About Dehradun

Encased within the mighty Himalayas, Dehradun is regarded as the life-blood of Uttarakhand. The city is one of the ancient most cities in the Indian subcontinent. Recently Dehradun has been the declared the provisional capital of the state of Uttarakhand. Etymologically, Dehradun bears immeasurable significance. Dehra is a corrupt form of `dera`, which signifies a temporary dwelling, or site.

Under the order of Aurangzeb, the infamous Mughal emperor, spiritual leader of the Udasi Sikhs, Ram Rai, had been forced to take recourse in the wild and uninhabited area. Near the Khurbura locality he built his tent. Ram Rai also constructed a town near another place called Dhanawala. A town called Dehra flourished around these said places.

Another derivation of the term `dun` is stated to be from Dronashram, hermitage of Guru Dronacharya of Mahabharata fame, who sojourned for a season in the village of Devara, situated in close proximity with Dehra to perform his devotions at a secluded spot. The word `dun` or `doon` signifies the low-down lands at the bottom of the lofty Himalayan range. Since the place is placed in such a piece of land, it is named Dehra Dun.

The city of Dehradun is located in the Doon valley, 230 kilometers north of India`s capital New Delhi and the Delhi metropolitan area. Dehradun district is girded by Himalayas in the north, Shivalik Hills in the south, Ganges in the east and the river Yamuna in the west. The water divide of Ganga and Yamuna passes through the city.

The city of Dehradun is also placed on the northwestern side of the lush Gangetic plains of India. Before Uttarakhand came into being on November 9, 2000, Dehradun was a part of Uttar Pradesh. The most admired cities and towns in the vicinity include Haridwar, Rishikesh, Roorkee, Mussoorie and Saharanpur.

A product that has made Dehradun a household name within India is the city`s "Dehradooni basmati rice" and lychee. Also, it has always been known as home of prestigious Engineering Organisations, namely, Survey of India and other research institutes Forest Research Institute (FRI) and educational institutions like, Rashtriya Indian Military College, Indian Military Academy (IMA) and The Doon School. Dehradun is a much preferred tourist destination, due to its magnetic hilly attractions, attracting both pilgrims and enthusiasts from various walks of life. According to the 2001 census, population of Dehradun stands at 447,808.

History of Dehradun

History of Dehradun can be traced in the ancient times of Mahabharata, when the place finds mention, both in association with the Pandavas and Guru Dronacharya. The city`s rich legacy was brought down in history pages, when British Raj was dominating whole of India in a significant manner. Britishers had clashed with the Marathas and Mughals, thereafter sealing Dehradun`s fate with a signing of treaty.

Tourism in Dehradun

Tourism of Dehradun is dealing with the tourist spots like Tapkeshwar temple, Malsi Deer Park, Kalanga monument, Laxman Siddh, Chandrabani, Guchhupani, Forest Research Institute, Tapovan, Santala Devi Temple, Central Braille Press and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology.

The city of Dehradun can religiously be stated as an ideal, sanitised, cool, idyllic and the most picture postcard hill station located amidst the verdant Doon valley, within the Ganga River and Yamuna river.

This capital city of the Uttarakhand which is previously called Uttaranchal state of India is majestically circumvented by the Himalayan range and the Shivalik ranges. Due to so many of such nascent to perceptible qualities present in the city of Dehradun, tourism and footfall to this very place is nothing new to Indian as well overseas tourists. Indeed, since extensive period of time, Dehradun has played host to various ruling dynasties, making the place turn itself into a haven, already bursting for tourists.

Reflection of Past in Dehradun
The tourist places in Dehradun are one substantial genre, that is pregnant with pots of information, history, pure Himalayan splendour, greenery and more greenery with cascading waterfalls, the touch of both legends and colonialism and of course, mouth-watering food.

`Abode of Drona`
Also known as the `Abode of Drona`, Dehradun has always been an important centre for Garhwal rulers which were captured by the British East India Company in the modern colonial era. Be it in the panache of Dehradun in displaying its tourism skills, or the factor that tourist places in Dehradun outnumber the thin line between realism and idealism, this Himalayan wondrous station lends a visitor a trip worth remembering the rest of life.

