Dehradun, Uttarakhand – Resting at the foothills of Himalayas, on the Doon valley, this capital city offers a remarkable charm with its eternal beauty

Dehradun is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand. Nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, at a height of 960 m. above the sea level, Dehradun is one of the oldest cities of India. Also known as the ‘Abode of Drona’, Dehradun has always been an important center for Garhwal rulers and was captured by the British.  It is a favoured tourist destination attracting tourists, pilgrims and enthusiasts from various walks of life to its serene environs. The name Dehradun is a collection of two words “dera” meaning camp and ” dun” meaning valley. Dehra Dun is different from the most other districts in the state by the existence of very large forests comprising predominantly sal. Dehradun is located in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas between the two of India’s mightiest rivers the Ganges on the east and the Yamuna on the west. The city is dotted with the picturesque landscape and has a pleasant climate.

Places to see in Dehradun: Dehradun offers with ample scenic locations ideal for the sight seeing. These include:

Lachhiwala

Lachiwala is situated in the suburbs of the city of Dehradun where fresh water comes from a stream. At Lachiwala the stream enters into different pools which are spread over 700mts of area. The water level is from 4ft height to 7ft in different pools.

Malsi Deer Park

It is a zoological park at the base of the Shivalik Range in Dehradun. Malsi Deer Park is well maintained and it is home of two horned deer, Tiger, Neelgai, Peacock and many other animals. It is an ideal spot for picnicking.

Assan Barrage

The wetland at Assan Barrage, is situated near the confluence of two perennial rivers Asan and Yamuna near Dehradun. The lake attracts a large number of waterfowl, both waders and divers. This is an ideal place for bird lovers, Ornithologists and Naturalists alike, who can travel easily up to the Assan barrage, and see thousands of birds who have travelled miles to be there.

Robber’s Cave

It is the most popular tourist place of Dehradun. Also known as Guchhipani, Robber’s Cave is an ideal destination to spend the holiday in an immaculate atmosphere. It is bounded by imposing hills showcasing an amazing scenario of nature’s beauty. An easy trek of 1km will lead you to the refreshing stream of Robber’s Cave.

Sahastradhara

The name ‘Sahastradhara’ means the site of ‘thousand springs’. Situated near Rajpur Village, approximately 16 km from the major township of Dehradun, it is a very popular picnic spot. The place becomes more attractive during rainy season, when there is abundance of water in the springs. The water of sulphur spring is assumed to have some medicinal properties that can help cure skin ailments.

Tiger Falls

One of highest waterfall in Uttarakhand, Tiger Falls is located at 5 km from Chakrata. Tiger Falls has an elevation of 312 ft and an uncrowed place.

Fun Valley

It is a newly developed amusement park for the people of Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh. Fun Valley is located at 28 km from Dehradun and equi-distance form Haridwar Rishikesh.

Jwalaji Temple

This place is also known as Benog Hill. There is Jawalaji Temple here with Durga Devi as its deity. Benog hill is set at an altitude of 2104mts above sea level and is 9 km west of Mussoorie. It is situated on the top of the Benog Hill and looks like the crown of the hill. Surrounded by thick forest Benog Hill affords marvelous views of Yamuna Valley and Doon Valley.

Santala Devi Temple

The temple of Santala Devi is located approximately 16 km away from Dehradun, in Santur Garh. It is most crowded on Saturdays, as it is regarded to be the day of Goddess Santala Devi and Her brother.

Bhadraj Temple

There is a temple dedicated to the brother of Lord Krishna, Lord Balbhadra. Enchanting view of the Doon Valley and Chakrata ranges are captivating from this place. Bhadraj Temple is situated 15km from Dehradun.

Tapkeshwar Temple

Tapkeshwar temple is an ancient temple of Lord Shiva, situated approximately 8 km from Dehradun, on the banks of a stream, in Garhi Cant. This place holds a lot of reverence amongst the devotees of Lord Shiva.

Ram Rai Darbar

Built by Guru Har Rai’s son, it attracts many Sikh pilgrims from the nearby state of Punjab. Admission is free and non-Sikhs are welcome.

Sai Darbar Temple

This place of worship holds a high spiritual value, and is thus visited by tourists across the country.

Laxman Sidh Temple

A cremation site of holy saint, Laxman Sidh temple is located at Haridwar road at 12 km from Dehradun.

Daat Kali Temple

A religious significant temple in Dehradun, Daat Kali temple is located at 14 km from Dehradun on Shahranpur road.

