uttar Pradesh.
In 2007, it was formally renamed Uttarakhand after having previously been known as Uttaranchal.
📍 Today
Capitals are Gairsain (summer legislative capital) and Dehradun (winter).
renowned for its spiritual legacy, trekking, yoga, biodiversity, natural beauty, and the Char Dham Yatra.