Scenic Beauty in Dehradun
The assorted range of hill resorts present scattered all through the city, makes tourist places in Dehradun one exceedingly clandestine adventurous experience, waiting to be uncovered. These resorts being spoken about, lends an enchanting view of the overhanging luxuriant green valleys, thick woodlands, snow covered peaks and waterfalls. Dehradun tours lends its tourists an almost `haunting` and `captivating` an experience due to a visit to all the out of this locales. It might just not be an overstatement if stated that these tourist places within Dehradun are in reality, highly coordinated, strategically planned for more and more footfall and of course, well maintained, with a dash of picturesque and sweeping places filling in for visitors. In the past couple of years, Dehradun has magnified and swelled enormously, with the city catering to more and more escalating tourists coming in for fresh life and breathing into peacefulness. The verdant and dense green woods, the call of the wild animals or birds, the cascading waterfalls, the watching points for the awe-inspiring Himalayan panorama, the national parks, or the venerable ancient temples - Dehradun tourism has to offer everything to every kind of tourists that can be possible under the sun.

Provisional Capital of Uttarakhand
Dehradun also hold in the prestige of serving as one of the oldest cities of India and was recently declared as the Provisional Capital of newly created Uttarakhand (previously Uttaranchal) State in the month of November 2000.

Colonialism in Dehradun
Due to the advent of colonialism, Dehradun had received its own touch of Victorian and the English rule of law, which, to a grand extent can still be viewed in its architectural wonders. Indeed, as beginning paraphernalia to a tourist just arrived unto Dehradun, he/she will surely be attracted to these colonial edifices, imposing in their air.

Itinerary in Dehradun
The itinerary of tourist places in Dehradun can be begun with these very British colonial buildings, as can be seen thus. The headquarters of many reputed and most prestigious National Institutes and Organizations like ONGC, Survey Of India, Forest Research Institute, Indian Institute of Petroleum etc. are located within the city`s fringes. Some of the most premier and respected educational and training institutes like Indian Military Academy (IMA), RIMC (Rashtriya Indian Military College), Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Lal Bahadur Shahstri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Indian Institute of Petroleum (I.I.P.), The Doon School etc. are also present in Dehradun.

Dehradun as Hill Station
This Himalayan hill station is thus, for various reasons, chosen as a favoured tourist destination as it arrests lakhs of tourists, pilgrims and enthusiasts from various walks of life into its serene environs. And one cannot indeed just stop here, being all breathless. Tourist places in Dehradun can boldly add to the already-prestigious list, the yet to be savoured abundance of special Basmati rice, tea and litchi gardens, which contributes in turning the city into an earthly paradise.

Medieval Touch in Dehradun
Prior to get set go into a whirlwind tour of all the tourist places in Dehradun, it is mandatory that he/she should have a knowledge of the place`s historical evolution. The district of Dehradun has verily been named after its chief city of Dehra Dun. The term `Dehra` appears to be a corrupted version of `dera`, implying a provisional and impermanent abode or camp. During the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Ram Rai, Guru of the Udasi Sikhs, on being dictated by the Mughal king to retire into the wilderness of the Dun, is known to have pitched his tents here, in what is presently the Khurbura locality of the town. Ram Rai is also acknowledged to have built a temple near Dhanawala. And it was around these two sites that the town Dehra grew towards its popularity and grand acceptance until contemporary times.

Impact of Climate in Tourism of Dehradun
In order for the visit to Dehradun to be successful and a worth adventurous one, one very much needs to ensure that he/ she visits the place at the right point of time, with a pleasing climate, to enjoy every locale to the fullest. The climatic conditions of the city, however, remain happily friendly for the tourist places of Dehradun to be memorised to its greatest extent. The city of Dehradun very much owns a sub-tropical climate with cool winters, warm and nippy springs, hot summers and an almost impregnable monsoon. The mountains around Dehradun receive sustained snowfall in winter, but the temperature in the city hardly ever drops down below freezing point. Due to its location in the hilly part of the state, the climate of Dehradun is quite hygienic to wholesome. During the summer months, the temperature ranges between 36 degrees Centigrade and 16.7 degrees Centigrade. The winter months are rather colder, with the maximum and minimum temperatures touching 23.4 degrees Centigrade and 5.2 degrees Centigrade respectively.

Accessibility in Dehradun
Tourist places in Dehradun city itself and also including its circuitous locales, can very well be reached by the extremely soundly preserved roads under the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a branch of architecture and construction of the Indian Army. However, in order to reach these tourist attractions hassle-free, one first needs to reach the city safe and healthy and hearty. The primary city of Dehradun is well connected to other cities of India by all three communication channels - rail, road and air.

