Garhwal ( ; ) is one of the two administrative divisions of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Lying in the Himalayas, it is bounded on the north by Tibet Autonomous Region of China on the east by Kumaon, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the northwest by Himachal Pradesh state. It includes the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, and Uttarkashi.
The people of Garhwal are known as Garhwali and speak the Garhwali language. The administrative centre for Garhwal division is the town of Pauri. The Divisional Commissioner is the administrative head of the Division, and is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer. As the administrative head of the division, the Commissioner is overall incharge of the 7 districts in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, and is aided in his duties by an additional commissioner and the district magistrates. Vinay Shankar Pandey is the current divisional commissioner of the Garhwal Division.
History
Initially settled by Kols, the region witnessed successive waves of Kiratas, Khasas, and Indo-Sythians. Kunindas were the first rulers of the region.
The Garhwal Himalayas appear to have been a favourite locale for the voluminous mythology of the Puranic period. The traditional name of Garhwal was Kedarkhand means "the land of Kedarnath", and Garhdesh. Excavations have revealed that it formed part of the Mauryan Empire.
The earliest reference regarding Garhwal and its pride spots are cited in the Skanda Purana and the Mahabharata in the Van Parva. Skanda Purana defines the boundaries and extend of this holy land. It also finds mention in the 7th-century travelogue of Huen Tsang. However, it is with Adi Shankaracharya that the name of Garhwal will always be linked, for the great 8th-century spiritual reformer visited the remote, snow-laden heights of Garhwal, established a Joshimath and restored some of the most sacred shrines, including Badrinath and Kedarnath.
The history of Garhwal as a unified whole began in the 15th century, when king Ajai Pal merged the 52 separate principalities, each with its own garh or fortress. For 300 years, Garhwal remained one kingdom, with its capital at Srinagar (on the left bank of Alaknanda river). Then Pauri and Dehradun were perforce ceded to the Crown as payment for British help, rendered to the Garhwalis during the Gurkha invasion, in the early 19th century.
The earliest ruling dynasty of Garhwal known is of the Katyuris. The Katyuri Raja of Uttarakhand (Kumaon and Garhwal) was styled 'Sri Basdeo Giriraj Chakara Churamani'. The earliest traditions record that the possessions of Joshimath Katyuris in Garhwal extended from Satluj as far as Gandaki and from the snows to plains, including the whole of Rohilkhand. Tradition gives the origin of their Raj at Joshimath in the north near Badrinath and subsequent migration to Katyur Valley in Almora district, where a city called Kartikeyapura was founded. It was India's worst natural disaster insofar as death toll since the 2004 tsunami.
Culture
People
The people of the Garhwal Divison primarly inhabit the Himalayan region and maintain a lifestyle closely linked to the natural environment they are considered to be of Indo-Aryan descent tracing thiere origin to the ancient Himalayan communities of the area .Thiere economy is largely based on agriculture animal husbandry, And the sustainable use of local resources. Daily life in the region includes terrace cultivation, cattle rearing, livestock management, and pastrol practices. A majority of the people are involved in the agriculture, tourism and the defence industry.
Cuisine
The traditional cuisine of Uttarakhand, particularly the Garhwal region, is characterised by its simplicity, nutritional balance, and reliance on locally available resources, encompassing a wide range of distinctive dishes such as Mandua ki Roti, Jhangora, and Chaulai as staple foods; prominent preparations including Kafuli, Phanu, Chainsoo, Dubuk, Thechwani, Thichwani, Aloo ke Gutke, Gahat (Kulath) ki Dal, Kandali ka Saag, and Urad Dal; rice-based items like Jhangora ki Kheer; accompaniments such as Bhang ki Chutney and Til ki Chutney; traditional snacks and confectioneries including Singori, Arsa, Gulgula, and Rotana.
thumb|190px|Home made Arsa
sweets like Singhal; as well as seasonal and foraged foods including Lingda, Timur Chutney, further complemented by other notable yet often overlooked regional dishes such as Kapa, Phaanda, Jholi, Sana Hua Nimbu, and Baadi, collectively reflecting a culinary tradition that emphasises millet-based diets, lentils, leafy greens, minimal use of spices, and slow cooking techniques adapted to the Himalayan environment.
Folk Dance
The Garhwal region of Uttarakhand possesses a rich and diverse tradition of folk dances that embody its cultural heritage, spiritual beliefs, and community life. Prominent among these is Langvir Nritya, an acrobatic performance demonstrating exceptional balance and physical skill Pandav Nritya, a ritualistic dance-drama derived from narratives of the Mahabharata and Thadiya and Jhumelo, graceful group dances primarily performed by women during seasonal festivals, symbolising joy and social harmony. Tandi represents collective participation through circular formations, while Barada Nritya is characterised by its slow, synchronised movements. The Ramman tradition, originating from Saloor-Dungra village and associated with the Ramman festival, has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Additionally, Dhuyal Nritya reflects semi-ritualistic community practices, Ranbhut Nritya commemorates ancestral warrior spirits through dramatic expression, and Chhopati Nritya serves as a social medium for interpersonal expression through song and dance. Bhotiya Nritya illustrates the cultural life of Himalayan communities, while Chaufula is performed during festive occasions with an emphasis on collective celebration. Collectively, these dance forms represent the continuity of traditional knowledge, social cohesion, and the vibrant cultural identity of the Garhwal region.
