State Symbols of Uttarakhand

Part of: Uttarakhand Polity Notes · See also: Uttarakhand GK

Uttarakhand state symbols: the full list

The table gives each symbol, its name and the year or order behind it. Also, learn the scientific names, because examiners use them as options.

Symbol	Name	Details
State emblem (seal)	Mountain peaks, four streams of the Ganga, Ashoka lion capital, Satyameva Jayate	Adopted at formation in 2000
State animal	Musk deer (Kasturi Mrig), Moschus chrysogaster	2001
State bird	Himalayan monal (Munal), Lophophorus impejanus	2001
State tree	Burans (Buransh), Rhododendron arboreum	2001
State flower	Brahma Kamal, Saussurea obvallata	2001
State butterfly	Common Peacock, Papilio bianor	2016
State sport	Football	GO No. 646/VI-2/2011-33(21)/2011 of 11 August 2011
State musical instrument	Dhol	Chosen in 2015 by a Culture Department committee
State song	“Uttarakhand Devbhoomi Matribhoomi, Shat Shat Vandan Abhinandan”	Dedicated on 6 February 2016
State fish (as commonly listed)	Golden mahseer, Tor putitora	In the NFDB list; no State notification found

Thus, the four nature symbols all date from 2001. By contrast, the butterfly, sport, instrument and song came between 2011 and 2016. Meanwhile, the State itself came into being in 2000; for that story, see the formation of Uttarakhand.

Notes on each of the Uttarakhand state symbols

State emblem

The emblem shows mountain peaks and four streams of the Ganga. It also carries the Ashoka lion capital and the motto Satyameva Jayate. Moreover, the State adopted it at formation in 2000.

State animal: musk deer

The musk deer (Kasturi Mrig) is Moschus chrysogaster. It is in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act and in CITES Appendix II. In addition, the IUCN lists it as Endangered.

Only adult males carry the musk pod. Besides, taxonomists now often class the animal as Moschus leucogaster.

Three places also matter for exams:

• Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (1972; 975.20 sq km) exists chiefly for the musk deer.
• Askot Sanctuary (1986), however, has the most musk deer.
• Kanchula Kharak (Chamoli) has had a breeding centre since 1982.

State bird: Himalayan monal

The monal (Munal) is Lophophorus impejanus. Like the musk deer, it is in WPA Schedule I. However, it is in CITES Appendix I, and the IUCN lists it as Least Concern.

The monal is also the national bird of Nepal. Similarly, it was the State bird of Himachal Pradesh until 2007. Himachal then chose the Western Tragopan (Jujurana) instead.

State tree: Burans

Burans (Buransh) is Rhododendron arboreum. It became the State tree in 2001. So, remember that Brahma Kamal is the flower, while Burans is the tree.

State flower: Brahma Kamal

Brahma Kamal is Saussurea obvallata. It grows on rocky slopes and alpine meadows at about 3,600–4,500 m. For example, it occurs at Hemkund and around Rudraprayag.

It flowers from July to September. However, the claim that it “blooms only at night” is not true of this plant. In fact, that idea comes from a night-flowering cactus, Epiphyllum oxypetalum. Meanwhile, plucking threatens the plant.

State butterfly: Common Peacock

The Common Peacock (Papilio bianor) became the State butterfly in 2016. Thus, Uttarakhand was the second State after Maharashtra to declare a State butterfly. Moreover, experts now treat it as a separate species, the Woolly-branded Peacock (Papilio polyctor).

State sport and musical instrument

Football is the State sport under a Government Order of 11 August 2011. Similarly, the Dhol is the State musical instrument. A Culture Department committee chose it in 2015.

State song

The State song is “Uttarakhand Devbhoomi Matribhoomi, Shat Shat Vandan Abhinandan”. Hemant Bisht of Nainital wrote the lyrics. Then, in January 2016, a committee chose it from 203 entries.

Prof. Laxman Singh ‘Batrohi’ chaired that committee. Also, Narendra Singh Negi gave the music and voice. Finally, CM Harish Rawat dedicated the song on 6 February 2016; see the list of Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand.

State fish: golden mahseer

The golden mahseer (Tor putitora) appears as Uttarakhand’s fish in the NFDB list of State fishes. However, no State notification has come to light. So, write “as commonly listed” if an answer needs it.

Popular symbols that are not official

Many lists online add more “state symbols”. However, no government declaration has come to light for these:

Popular claim	Status
State fruit: Kafal	Not official
State dance: Pandav Nritya	Not official
State festival: Harela	Not official (Harela is a State public holiday)
State folk art: Aipan	Not official
State sweet: Bal Mithai	Not official

Therefore, treat these as popular associations only. In particular, a public holiday for Harela does not make it a State symbol.

Exam corner: common traps

• Burans is the State tree, while Brahma Kamal is the State flower; so, do not swap them.
• Brahma Kamal does not bloom only at night; instead, that belongs to the cactus Epiphyllum oxypetalum.
• The monal is in CITES Appendix I, but the musk deer is in Appendix II.
• Uttarakhand was the second State to declare a State butterfly; Maharashtra was first.
• Kafal, Pandav Nritya, Harela, Aipan and Bal Mithai are not official State symbols.

In the news

• Brahmakamal Yatra in Bageshwar and the Athon Mela — a living tradition around the State flower.
• Silver carp and golden mahseer released into Naini Lake — Pantnagar University released 5,000 mahseer, the commonly listed State fish.
• Mahseer release in the Alaknanda under Namami Gange — the mahseer’s place in river conservation.

Practise Uttarakhand Polity

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Frequently Asked Questions

Facts as on 29 October 2026. Sources: Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) Uttarakhand, High Court of Uttarakhand, Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha, Election Commission of India, State departments, India Code and PIB.