Bineshwar Mahadev Temple

Uttarakhand (Hindi: Uttarākhaṇḍ, pronounced [ˈʊt̪ːəɾaːkʰəɳɖ], lit. 'Northern Land'), also known as Uttaranchal (English: ; the official name until 2007), is a state in northern India. It shares international boundaries with Tibet to the north and Nepal to the east, while the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh border it to the west and south, respectively. Uttarakhand has a total area of 53,483 km2 (20,650 sq mi), equal to 1.6 per cent of the total area of India. Dehradun serves as the state winter capital, with Bhararisain being the summer capital and Nainital being the judicial capital. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The state is renowned for its mountainous terrain, with the Himalayas covering most of its area and serving as the source of several major river systems. Uttarakhand's history dates back to prehistoric times, with archaeological evidence indicating early human habitation in the region. During the Vedic period, it formed part of the ancient Kuru and Panchal kingdoms.