Uttarakhand (English: /ˌʊtəˈrɑːkʌnd/),[14] officially the State of Uttarakhand, formerly known as Uttaranchal,[15] is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Devbhumi (literally "Land of the Gods")[16] due to a large number of Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabhar and the Terai. On 9 November 2000, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India, being created from the Himalayan and adjoining northwestern districts of Uttar Pradesh.[17] It borders Tibet to the north; the Sudurpashchim Pradesh of Nepal to the east; the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west as well as Haryana on its south-western corner. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The interim capital of
Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city of the state, which is a railhead. The High Court of tArchaeological evidence supports the existence of humans in the region since prehistoric times. The region formed a part of the Kuru and the Panchal kingdoms (mahajanpads) during the Vedic age of Ancient India. He state is located in Nainital.