List of Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand Compile by "Pankaj Negi"

List of Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand

Explore Jim Corbett's life and times - "Pankaj Negi"

The Uttarakhand government will launch an adventure tourism package next week to give the visitors an experience of the life and times of the legendary hunter Jim Corbett.

Corbett Heritage Tourism Package is a move by the tourism department’s initiative to promote eco-tourism in Uttarakhand, State Tourism Minister Madan Kaushik told Hindustan Times on Sunday.

It would become a regular feature on the tourism package offered by the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam for tourists visiting Nainital, the minister said in a conversation over phone from Haridwar.

Following a formal launch of the Corbett Heritage Tourism Package by the KMVN, private hoteliers in Nainital would also be encouraged to market the (Corbett Heritage Tourism) package in their respective tourism offerings, he said.

"The move would provide the tourists a much-needed option for excursion in a beautiful but small hill station like Nainital, where they (tourists) get bored within days of their arrival as the area has on offer only a limited number of sightseeing spots," Kaushik said.

KMVN’s Regional Tourism Manager, DK Sharma said that as part of the day-long Corbett tour package, tourists would get to visit almost all the spots associated with the legendary hunter in Nainital.

It would cover both of Corbett’s summer home (Nainital) and his erstwhile village, Chhoti Haldwani in Kaladhungi besides all the spots associated with the famed hunter-conservationist that are located on the 35-km long hilly, Nainital-Kaladhungi highway."

As per the itinerary planned for tourists, they would leave Nainital for Corbett’s village (Choti Haldwani) early morning while halting on the way, frequently, to enjoy sightseeing at various places, said KMVN’s Manager, Adventure Tourism, Girdhar Manral.

Identifying some of these sightseeing spots as Sarita Tal, Khurpa Tal and the famous Corbett Fall. Also included is a particular spot favoured by the hunter himself between Nainital and Choti Haldwani.

After reaching Chhoti Haldwani, however, tourists would be taken to the Corbett Museum, housed in his quaint, beautifully built heritage bungalow, where they would get to watch a whole array of precious memorabilia associated with the man, who is still remembered as a "saviour" by the hill folk of Uttarakhand.

The reason: Corbett risked his own life by shooting a number of big cats that used to prowl and attack the locals of the area.

An interesting feature of the package, according to officials, would be visitors’ interaction with the senior citizens of Choti Haldwani.

"This interaction, for sure, would be a memorable and thrilling experience for tourists as some of the senior citizens of that village are contemporaries of Corbett. They will narrate to visitors a number of unknown tales relating to the legendary figure about whom the world today knows only through his beautifully penned shikar tales," said Manral.

Besides, visitors would also get to have a look at a rare vintage piece, a rifle Corbett had gifted to his fellow villagers long before he left for Kenya," said Sharma.

Today, the rifle is the most precious possession of the residents of that tiny village (Choti Haldwani)."

The hunter’s summer home at Nainital, Gurney House, may be off bounds for tourists as the present owners may not allow entry into their residential premises now.

Uttarakhand/Uttaranchal Travel Tips - "Pankaj Negi"

MDLR launches flights to Dehradun
MDLR airlines announced the launch of direct flight services to dehradun from 4-june-2008. The airline operates 70-seater Avro Jets that will complete the journey in 35 minutes and will operate Monday to Saturday. It has also announced free air tickets for all passengers traveling to dehradun during the inaugural week; they will only have to pay the airport taxes of Rs. 2375 as applicable. MDLR presently flies on the Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Ranchi-Kolkata and Delhi-Dharamshala routes.


