Dehradun is made up of two words, ‘dera’ means home, and ‘doon’ means valley. The city lies between the Himalayas and the Shivaliks. According to one story, it is believed that the eldest son of the seventh Sikh guru Har Rai Ji (Shri Ram Rai) along with his disciples set up a camp or ‘dera’ in the Doon Valley so it was named as Dehradun.

Dehradun has a rich history and it is linked to the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The city is believed to be visited by Lord Rama & Laxmana. It is also known as 'Dronanagari' named after Dronacharya, the guru of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Many temples and idols have been found and show their connections with the mythology of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Relics like ancient temples and thousand years old idols are discovered to link these stories from these epics to Dehradun.

Tourism In Dehradun

Dehradun city is admired for its lucrative tourist destinations and can be categorized into: nature, wildlife sanctuary, museums, temples, etc... Dehradun city is well known for its natural environment, temples of many gods & goddesses, wildlife sanctuary and homes to many animals and birds.

Situated in the foothills of the Himalayas the famous Hill stations in the city include Mussoorie, Sahastradhara, Chakrata, and Dakpathar. Few famous temples include Tapkeshwar, Lakhamandal, and Santala Devi.

Dehradun is like a paradise for nature lovers and is known for the Malsi Deer Park, Assan Barrage Rajaji National Park and Dehradun Zoo.

Places To Visit In Dehradun City

Forest Research Institute (FRI)

Forest Research Institute (FRI) was established in 1906. It has a splendid colonial style of architecture. Its main building is a National Heritage and was designed in Greek Roman Architecture by C.G. Blomfield in 1929. It has spread in about 2000 acres of beautiful scenic with green rows of trees all around. Travelers will witness a wide variety of plants and trees from across the world. Dehradun city has a few of the most popular forest museums in the world.

Robber’s Cave

Robber's Cave is located near Sahasradhara and is about 8 km from the center of the City. It is about 600 meters long and divided into two main parts. It is a natural cave and rivers flow inside the cave. The place is a popular tourist spot in Dehradun.

Experiencing river flow inside the caves with legs in freezing water is a romantic and amazing experience. The place became hot destination for tourists during summer to get relief from the scorching heat of the Sun. Robber’s Cave are locally known as Guchchu Pani. It was believed that Robbers used to hide in Guchhupani after the robbery, so Britishers named it as Robbers Cave. Local bus services are available to a nearby village called Anarwala and from there, it is one kilometer walk away.

Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir

Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir is a famous holy temple of Lord Shiva situated on the bank of a river. It was named 'Tapkeshwar' because water droplets continuously drops on the shivling. It is built on top of a natural cave, which holds the temple's main ‘Shivalinga’ on the cave.

Buddha Temple / Mindrolling Monastery

Buddha Temple in Dehradun is a Tibetan Monastery and is also known as Mindrolling Monastery. It was built to protect the religious and cultural sentiments of the Buddhists people and to promote its cultural values. It is a center of attraction for many International tourists and Buddhist followers. This temple is built-in Japanese architecture style on a highland in the Doon Valley. The view from the top is amazing and pleasant. You may take a walk and explore nearby shops, restaurants, book shops from the Tibetan community, and other public places around it.

Dehradun Zoo (Malsi Deer Park)

Malsi Deer Park is now known as Dehradun Zoo. Malsi Deer Park is a major wildlife attraction in Dehradun. It is an amazing place for photography. The park is blessed with natural beauty and a perfect place for sightseeing or a picnic. Though the park is mainly famous for deer, the tourists can also spot peacock, nilgais, rabbits, some exotic Himalayan birds and tigers. It is located at 10 km distance from Dehradun at Mussoorie Road.

Shree Guru Ram Rai Darbar

It is established by 'Guru Ram Rai', the eldest son of the seventh Guru of Sikhs, Sri Har Raj Ji. It attracts large numbers of pilgrims and Sikh devotees throughout the year. Tourists who are on a spiritual tour to Dehradun must visit this place. The building of the Gurudwara is the finest example of the Indo-Islamic architectural style. It features domes, towers, and paintings. People of all classes, castes, and creed visit the Darbar Sahib. Gurudwara also offers free and low-cost accommodation for visitors.

Paltan Bazaar

The main local market in Dehradun is Paltan Bazaar. It is also one of the busiest and the most crowded market located in the heart of this beautiful city. It is located near the Rajpur road. It is literally the best place for people who love shopping and you can purchase a variety of things at very reasonable prices. It is a good place for bargaining. The clock tower is a major landmark for the market.

At Paltan Bazar, you will find each and everything. You name it and it is there. The market being the busiest market in Dehradun is open all days of the week from 10AM to 10PM.

Transport

Airway

Dehradun is served by Dehradun Airport (Jolly Grant Airport). It is 27 kilometers from the city center and situated in Doiwala. The nearest international airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

Railway

Dehradun railway station is the city's largest railway station. It is located at a distance of 1-2 kilometers from the main city. This station is well connected to all the major cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Lucknow, etc…

Roads

Dehradun city has an excellent connectivity and can be approached conveniently from all the major places like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. There are many government and private buses offering a regular bus service to Dehradun. One can also hire a private taxi to reach Dehradun from nearby cities.

Climate & Best Time To Visit

Dehradun's climate varies greatly from tropical to severe cold depending upon the altitude of the area. The city is hilly, and temperature varies due to differences in elevation. In the hilly regions, the summer is pleasant. In the Doon, the heat is often intense but it remains moderate in the plain areas.

The temperature drops below freezing point not only at high altitudes but even at places like Dehradun during winters. During the summers, the temperature ranges between 36°C and 16.7°C. In winter, the temperature lies between 23.4°C and 5.2°C. Most of the annual rainfall in the city is received between June to September while July and August being the rainiest.

Dehradun City is one of the most popular & loved holiday destinations in the country and can be visited during any time of the year.