The Char Siddhs

Comprises of a group of four temples around Dehradun : Lakshman Siddh (along the Dehradun-Rishikesh road 12 km from Dehradun), Kalu Siddh (near Baniyawala), Manak Siddh (near Shimla Bypass Road) and Madu Siddh (near Premnagar). Small temples are scenic. It is commonly believed that visitng all four Siddhs in a single day will fulfill a devotee’s wishes.

Nearby attractions around Dehradun: While in Dehradun, you can make excursions to places like:

New Tehri

New Tehri is the only planned hill town of Uttarakhand state which was made during the construction of the Tehri dam. Every month thousands of tourists visit Tehri to see the stagnant water of the massive Tehri Dam. The Dam is situated amidst high mountains many of which are submerged under water. New Tehri is very well connected with motorable roads. Tehri is situated 104kms from Dehradun. There are many good hotels in New Tehri.

Chamba

Chamba is one of the best excursion of Dehradun as the place offers panoramic views of the majestic Himalayan range and the sacred view of the Bhagirathi River. Chamba is situated 85kms from Dehradun at an altitude of 1676mts above sea level. Chamba is unlike Mussoorie as the place provides peace and tranquility. The place is quite and serene with pine and deodar trees everywhere.

Kanatal

Kanatal is situated 68kms from Dehradun on Mussoorie-Chamba Road in the Tehri District of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state. Kanatal is a picturesque lake with pristine water which was forgotten and the lake almost died. Kanatal is now emerging as a popular tourist destination. The lake stands at an elevation of 8500mts above sea level amidst forest and lush fruit orchards. The peacefulness of this place is impregnable, the reflection of the enchanting surroundings blesses the place with illusionary elements of life and the sound of the wind is the only thing that could be listened without making an effort.

Chakrata

Chakrata is perched at an elevation of 2270mts above sea level in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand state. Chakrata is a cantonment area situated between Yamuna and Tons river amidst coniferous, rhododendron and oak trees. Chakrata is a place blessed with natural beauty and panoramic views as to the east of it lies the famous Mussoorie and on the west lies Kinnaur. Chakrata is an ideal spot for nature lovers, bird watchers, adventure lovers and wild lifers as the place is more than capable of satisfying their needs. Chakrata is situated 95kms from Dehradun.

Neelkanth Mahadev

Thousands of devotees visit Neelkanth Mahadev every month throughout the year. It is situated on the summit of the mountain across the sacred Ganga River. According to mythology this is the place where Lord Shiva drank the venom produced during ‘Sagar Manthan’ which turned his throat blue and was thus the place was named as Neelkanth. Neelkanth and Mahadev are names of Lord Shiva. It is situated 66kms from Dehradun city.

Things to do in Dehradun: Enjoy sight seeing in Dehradun. Apart from this you can also enjoy boat ride in Asan Barrage. This is one of the best place to enjoy boating. Nestled at the foot hills of the Himalayas, the Shivaliks and with the lush green of Rajaji National Park and the forest for its boundaries, Dehradun also offers a no. of trekking trails for the nature lovers. The shopaholics will also enjoy shopping in Dehradun. Woolen garments are quite cheap here. Besides you can also buy the local items like cloths and fashion jewellery from the markets in the Mall Road. Garhi Cantt is also a famous market here.

Best time to visit Dehradun: The mesmerizing location, Dehradun, can be visited throughout the year.

How to go ?

By Air

Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun is a domestic airport located about 20 km away from city center. Taxi cabs are available from airport to city. The airport operates daily flights to Delhi. Nearest International airport is Delhi, which is about 235 km away and is well connected to all cities in India and abroad.

By Train

Dehradun is a major railway station which is connected to all cities in the country. The major cities like Delhi (Mussoorie Exp), Kolkata (Doon Exp), Varanasi (Ghy Rajdhani), Mumbai (Dehradun Exp) and Indore (Ddn Indb Exp) are connected by express trains and super fast trains.

By Road

All nearby cities are connected to Dehradun by State owned Uttarakhand transport buses. It also connects Kashmere Gate in New Delhi with Dehradun. There are overnight deluxe A/C bus services of Uttarakhand Tourism from New Delhi to Dehradun. Buses can also be hired from Shimla and Chandigarh.

Where to stay ?

Dehradun has a wide array of accommodation options. Some of these are:

Hotel Drona (GMVN): +91–0135-2652794, 2654371
Hotel Great Value: +91-0135- 3292020  Website: www.greatvaluehotel.com
Hotel Pacific: +91-0135-2712355  Website: www.pacifichoteldehradun.in
Hotel Prince Honey: +91-094120 28849

Note : Phone numbers given above are according to the information available with us. If you find any contact number/s given above is/are incorrect or not in use, please let us know.