Travel Uttrakhand with India's Fastest Train - Shatabdi Express
The Shatabdi Express trains in India connect India's capital New Delhi with various state capitals, which lie within a distance reachable in 5-6 hrs. Each of these superfast trains depart from originating station early morning, reaching the destination by around midday. After a 30-minute to 1-hr stop over, it returns to its originating station, which it reaches by evening. The New Delhi - Bhopal Shatabdi Express is the fastest train in India, reaching a speed of 150 kmph. The first of the shatabdi express train was introduced in 1988. The year happened to be the birth centenary of India's first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. "Centenary" translates into shatabdi in Hindi. Hence the name
Dehradun Shatabdi Timings:
New Delhi Railway Station-Dehradun (06:50-12:40)
Dehradun-New Delhi Railway Station (17:00-22:45)
Days : Run on all days
Classes : 1A and CC
Online Booking : http://www.indianrail.gov.in

Uttarakhand - "Pankaj Negi"

The term Uttarakhand , meaning "northern tract" or "higher tract," refers to the Himalayan districts of Uttar Pradesh, between the state of Himachal Pradesh to the west and Nepal to the east. It contains the eight districts of the Kumaon and Garhwal divisions. The main local languages are Kumaoni, Garhwali, and Pahari ("mountain"), a language of the Indo-Aryan family. The language of the elite, business, and administration is Hindi.

The Uttarakhand movement is motivated by regional factors along with economic factors stemming from its particular geography. There is no protest against the dominance of Hindi in education and administration in the state. As regards religion, the population of the hills is almost entirely Hindu, like the large majority of Uttar Pradesh. The influx of outsiders has not become an issue; indeed, the problem has rather been the need for natives of the region to leave it.

The residents of hill districts have felt themselves lost in the large state of Uttar Pradesh and their needs ignored by the politicians more concerned with wider regional issues. There has been almost no development of industry or higher education, although the 1962 border war with China resulted in some infrastructure development, particularly roads, which also were extended to make the more remote pilgrimage sites more accessible.

Men of the region are forced to leave their families in the hills and seek employment in the plains, where they mostly find menial positions as domestic servants, which they consider undignified and inappropriate to their caste. Students must also go to the plains for higher education. All find the heat of the lowlands very oppressive.

The major potential in Uttarakhand for hydroelectric power from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers and for tourism has not been developed, locals feel. Springs, which are essential for drinking and irrigation water, have been allowed to dry up. The particular needs of hill agriculture have been ignored. The plains produce grain primarily, whereas fruit growing is more promising in the hills. On the other hand, adjacent Himachal Pradesh, which consists of Himalayan districts formerly in Punjab or in associated princely states, became a state in 1948. Himachal Pradesh is geographically and culturally quite similar to Uttarakhand and has enjoyed satisfying progress in power generation, tourism, and cultivation. Some administrators observe that small states such as Himachal Pradesh can make more rapid progress just by virtue of being smaller, so that the problems are less overwhelming and local needs are not lost.

Uttarakhand at a Glance : "Pankaj Negi"

Date of creation of Uttarakhand : 9-11-2000
Uttarakhand Capital : Dehradoon
International Boundries with Uttarakhand : China and Nepal
Uttarakhand State boundries : UP & Himanchal Pradesh
Uttarakhand High Court : Nainital
Uttarakhand State Flower : Brahma Kamal
Uttarakhand State Tree : Rhododendron (Buransh)
Uttarakhand State Animal : Musk Deer (Kasturi Mrig)
Uttarakhand State Bird : Monal
Uttarakhand Population (2001 Census) : 84.89 Lakhs
Uttarakhand Men : 43.26 Lakh
Uttarakhand Women : 41.63 Lakh
Uttarakhand Gender ratio : 964 : 1000
Uttarakhand Population density : 159 / sq km
Uttarakhand Geographical area : 53,483 Sq Km
Uttarakhand Forest cover : 35,394 Sq Km
Uttarakhand Districts : 13
Uttarakhand Total villages (Census 2001) : 16,826
Uttarakhand Town Corporation : 1
Uttarakhand Municipal corporation : 31
Uttarakhand Lok Sabha Constituencies : 5
Uttarakhand Rajya Sabha Constituencies : 3

