What is the Capital of Uttarakhand?

Uttarakhand, carved from Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000, as India's 27th state, is a mountainous northern state known as "Devbhoomi" (Land of the Gods) for its numerous Hindu temples. This state is situated in the Himalayas, and it features two regions—Garhwal and Kumaon, and is renowned for pilgrimages like Char Dham, stunning natural scenery, and adventure tourism. But, do you know what the Capital of Uttarakhand is? Yes, everyone knows that Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand. But, wait…Dehradun is not the only capital of Uttarakhand. Yes, the other one is Gairsain, which is the summer capital of Uttarakhand.

What is the Capital of Uttarakhand?

Uttarakhand has two official capitals. Dehradun is the winter capital, with Gairsain being the summer capital of Uttarakhand. This twin capital structure fulfils the administrative needs in other geographical settings. 

Uttarakhand has two capitals:

• Winter capital- Dehradun (administrative and legislative capital)?

• Summer Capital -Gairsain (Chamoli district). Proclaimed as the summer capital in June 2020.

This dual-capital rule is designed to have a balanced rule in the mountain and the valley areas.

About Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is a state located in northern India with 53,483 sq km, which constitutes 1.6 per cent of the total area of India. There are two divisions of the state, Garhwal and Kumaon, and a total of 13 districts. It borders Himachal Pradesh to the northwest, Tibet to the north, Nepal to the east and Uttar Pradesh to the south.

The Uttarakhand state was established on 27th November 2000, and the state became the 27 th state in the Indian Union.

The state is commonly referred to as Devabhumi, the Land of the Gods, due to its rich religious connotations and dozens of major Hindu pilgrimage attractions, such as Char Dham, Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Kedarnath.

What is the Winter Capital of Uttarakhand?

The winter capital of the Indian state of Uttarakhand and the most populous city is Dehradun. It is the seat of the eponymous district and the seat of the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, which holds its winter sessions in the city, the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.

Dehradun is situated in the north-western end of Uttarakhand, with Uttarkashi on the north, Tehri Garhwal on the east, Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) on the south and Haridwar on the south-west. Its western frontier is with the Sirmur (Nahan) district of Himachal Pradesh, split by the Yamuna and Tons rivers. It is a 3088 sq.km district with an altitude of 640 meters (2100 ft.) above sea level.

What is the Historical Background of Dehradun as the capital of Uttarakhand?

In 2000, the Uttarakhand (then called Uttaranchal until 2008) state was formed when the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000, separated the northwest districts of Uttar Pradesh, and led to the temporary capital of the new state being Dehradun. 

One of the ancient cities in India and the provisional capital since November 2000 is Dehradun. Full of historical interest, cultural richness and natural beauty, Dehradun has been given the name Adobe of Drona and is the centre of administration, education and culture in the region.

Why Was Dehradun Chosen Over Other Cities?

The Dixit Commission was set up by the Uttarakhand government to find a permanent capital for the state. On 17 August 2008, the commission then limited its investigation to five cities, Dehradun, Kashipur, Ramnagar, Rishikesh and Gairsain, and, after a search lasting 8 years, the commission finally submitted its 80-page report to the Uttarakhand Assembly. The commission decided that Dehradun and Kashipur were the right choice given that the interim capital, Dehradun, was a more convenient location than the permanent capital, as it had been located based on criteria like closeness to the national capital, population concentration, and shelter against natural calamities.

Key Facts About Dehradun

What is the Summer Capital of Uttarakhand?

The summer capital of Uttarakhand is Gairsain. It lies in the Chamoli district, which borders the geographical centre of Uttarakhand in the central Himalayan region, and is reachable in the Kumaon and Garhwal divisions.

Gairsain is situated on the east side of the great range of mountains, Dudhatoli and is located in the Chamoli district, almost in the middle of the heart of the state and is about 250 kilometres from Dehradun. It is easily found in the Garhwal division and the Kumaon division and, in a way, forms the connection between the two regions.

Why was Gairsain declared the summer capital?

Gairsain, the capital, has a close relation with the statehood of the Uttarakhand movement. A significant number of activists insisted on having a hill capital as an indicator of the identity of Uttarakhand. Gairsain, the mid-point between Kumaon and Garhwal, took on the symbolism of the hill culture and aspirations of the state.

Gairsain was imagined as the capital of the state in the agitation for statehood. But following the establishment of the state on 9 November 2000, Dehradun was declared the temporary capital of the state. Popular campaigns of the years, hunger strikes and political pressure would have to be satisfied before Gairsain was officially declared the summer capital.

Why does Uttarakhand have two capitals?

To effectively run governance in the various geographical areas and climates, Uttarakhand has two capitals. The capital (Dehradun) in winter is more accessible, and the summer capital (Gairsain) is centrally located within the mountainous region, improving governance in the remote locations. 

This kind of two-capital system is not prevalent in India, and Uttarakhand is unique. It is a representation of not only the convenience of administration being easily accessible in the extreme winters of the Himalayas, but also the cultural fantasy of the hill folk who had difficulties getting a capital that would reflect the true ethos of Uttarakhand.

Important GK Facts About Uttarakhand