Uttarkashi is a border hill district in the northern state of
Uttaranchal which holds the grace of having the origin of rivers the
Ganges and
Yamuna. Uttarkashi is also the land of two famous Hindu pilgrimages, namely
Gangotri and
Yamunotri. The total geographical area is around 8,000 sq km. The widely varying climate and topography produce a range of vegetation and serve as habitats to diverse species of wildlife.
The folk dances and songs sung on auspicious occasions exhibit the socio-cultural values found in the region. The folk dance called 'Pandav Nritya’, based on the episodes of the Mahabharata, is popular in the rural areas.
Magh Mela is the most popular fair. Uttarkashi has many temples devoted to different gods and goddesses. The major tourist destinations are
Nachiketa Tal, Banderpunch Peak, Maneri, Gangotri Glacier, Dodi Tal, Char Dham, Bhojbasa, and Dayara Bugyal.
Uttarkashi is connected by road to
Dehradun,
Rishikesh, and Haridwar. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, which is 162 km from the district headquarters, Uttarkashi. The nearest railway station is at Rishikesh.
