Context: Recently, the Uttarakhand Governor has given her assent for declaration of Bhararisen (Gairsain) in Chamoli district as its summer capital.
Background 

• It is expected that the declaration of a summer capital in the region will expedite development of the hilly areas. 
• The development came three months after Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat announced in the Budget Session of the Assembly held in Gairsain that the town will become summer capital of the state.

Geographical location of Gairsain

• Gairsain is situated at the eastern edge of the vast Dudhatoli mountain range, located almost at the centre of the state, at a distance of approximately 250 kilometres from Dehradun.
• It is easily accessible from both the Garhwal and the Kumaon divisions, and in a way, acts as the bridge between the two regions.
• The state Assembly is located in Dehradun, but sessions are held in Gairsain as well.

Why Gairsain is held as summer capital?

• Gairsain was best suited to be the capital of the mountainous state as it was a hilly region falling on the border of Kumaon and Garhwal regions.
• Even when Uttarakhand was carved out as a separate state from UP on November 9, 2000, statehood activists had contended that Gairsain was best suited to be the capital.
• But it was Dehradun in the plains that were named the temporary capital. The issue is largely political.

Concerns

• Now, with the announcement of Gairsain as the summer capital, there is a lack of clarity on the status of Dehradun. In fact, the recently published directory of the state Information department still mentions this colonial town as the temporary capital.

What are the other examples of multiple capital cities?

• Several countries in the world have implemented the concept.
• In Sri Lanka, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official capital and seat of the national legislature, while Colombo is the de facto seat of the national executive and judicial bodies.
• Malaysia has its official and royal capital and seat of the national legislature at Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya is the administrative centre and seat of the national judiciary.
• Among Indian states, Maharashtra has two capitals– Mumbai and Nagpur (which holds the winter session of the state assembly).
• Himachal Pradesh has capitals at Shimla and Dharamshala (winter).
• The former state of Jammu & Kashmir had Srinagar and Jammu (winter) as capitals (remember Darbar Move).