Uttarakhand
comprises of the eight hill districts of Uttar Pradesh. In area and population
it equals the state of Himachal Pradesh. The geographical and political limits
of Uttarakhand stand well define today. But in ancient time Uttarakhand was
much more then what is confined within these political boundaries. It was
revered expression for a stretch of land dotted with places of pilgrimage.
Haridwar, which today is outside the political boundaries of Uttarakhnad, but
may again be included in the proposed Uttaranchal state, was the focal point
for this Holy expression. Mansarovar. Tholingmath are all in Tibet or china,
but for the people of yesteryear, these were some of the most important
landmark in Uttarakhand. The term Uttarakhand therefore was an expression of
divinity, austerity, meditation, penance and attainment. It knew no political
or geographical limits and if there were boundaries, they were the lines drawn
between the divinity and humanity. The same Uttarakhnad today is defined, as
said earlier, through the media of geographical and political limits and the
eight districts have the following details:
District
|
Area (Sq. Km )
|
Population ( 1991)
|
1. Chamoli
|
9,125
|
442,000
|
2. Uttarkashi
|
8,016
|
238,000
|
3. Pithoragarh
|
8,856
|
560,000
|
4. Nainital
|
6,794
|
1,585,000
|
5. Almora
|
5,385
|
821,000
|
6. Pauri
|
5,440
|
665,000
|
7. Tehri
|
4,421
|
575,000
|
8. Dehradun
|
3,088
|
1,015,000
|
