Uttarakhand is one of the most beautiful states in India. The province, which sits in the lap of the Himalayas, is known for various hill stations like Nainital, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Ranikhet and Almora. Uttarakhand shares its borders with Tibet on north, Nepal on east and with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the west and south respectively. Ganges and Yamuna, two most revered rivers of India, have their origin in Uttarakhand. It is the land of sky-kissing Himalayan peaks, huge glaciers, bubbly streams, and myriad lakes.
Uttarakhand is also called the "Land of the Gods" (Dev Bhoomi) because of the existence of a large number of Hindu pilgrimage spots. The Pauravas, Kushanas, Kunindas, Guptas, Katyuris, Palas, the Chands, and Parmars and the British have ruled the state. Uttarakhand has a total geographic area of 51,125 sq km, out of which 93% is mountainous and 64% is covered by forest. The province hosts national parks like Jim Corbett National Park, Valley of Flowers, Nanda Devi National Park and Rajaji National Park. Uttarakhand has 13 districts which are grouped into two divisions of Garhwal and Kumaon. Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, is also the largest city in the state.