Art and Craft
Ringaal art of Garhwal is a traditional bamboo craft practiced in the Himalayan region of Garhwal division in Uttarakhand, known for its ecological sustainability and cultural significance. It utilises Ringaal, a species of dwarf Himalayan bamboo that grows abundantly in mid-altitude forests and is valued for its flexibility, strength, and durability. Historically, this craft has been an integral part of rural life, providing essential household and agricultural items such as baskets, storage containers, winnowing trays, and carriers for firewood and fodder. The production process involves harvesting bamboo, splitting it into fine strips, and skilfully weaving it into functional and decorative forms using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Ringaal products are lightweight, biodegradable, and well-suited to the mountainous terrain and lifestyle of the region. The craft also reflects the self-reliant economy of Garhwali communities, where locally available resources are efficiently utilized. In recent years, Ringaal art has gained recognition for its eco-friendly attributes and potential in sustainable design and handicraft markets. Notably, it was granted a Geographical indication (GI) tag, acknowledging its unique origin and traditional knowledge system. Thus, Ringaal art represents a harmonious blend of cultural heritage, environmental sustainability, and rural craftsmanship.
thumb|200px|Women carrying Ringaal Basket in Uttarakhand.
Demographics
Languages
Native to million people, Hindi has official status and is widely used in administration and education. Garhwali, spoken by about million people as of the 2011 census, is the majority language in all but the two southern districts of Haridwar and Dehradun, where the language with the largest proportion of speakers according to the census was Hindi. Other languages with large numbers of speakers are Urdu (, mostly in Haridwar and Dehradun), Jaunsari ( people mostly in the Jaunsar–Bawar region of Dehradun), Nepali ( speakers, with the largest concentration in Dehradun), and Punjabi (, mostly in Dehradun).
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible "
|- valign=top
! colspan=11| Garhwal division: mother-tongue of population, according to the 2011 Indian Census.
|- valign=top
! rowspan=2 | Mother tongue code
! rowspan=2 | Mother tongue
! colspan=7 | District
! colspan=2 | Garhwal division
|- valign=top
! Uttarkashi
! Chamoli
! Rudraprayag
! Tehri Garhwal
! Dehradun
! Garhwal
! Hardwar
! | People
! | Percentage
|- valign=top
|| 002007 || Bengali
| align=right | 839
| align=right | 472
| align=right | 102
| align=right | 813
| align=right | 9,258
| align=right | 435
| align=right | 3,708
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 15,627
| align=right | 0.3%
|- valign=top
|| 006102 || Bhojpuri
| align=right | 1,128
| align=right | 1,348
| align=right | 371
| align=right | 3,427
| align=right | 14,805
| align=right | 1,020
| align=right | 3,201
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 25,300
| align=right | 0.4%
|- valign=top
|| 006195 || Garhwali
| align=right | 266,621
| align=right | 350,667
| align=right | 228,916
| align=right | 560,020
| align=right | 285,563
| align=right | 572,792
| align=right | 14,638
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 2,279,217
| align=right | 38.9%
|- valign=top
|| 006240 || Hindi
| align=right | 24,035
| align=right | 19,956
| align=right | 10,167
| align=right | 37,092
| align=right | 1,014,363
| align=right | 91,360
| align=right | 1,649,529
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 2,846,502
| align=right | 48.6%
|- valign=top
|| 006265 || Jaunpuri/Jaunsari
| align=right | 3,066
| align=right | 59
| align=right | 22
| align=right | 6,046
| align=right | 126,098
| align=right | 126
| align=right | 88
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 135,505
| align=right | 2.3%
|- valign=top
|| 006340 || Kumauni
| align=right | 425
| align=right | 3,719
| align=right | 172
| align=right | 861
| align=right | 18,597
| align=right | 4,645
| align=right | 1,805
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 30,224
| align=right | 0.5%
|- valign=top
|| 006439 || Pahari
| align=right | 7,190
| align=right | 95
| align=right | 9
| align=right | 250
| align=right | 5,199
| align=right | 21
| align=right | 417
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 13,181
| align=right | 0.2%
|- valign=top
|| 014011 || Nepali
| align=right | 7,162
| align=right | 5,394
| align=right | 1,444
| align=right | 5,876
| align=right | 56,281
| align=right | 8,289
| align=right | 1,055
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 85,501
| align=right | 1.5%
|- valign=top
|| 016038 || Punjabi
| align=right | 958
| align=right | 433
| align=right | 83
| align=right | 541
| align=right | 56,927
| align=right | 1,377
| align=right | 15,570
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 75,889
| align=right | 1.3%
|- valign=top
|| 022015 || Urdu
| align=right | 1,317
| align=right | 563
| align=right | 155
| align=right | 622
| align=right | 64,762
| align=right | 2,860
| align=right | 182,536
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 252,815
| align=right | 4.3%
|- valign=top
|| 031001 || Bhotia (also called "Jad")
| align=right | 1,124
| align=right | 6,201
| align=right | 9
| align=right | 5
| align=right | 276
| align=right | 16
| align=right | 10
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 7,641
| align=right | 0.1%
|- valign=top
|| 115008 || Tibetan
| align=right | 20
| align=right | 5
| align=right | 0
| align=right | 9
| align=right | 9,892
| align=right | 8
| align=right | 16
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 9,950
| align=right | 0.2%
|- valign=top
| align=center | –
|| Others
| align=right | 16,201
| align=right | 2,693
| align=right | 835
| align=right | 3,369
| align=right | 34,673
| align=right | 4,322
| align=right | 17,849
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 79,942
| align=right | 1.4%
|- valign=top class=sortbottom
| colspan=2 | Total
| align=right | 330,086
| align=right | 391,605
| align=right | 242,285
| align=right | 618,931
| align=right | 1,696,694
| align=right | 687,271
| align=right | 1,890,422
| align=right style="background: #ffffcc" | 5,857,294
| align=right | 100.0%
|-
|}