Uttarakhand - abode of the gods (Devbhumi), becomes the 27th states of India on November 9, 2000 formed from the hill districts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand the name of the state was officially changed from Uttaranchal in January 2007.
Uttarakhand has three divisions Garhwal, Kumaon and Tarai. Main Districts of Garhwal division are Dehradun, Hardwar, Pauri, Tehri, Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag. Kumaon districts are Nainital, Almora, Bagehswar, Pithoragarh, Champawat. Hardwar and Uddam Singh Nagar are considered as Tarai area.
In modern India Uttrakhand is also known for a birthplace of Chipko Andolan ( Environmental Movement to save Tree) and Tehri Dam - big-dam projects, controversial and often criticized in India on Bhagirathi - Bhilangana rivers.
Mainly three languages are spoken in Uttarakhand are Hindi, Garhwali and Kumaoni . As per 2001 census 85% of Uttarakhand population is Hindu, 10.5% are Muslims, Sikhs (2.5%) , around 0.5% from Christians, Jain and Bhuddists. Initially there were only three casts of Hindu in Uttarakhand, Brahmin, Rajput and Shilpkar. Brahims were mainly into education and religious rituals in temples, Rajput were in jamindari and law enforcement. Shilpkar were mainly working for Brahmins and Rajputs.
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