Uttarakhand, often referred to as the 'Land of the Gods' (Dev Bhoomi), is a state in northern India known for its Hindu pilgrimage sites. Rishikesh, a major center for yoga study, was made famous by the Beatles’ 1968 visit. The city hosts the evening Ganga Aarti, a spiritual gathering on the sacred Ganges River. The state's forested Jim Corbett National Park shelters Bengal tigers and other native wildlife. The region is also well known for its many hill stations, such as Nainital and Mussoorie, and for its alpine vegetation and glaciers. Uttarakhand is a place of myth and mountains. Hindus think of it as Dev Bhoomi – the Land of Gods – and the dramatic terrain is covered with holy peaks, lakes and rivers. Twisting roads and high-altitude hiking trails lead to spectacular pilgrimage sites where tales from Hindu epics are set. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. Besides pilgrimage tourism, the state is also known for adventure activities like trekking, rafting, and mountaineering.
