States PCS: Uttarakhand GK for UKPSC Exams

Notes:
Kafni Glacier is situated in Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region. It lies in the upper Kumaon Himalayas at about 3,850 meters altitude. The glacier sources the Kafni River, a tributary of the Pindar River, part of the Ganga river system. Bageshwar town is the primary access point for treks to the Kafni Glacier.

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 Bal Ganga River is a tributary of the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand. It flows through the Tehri Garhwal region before meeting the Bhagirathi. The Bhagirathi is one of the main headstreams of the Ganga. The Bal Ganga contributes to the Bhagirathi’s flow in the upper Ganga basin.

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 Chipko Movement began in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in the early 1970s. It started near villages like Mandal and Gopeshwar. Local villagers, led by Chandi Prasad Bhatt, embraced trees to stop commercial logging. This movement was an early example of grassroots environmental activism in India.

Notes:
Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve includes Nanda Devi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uttarakhand. It is recognized for its high-altitude Himalayan landscapes and rare species. Rajaji and Corbett National Parks are tiger reserves but not UNESCO heritage sites.

Notes:
Sahastradhara Falls near Dehradun, Uttarakhand, is known for its sulphur-rich springs. The water contains dissolved sulphur from limestone layers underground, giving it therapeutic properties.

Notes:
Tawaghat is located near the confluence of the Kali and Dhauliganga rivers in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. It lies directly on the traditional Indian route to Kailash Mansarovar via the Lipulekh Pass, making it the closest among the listed places to the India-Tibet border and Kailash Mansarovar. Other places are farther from this approach route.

Notes:
Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple is in Srinagar, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand. It is among the oldest temples and one of the five Maheshwar Piths of the Himalayas. The temple is near Srinagar’s main market, about 140 km from Rishikesh. It contains idols of Lord Shiva and Adi Shankaracharya and holds religious significance in the Garhwal region.

Notes:
The Jagar ritual involves invoking gods and ancestor spirits through singing and drumming. It is traditionally practiced in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand, especially in Kumaon and Garhwal. This ritual is linked to the folk religion of Uttarakhand and not customarily observed in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, or Assam.