Dehradun

Dehradun, the capital of Uttaranchal state, is situated in the Doon valley between the Himalayas and the Shivalik mountain range. Tourist attractions and excellent infrastructure make Dehradun a popular holiday destination for honeymooners and people with families. The provisional capital of Uttarakhand and a famous city, Dehradun is known for many things. This elite town has some of the most famous schools, institutes and head quarters that have a national importance.

The provisional capital of Uttarakhand and a famous city, Dehradun is known for many things. This elite town has some of the most famous schools, institutes and head quarters that have a national importance. Situated in the Doon valley, surrounded by the Himalayas, the river Ganges passes Dehradun from the east while the River Yamuna flows by from the west. The fertile Gangetic plain in which Dehradun is situated has some of the tributaries passing through it.

History : Being mentioned in many old scriptures, including the Skandapurana, Dehradun city, as it is known now, has its origins with the settlement of Guru Ram Rai in the village Dhamawala. The settlement in Punjabi was called 'Dera' from where Dehradun got its name. Later it got into the hands of Nepali Kings as they took over the Garhwal kingdom and eventually lost it to the English. Dehradun saw many improvements in the British Raj as it was a town favoured by the white men. Schools were made, municipality was established, railways were constructed and Dehradun was introduced to a whole new standard of living. From them it got the famous IMA (Indian Military Academy), Forest Research Institute (FRI) and various big schools like the Doon School, RIMC, Welhams etc.

Now, Dehradun serves as the state's provisional capital as well as the district headquarters of the Dehradun district. It is home to offices of various companies and Institutes like ONGC, Regional Remote Sensing Centre (RRSC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Survey of India, Forest Survey of India (FSI),Geological Survey of India and Wildlife Institute of India etc. Dehradun is also home to many elite schools like the Doon School, Rashtriya Indian Military Academy (RIMC), Welham's Schools, and Col. Brown's School etc. Among many things that Dehradun is famous for, its bakery items, the sweet fruit called litchi, the famous Basmati Rice and handmade woollens are the most favourite ones.

Dehradun is the place which is flocked by tourists all through the year. It is the retreat from the plains in summers and the snow in winter time. During November/December, one can enjoy the snow in the Garhwal Himalayas. For a nice trip to Doon valley, April to July is the ideal time.

Places to visit in Dehradun

There are many interesting and important places to visit in Dehradun, some of them are listed here:

Char Siddhs : These are four holy places ideally visited in one trip, so that the visitor's wishes can come true (that is the belief).
These four Siddhs include : Laxman Siddh, at a distance of 12 kilometres along Dehradun on the Rishikesh Road, Kalu Siddh, near Baniyawala, Manak Siddh near Shimla bypass road and Madu Siddh in Premnagar.

Chetwood Hall : The pride of IMA, the famed hall takes its name from Field Marshal Sir Philip W. Chetwood, who inaugurated the academy on Dec 10, 1932. The charming hall now houses some of the most interesting Military artefacts of the 20th century.

FRI Museum : The Greco Roman colonial building of the Forest Research of India houses a very intriguing museum, showcasing the most vibrant flora and flora of the Himalayas. Robber's Cave: A picnic sport favourite amongst locals and tourists alike, Robber's cave is a beautiful place with numerous little streams of water appearing from the ground and disappearing again.

Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple : Situated about 9 kilometres from Dehradun city, the Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and attracts very large number of devotees, especially during the time of Mahashivratri. Mussoorie : It is located only 35 km from Dehradun.

Sahastradhara : It means the site of 'thousand springs'. It is situated approximately 1 km from Dehradun and it is a popular picnic spot.

Rajaji National Park : It is a place especially for all natural lovers. This place is named after Shri C. Rajagopalachari who was the last Governor General of India.

Asan Barrage : It is approximately 50 km from Dehradun. This is an ideal place for bird lovers as well as water-sport enthusiasts.

How to Reach Dehradun

Dehradun is at a distance of around 250 kilometres from the state capital Delhi; it is reached easily through all modes of transport.

Air : The nearest airport from Dehradun is Jolly Grant airport, situated at a distance of 23 kilometres.

Rail : The Dehradun Railway station is a big station which is connected with the rest of the country.

Road : National Highway 72 connects Dehradun with the rest of the country. Buses and taxis are available to Dehradun from all the major cities of the country.