Uttaranchal is a major travel destination for tourists in search of eternal peace, for a change from their usual way of life, to live life on extremes and as pilgrims. If you are planning to tour Uttaranchal, the state is easily accessible by air, rail and road.

Uttaranchal is situated in the northwest portion of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. It occupies 1.73% of India’s total land area with 51,125 sq. km. It has a population of about 6.0 million at 94.4 per sq. km. It borders Tibet, Nepal, Himachal Pradesh, and the UP plains districts. Dehra Dun, the state’ capital is about 255 km away from India's capital, New Delhi.

The region is the melting pot of many ethnic groups and castes. The Jaunsaries, the Bhotias, the Bokshas, the Tharus and the Rajis live side by side in the most cordial manner. Most of the indigenous people are heterodox Hindus and Buddhists, while Sikh migrants from West Punjab have settled in the lowlands since 1947. A few Muslim groups are also native to the area.

The economic viability of the new state is worrying if anything in the present circumstances. Though it is endowed with rich natural resources, it is unable to tap them to its advantages. The result is that about 70% of its population lives under the poverty line as against the national average of 46%. Subsistence agriculture supports about 75% of the population while 71% of the land holdings are less than 1 hectare in size. To put this pathetic state of affairs in perspective, a survey was conducted recently which found that about 80% of the soldiers active at the Kargil front joined the armed forces to escape from the poverty at their home state.

Dividends can be reaped if the various rivers and streams of the state are utilized to produce hydro electricity. A source reveals that the state has the potential of generating about 40,000 MW of hydropower and that is enough to solve the massive power shortage of India to a substantial degree.

The state also holds out promises of becoming an attractive tourist spot. Already the region is raking in about 250 crores in annual earnings. However this sector is not fully exploited. The state definitely needs to invest in creating ski resorts and modern shooing malls to cater to the needs of the enthusiasts of adventure tourism and upscale tourists.

Another area where the state has to get its act together is the agro industries. Commercial production of fruits, medicinal plants and flowers on the lines of Himachal Pradesh will go a long way in boosting its revenue.

By Air
Jolly Grant near Dehradun is the only airport. There are regular flights to Delhi by major Indian airlines. Otherwise, one has the option to travel to Delhi by road or rail and then take the air route to various destinations.

By Rail
Dehradun, Haridwar, and Kathgodam are the major railway stations connected to almost all parts of the country with regular trains. Not many places in the state are connected by rail because of tough terrains. For those planning their vacations in the higher altitudes, trekking and road routes are the only options available.

By Road
All-weather metalled roads connect almost all the important places in the state. Many places in the higher altitudes may still remain off for a period in the year due to landslides and snowfall. National Highways such as 58, 73, 74, and 87 connect places in the state to other parts of the country.