India North India
North India
North India is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from Tibet and Central Asia. It includes the Indian states: Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. North India has been the historical center of the Maurya, Gupta, Maratha, Mughal and British Indian Empires. It has a diverse culture, and includes the Hindu pilgrimage centers of Char Dham, Haridwar and Varanasi, the Buddhist Mahabodhi Temple and the Muslim pilgrimage destination of Ajmer, as well as world heritage sites such as the Valley of flowers, Khajuraho, Bhimbetka Caves, Qutb Minar and the Taj Mahal.
Jammu and Kashmir, formerly a part of the erstwhile princely state of Kashmir and Jammu, this territory is disputed among China, India and Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir is referred to in Pakistan as Indian-occupied Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir consists of three regions: Jammu, the Kashmir valley and Ladakh. Srinagar is the summer capital, and Jammu, its winter capital. While the Kashmir valley, often known as Paradise on Earth, is famous for its beautiful mountainous landscape, Jammu's numerous shrines attracts tens of thousands of Hindu and Muslim pilgrims every year. Ladakh, also known as "Little Tibet", is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and Buddhist culture.The Punjab is a cultural region straddling the border between Punjab (Pakistan) and Punjab (India). The so-called "five waters" are the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Sutlej, and the Beas. Indian Punjab has as its capital the city of Chandigarh and Pakistani Punjab has Lahore as its capital. Wagah often called the "Berlin wall of Asia", is a ceremonial border on the India–Pakistan Border where each evening there is a retreat ceremony called 'lowering of the flags lies on the Grand Trunk Road between the cities of Amritsar, India and Lahore, Pakistan. The Harmandir Sahib (popular known as Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab is a major pilgrimage destination for Sikhs from all over the world.
Haryana. The name Haryana means the Abode of God from Sanskrit Hari (the Hindu God Vishnu) and ayana (home), although it may also refer to the lush green landscape of the state (from Sanskrit harit meaning green). Haryana was the cradle of the Indus Valley and Vedic Civilizations, both flourishing on the banks of the now lost Sarasvati River. Several decisive battles were fought in the area, including the epic battle of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra . Haryana is also one of the most economically developed regions in South Asia is India's largest manufacturer of passenger cars, two-wheelers, and tractors. The city of Gurgaon has rapidly emerged as a major hub for the information technology and automobile industries.
Himachal Pradesh. The literal meaning of Himachal Pradesh is Region of snowy mountains. Himachal Pradesh was also known as Deva Bhumi (the land of the gods). After the State of Himachal Pradesh Act 1971, Himachal emerged as the 18th state of the Indian Union. Himachal has many prestigious boarding schools. The economy of the state is highly dependent on three sources: hydroelectric power, tourism and agriculture. Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh & the Queen of hills is a must visit, along with other hill stations like Kufri, Naldehra, Fagu and Mashobra. Trekking, angling or just enjoying the enchanting views. Dalhousie offers enigmatic view of the snow capped Himalayan range. Dharamshala hill station offers the magnificent view of snow covered Dhauladhar peaks.
Uttaranchal (formally known as Uttarakhand),was carved out of Himalayan and adjoining districts of Uttar Pradesh in 2000, becoming the 27th state of the Republic of India. The provisional capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun which is also a rail-head and the largest city in the region. The small hamlet of Gairsen has been mooted as the future capital owing to its geographic centrality but controversies and lack of resources have led Dehradun to remain provisional capital.