Visiting Information
The nearest airport from Dehradun is the Jolly Grant Airport, approximately 25 km away, on the outskirts of the town. There is a daily flight from Jolly Grant to New Delhi, which is the nearest international airport. Dehradun is a major railhead on the Northern Railway line, with direct trains to almost all the metropolitan cities of India and some crucial tourist destinations in Uttarakhand. The Shatabdi Express is the best option for the tourists arriving from New Delhi and the other good option is the Mussorie Express. The Dehradun-Mumbai Express connects the city to Mumbai. There are also trains to Varanasi, Kolkata and Lucknow. Dehradun is firmly connected to other cities of Uttarakhand and Delhi with everyday bus services. Distances of some leading cities in India from Dehradun are - Agra 381 km, Kolkata 1562 km, Chennai 2365 km, Delhi 235 km, Jaipur 493 km, one can always take his pick from the private bus services, tempos, auto rickshaws, tongas, cycle rickshaws and taxis.

Climate of Dehradun

Dehradun essentially resembles a sub-tropical climate with cool winters, warm and nipping springs, with hot summers and a tough monsoon. The mountains around Dehradun receive a fair amount of snowfall in winter. Dehradun city is generally prone to cold waves in the winter. April to June comprise the summer months, with maximum temperature averaging approximately 33 degrees Centigrade (93 degrees Fahrenheit). Monsoons arrive in late June and ends in September, often with weeks of hammering rainfall; the specified season is generally advised to be avoided by visitors. Autumn begins in late September and continues till November, with average temperatures approximately hovering around 16 degrees Centigrade (60 degrees Fahrenheit). Winter in Dehradun lasts from December to February, with average minimum temperature near 4 degrees Centigrade (38oF), followed by spring, lasting from late February to early March.

Accessibility

Over the years due attention has been rested on developing the transportation of Dehradun. The reason is to securely launch the connectivity of the city with other places of India.

How to reach Dehradun by air: The capital city of Dehradun possesses its own domestic airport, the Jolly Grant Airport. Located at the outskirts of the city, the airport lies at a distance of 25 km from the city centre. Daily flights operate to and from Delhi, the nearest international airport to Dehradun. Delhi Airport is the ideal destination for those wishing to board onto international flights. Delhi is connected by air to all the major Indian cities like: Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata etc. private Air Deccan and Indian Airlines are the only airlines operating from Dehradun airport.

How to Reach Dehradun by Road: An extensive network of National Highways, State Highways and metalled motorable roads make Dehradun smoothly reachable from any part of northern India. The notable cities with road connections to Dehradun comprise: Agra (381 km), Delhi (235kms), Jaipur (493 km), Lucknow (582 km), Kolkata (1562 km), Chennai (2365 km), Mumbai (1578 km).

How to reach Dehradun by Rail: Lying in vicinity, Dehradun Railway Station rightly caters to the requirements of localities. In fact it is a principal `railhead` on the Northern Railway line. Facilities are being provided so that one can board into direct trains to all the metro cities of India and also several tourist locales of Uttarakhand itself. Amongst the important trains, Shatabdi Express and Mussoorie Express are significant. One can board the Shatabdi Express train from Delhi. Another train, Dehradun-Mumbai Express establishes connectivity of Dehradun city with Mumbai. Almost every metro city in India like: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, have direct trains to and from Dehradun. Several central trains also connect the city with Varanasi, Lucknow, Mussoorie and so on.

Shopping in Dehradun

Shopping in Dehradun can be quoted as a satisfying experience. The concept of shopping malls in Dehradun does not exist. However, the city is home umpteen markets, where one can find priceless artifacts, shawls and brass statues.

It is highly recommended to visit the shops at the Sahakari Bazaar, Rajpur Road, Ashley Hall, Paltan Bazaar and Connaught Place in Dehradun to pick up specific exceptional articles at affordable prices. While shopping in Dehradun, one can buy anything, ranging from woollens to gift items. The carpets weaved by the Tibetan refugees make for first-class gift items and relics. It is a must that one checks out the utilities created out of wood, bamboo and cane. The local paintings and ornaments obtainable in the shops of Dehradun are also worth a buy.

Uttarakhand has its own tradition of handicrafts. Dehradun being the capital of the state thus possesses fine market places. So you can easily find the specialties of Uttarakhand in the markets of Dehradun.

Visiting Information in Dehradun

In order to essentially have a pleasant and satisfying stay in Dehradun, it is best to choose right and appropriate accommodation. Visitors to this idyllic place have a host of options to opt from, with luxurious and budget offerings in the hotel section. Visiting information in Dehradun thus is crucial and substantial, which included car parking, restaurant facilities, room services and the likes.