Critical Statistics
Uttarakhand Male Literacy Rate(%) 84
Uttarakhand Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (Rs.‘000) 23
Uttarakhand Rural Market Size (Rs. Billion, in 2004) 141
Uttarakhand Average Number of Births Per Women 3.6
Uttarakhand Girls Per Thousand Boys (0-6 year) 906
Uttarakhand Work Participation Rate (%) 37
Uttarakhand Household Not Getting Two Square Meals a Day (%) 3
Uttarakhand Female Literacy Rate (%) 61
Uttarakhand Pupil Teacher Ratio (Elementary Education) 35
Uttarakhand Urban Market Size (Rs. Billion, in 2004 68
Uttarakhand Households with Two Wheelers (%) 12
Uttarakhand Households with Televisions (%) 43

Garhwali Folk Music

Chhopati
These are the folk songs popular in the Rawain - Jaunpur area of Tehri Garhwal. 'Chhopati' are the love songs sung between men and women in the form of questions and answers.

Chounphula and Jhumeila
"Chounphula and Jhumeila" are among seasonal dances, that are performed from 'Basant Panchami' onwards to 'Sankranti' or Baisakhi'. 'Jhumeila' is sometimes mixed but is usually restricted to women. 'Chounphula' is performed by all sections of the community, at night, in groups, by men and women. 'Chounphula' folk songs are composed for the appreciation of nature on various occasions. Chounpala, Jhmeila and Daryola folk songs all derive their names from the folk dances of the same nomenclature.

Basanti
"Basanti” folk songs are composed for the coming spring season when flowers bloom and new life springs in the valleys of the hills of Garhwal. The folk song is sung individually or in groups.

Mangal
Mangal songs are sung during marriage ceremonies. These songs are basically "Puja Songs" (hymns) sung along with the Purohits (Panditjee/priests) who keep chanting "Shlokas"(verses) in Sanskrit according to the Shastras (scriptures) during the marriage ceremony.

Puja Folk Songs
These songs are connected with the Puja (worship) of family deities. There are other Puja songs connected with 'Tantra' and 'Mantras ' to exorcise evil spirits from human beings.

Jaggar
Jaggar falls in the category of ghost and spirit worship, in the form of a folk song or, at times, combined with dances. Sometimes, Jaggar may also be in the form of Puja folk songs and is sung in honour of the various Gods and Goddesses.

Bajuband
This is a folk song of love and sacrifice among the shepherds. It is a love dialogue between a man and woman, or, between a boy and girl.

Khuded
These folk songs depict the suffering of a woman caused by separation from her husband. The women curse the circumstances under which she has been separated. This is generally when the husband is away looking for a job. 'Laman', another folk song is sung on special occasions, expressing the sacrifice that a man is willing to undergo for his beloved. 'Pawada' also belongs to this category of folk songs, when sorrow is felt when the husband has gone to the battle field.

Chhura
'Chhura' folk songs are sung among shepherds, in the form of advice given by the old to the young, learnt from their experience, particularly about grazing sheep and goats.

Garhwali Dance Forms

Langvir Nritya
This is an acrobatic dance and is performed by the men folk only. In this dance, a long bamboo pole is fixed at a place. The dancer-acrobat climbs to the top of this pole and then balances himself on his stomach on the top. Under the pole, a band of musicians play the 'Dhol' and 'Damana', while the dancer rotates on the top of the pole, performing other feats with his hands and feet. This dance is popular in the Tehri Garhwal region.

Barada Nati
The Barada Nati folk dance is a popular dance of the Jaunsar Bhawar area of Chakrata Tehsil in Dehradun district. The folk dance is performed on the eve of some religious festivals or on the occasion of some social functions. Both boys and girls take part in the dance dressed in colourful traditional costumes.

Pandav Nritya
The Pandav Nritya, which is related to the story of the Mahabharata, has been very popular, particularly in the Garhwal region. Pandavas Nritya is nothing but a simple narration of the story of the Mahabharata in the form of dance and music. It is mostly enacted on the occasion of 'Dussehra' and Diwali. Pandavas Nritya is popular in Chamoli district and Pauri Garhwal.