Formerly northern Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand became an independent state of India in November 2000. It was known as Uttaranchal until 2007, when it became Uttarakhand. Rolling hills and snow-covered mountain peaks cover 92 percent of the state, which borders Nepal and Tibet. Uttarakhand's highest point is 25,643 feet, just a few thousand feet shorter than Mount Everest. Because of the natural beauty and elevation, the area became a summer retreat for British officers beginning in the 19th century. Their influence led to the development of a small Christian community in the capital city of Dehradun.

Eighty percent of Uttarakhand's six million people are Hindus. Muslims, Sikhs and Jains make up the minority. The primary language is Hindi (90%). Urdu (3%) is spoken by the Muslim community, and English is used for official correspondence. Other languages include Bhojpuri, Awadhi and Punjabi.

Sources of income in Uttarakhand include dairy, wool, herbs, wood and hydroelectric power. The main industry is religious tourism. In 2001, 70 million people came together for the Kumbh Mela, a 44-day Hindu festival held every three years. In Haridwar, one of the most sacred cities for Hindus, 30 million people came to the riverbanks of the Ganges in one day-perhaps the largest gathering of humanity in history. Haridwar will host the festival again in 2010.

Most of the state remains untouched by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and there are only several thousand Christians. Unlike some other states, evangelism in Uttarakhand is not restricted.