State (pop., 2001 prelim.: 8,479,562), northern India.
It is bordered by Tibet (China) and Nepal and the states of Uttar Pradesh , Haryana , and Himachal Pradesh and covers an area of 19,739 sq mi (51,125 sq km); its capital is Dehra Dun. The state lies in the Himalayas , and some of India's highest peaks rise in its northern areas. The upper reaches of the Ganges (Ganga) and Yamuna rivers flow southward through the state. In the south are hill resorts such as Mussoorie, Naini Tal, and Ranikhet. The area now constituting Uttaranchal was a part of Uttar Pradesh state after Indian independence in 1947 until it was made into a separate state in 2000. The population is mostly engaged in agriculture, although tourism is also important.