The beautiful state of Uttarakhand, which was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2001, is famous for its breathtaking landscape and an equally enchanting culture.

The state of Uttarakhand is divided into two regions: Garhwal and Kumaon. The Garhwal region lies to the west of the state and consists of Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pauri Garhwal and Rudraprayag. The Kumaon or Kumaun Region is situated in the east side of the state, adjoining the neighboring countries of Nepal and China. The Kumaon region consists of the following districts: Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh and Udham Singh Nagar.

History of Garhwal and Kumaon

The two regions of Garhwal and Kumaon find mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures where the North Country (Uttarakhand) is said to consist of Kedarkhand (present day Garhwal) and Manas Khand (present day Kumaon).

In the medieval period the two kingdoms of Garhwal and Kumaon were ruled by the Chand Kings and the Panwar Kings respectively.