Uttaranchal became the 27th state of India on November 9, 2000. Uttaranchal borders Tibet in the north-east and Nepal to the south-east, while its neighboring states are Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Capital of Uttaranchal is Dehradun which is also the rail-head in the region. The High Court is situated in the district of Nainital. The region is also known as Uttarakhand.

Uttaranchal has traditionally been divided into two parts, the eastern region going by the name of Kumaon and the western half known as Garhwal. The native people of Uttaranchal call themselves Paharis (hill people), the majority of whom are Hindus. Other ethnic communities in the region include Gujjars and Nepalis.

Uttaranchal, being a part of the Himalayas, is a region of outstanding natural beauty. Most of the northern part of the state are covered by the high Himalayan ranges and glaciers, while the lower reaches are densely forested. The unique Himalayan ecosystem plays host to a large number of animals (including bharal, snow leopards, leopards and tigers), plants and rare herbs. Two of India's mightiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna take birth in the glaciers of Uttaranchal, and are fed by innumerable lakes, glacial melts and streams in the region.

The tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy of Uttaranchal, with the Raj era hill-stations at Mussorie, Almora, Ranikhet and Nainital being some of the most frequented destinations. To this region also belong some of the holiest Hindu shrines, and for almost 2000 years now pilgrims have been visiting the temples at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath in the hope of salvation and purification from sin. Recent developments in the region include initiatives by the state government to capitalize on the burgeoning tourist trade. The state also plays host to some of the worst conceived big-dam projects in India such as the huge Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi-Bhilangana rivers, under construction since 1953.

Major Peaks: Gauri Parvat (6590), Gangotri (6614), Panch Chhuli (6910), Nanda Devi (7816), Nanda Kot (6861), Kamet( 7756), Badrinath (7140), Trishul (7120), Chaukhamba (7138), Dunagiri (7066)

Major Passes: Mana (5450), Nitipass (5070), Lipulekh( 5122), Lumpia Dhura (5650)

Districts: Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Chamoli, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Pauri

Railway Stations: Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Lalkuan, Kathgodam, Tanakpur

Airports: Pant Nagar, Nainisaine, Jolly Grant

Industry: Tourism, Dairy, Agriculture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Sugar and other small scale industries

Festivals: Uttarani, Nanda Devi Mela, Holi, Diwali, Dasara, Kandali, Hilljatra, Bikhoti, Bagwal, Harela, Ghugutee

Events: Sardotasv, Basantotsav, Nanda Devi Rajjaat, Chipla Kedar Jaat, Kedarnath Yatra, Badrinath Yatra, Kumbh Mela, Ardh Kumbh Mela, Ramleela

Trade Centers: Haldwani, Rudrapur, Tanakpur, Dehradun, Haridwar, Kotdwar, Rishikesh