States PCS: Uttarakhand GK for UKPSC Exams

Notes:
The Uttarkashi 1991 earthquake in Uttarakhand registered a magnitude of 6.8. It was a significant seismic event in the region.

Notes:
Uttarakhand has 13 districts divided into Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. Tehri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Bageshwar, and Almora are located entirely within the state, bordered only by other Uttarakhand districts, with no international or inter-state boundaries.

Notes:
Dehradun, known as Dehra, is the capital of Uttarakhand located in the Doon Valley. The Doon Valley lies between the Himalayas and the Shivalik Hills. Dehradun hosts state government offices and many national institutions. It is a major administrative, educational, and economic center. The city serves as a gateway to hill stations like Mussoorie and pilgrimage sites such as Haridwar and Rishikesh.

Notes:
Gangotri Glacier, located in Uttarkashi district, is about 30 km long and 2–4 km wide. It is the largest glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas and the source of the Bhagirathi River. Other glaciers like Milam, Kafni, and Sunderdhunga are smaller and located in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Notes:
Badrinath features the Tapt Kund hot spring for ritual bathing. Yamunotri has Surya Kund and Janki Chatti hot springs. Gaurikund, near Kedarnath, contains hot springs for holy baths. Gangotri, a major pilgrimage site on the Bhagirathi River, has no natural hot water springs.

Notes:
Bhimtal Lake is located 22 km from Nainital in Uttarakhand, at 1,350 meters altitude. It covers 118 acres and has a distinctive horseshoe or ‘C’ shape. Bhimtal is the largest lake in the Kumaon region and includes a small island with an aquarium. Its shape contrasts with other nearby lakes like Giritaal, Khurpatal, and Sattal that do not have a horseshoe form.

Notes:
Rupkund is a high-altitude lake in Uttarakhand known for its historical significance. Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed in several sacred water bodies across India, including some in Uttarakhand. The immersion of ashes in holy lakes like Rupkund aligns with the tradition of scattering ashes in sacred places. Other lakes listed do not have recorded evidence of Gandhi’s ashes immersion.

Notes:
Nand Prayag is the confluence of Alaknanda and Nandakini rivers in Uttarakhand. The Alaknanda is a major headstream of the Ganges. Nandakini originates near the Nanda Devi region. This confluence is one of the Panch Prayag sites in the Garhwal Himalayas, significant for Hindu rituals.

Notes:
The Ladhiya River is a right-bank tributary of the Sharda River, which is the downstream continuation of the Kali (Mahakali) River in Uttarakhand and along the India–Nepal border. Therefore, Ladhiya is part of the Kali River system. The Yamuna, Ganga, and Alaknanda belong to different sub-basins of the larger Ganga river system and are not connected to Ladhiya.

Notes:
The Bhojpatra tree (Betula utilis) is native to the Western Himalayas. It grows at altitudes up to 4,500 meters in cold Himalayan regions. Historically, Bhojpatra bark was used as a writing material in ancient India. It is notably found in higher Himalayan areas such as Uttarakhand, where regions like Bhojwasa are named after this tree.