Rishikesh Rafting

Dehradun has earned the name of the ‘Education Center of Uttarakhand’ as it is home to many reputed educational institutions, including the Doon School, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, the Welham School for Girls, and the Welham School for Boys. The city is home to several leading national organizations, including the Indian Military Academy, the Survey of India, ONGC, and the Forest Research Institute.

Why visit Dehradun?

The city is surrounded by many tourist attractions such as sacred temples, rivers, canals, and waterways. Locations such as Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, Lachiwala, Dongala Guha, Saharadhara, Dakpathar, Buddhist Temple, and Malsi Deer Park are some of the popular tourist attractions in Dehradun. One key benefit of visiting Dehradun is that you can plan a short trip to Mussoorie which is known as the Queen of Hills and the holy city of Rishikesh located nearby.

As you would expect from a city in the Himalayan foothills, Dehradun is home to caves, waterfalls, and natural springs. Robber’s Cave, a natural cave surrounded by hills, is a trendy spot for tourists visiting Dehradun. Dip your feet in the icy-cold water or walk through it – travelers are free to make their choice, making the Robber’s Cave one of the most popular picnics and adventure spots for young enthusiasts. Lacchiwala is another popular destination for nature lovers, where you can enjoy the sunset around the human-made lake with the surrounding lush greenery. Lachiwala also has trekking and bird watching arrangements as well.

In Dehradun, you can see people of different races living in harmony with each other. Over the past few years, Doon has become a favorite place to stay after retirement, as many elderly couples have found their safe havens here.

Dehradun, which is close to Mussoorie, is an alternative option to stay for Christmas and New Year .

Tips for traveling in Dehradun

• It is an ideal weekend destination for tourists to get quick relief from their work schedules. Mussoorie is located at a distance of 30 km from Dehradun.
• If possible, avoid traveling during the rainy season. Dehradun witnessed heavy and intermittent rains during the monsoon season.
• Dehradun offers many picnic spots for family and children to enjoy.

Accommodation in Dehradun

Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, has a wide range of accommodation options for tourists and travelers as per their budget. Being near Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Mussoorie, many residential areas in Dehradun have grown. You can easily find luxury hotels in Dehradun with all facilities and budget guesthouses with the necessary facilities.

Food Guide in Dehradun

Dehradun is one of the few cities in Uttarakhand with rich food culture in different parts of India. There are a lot of restaurants that serve a wide variety of food. Famous fast-food chains are also available in Dehradun. There are many restaurants and food stalls on Rajpur Road. With having various cuisines such as North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Continental, Tibetan dishes, you should also try the local pahadi cuisines, which are worth having. Here are some restaurants that you should check out while traveling in Dehradun.

Buffet Snack Shop @ Rajpur Road

It is one of the famous fast food corners where you can enjoy the best crispy burgers for less than Rs. 20. We’re not kidding! The most surprising thing is that you can beat McDonald’s burgers. In addition to burgers, you can enjoy bread rolls, all kinds of shakes, and coffee for a very nominal price.

Why Buffet?

Definitely for their McDonald’s level burgers (which are also cheap) & amazing shakes, especially millet shakes and banana shakes.

Why not a buffet?

If you don’t want to face a big rush.

Bun Tikiwala @ Dwarka Store Chowk

The locals like to eat bun tikis more than burgers. In Dehradun, you can find many bun tikis stalls scattered around. A Bun Tiki Wala is most popular at the Dwarka Store Chowk. He is identified by his stall location in the Dwarka store on Easy Road.

ChetanPooriWala @ Hanuman Chowk

This place is for you if you want a complete Satvik Mata ke Bhandare Wala Khana. At Chetan Puri Wala, you can get a full plate of food consisting of chole, aloo, kaddu ki meethi sabzi, and crispy fried hot pooris. The most astonishing thing is, you can only pay for one plate & can ask for sabzis unlimited times!

History of Dehradun

Historical facts indicate that the name “Dehradun” came from Shri Ram Rai, the eldest son of the seventh Sikh Guru, Har Rai Ji, who set up his ‘tent’ or camp in the ‘Dun’ or valley in 1676. Dehradun was later called Dehradun. It is said that; Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was amazed by the supernatural power of Ram Rai. Hence, the emperor asked Fateh Shah, the contemporary Raja of Garhwal, to give additional support to Shri Ram Rai. As a result, a temple or gurudwara was built at Dhamawala. In 1707, the present building of the Durbar Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj was completed.

Mahmud Ghani, during his campaign in India conquered Dehradun which was followed by Taimooralang in 1368, Ruahela Njibuddulo in 1757, and Ghulam Qadir in 1785. In 1816, the British took control of Dehradun. After independence, Dehradun and other parts of the Garhwal and Kumaon region were merged with the United provinces known as Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, the state of Uttarakhand, formerly known as Uttaranchal, was created and made Dehradun its provisional capital under the Reorganization of the Northwestern Districts of Uttar Pradesh Act 2000.

Dehradun Mythology

According to Hindu mythology, the name Dehradun is derived from the nickname “Doon Valley,” which is associated with two famous Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the Skanda Purana, Dehradun is mentioned as part of a region called Kedar Khand, which means the abode of Lord Shiva. It is one of the oldest Indian towns where after killing Ravana, both lord Rama and his brother have known to conduct their penance in this place..

Temples and idols dating back to about 2,000 years during the period of Ramayana and Mahabharata have been found here in and surrounding areas of Dehradun. Dehradun is believed to be the residence of Guru Dronacharya, who was the king of the Kauravas and the Pandavas.

Dehradun – The city of joy

Dehradun hosts some major religious fairs like Tapkeshwar Fair, the Jhanda Fair, and the Laxmansidh Fair. Tourists can enjoy the shopping at the Luxury Shopping Malls or choose to bargain at the local Paltan Market and the Tibetan Market in Dehradun.

Tourist places in the proximity of Dehradun include Mussoorie, Auli, Dhanaulti, Rishikesh and Haridwar. You can travel during the offseason to avoid rush and congestion.

Dehradun Fairs

Dehradun also hosts major festivals like Tapkeshwar Mela, Jhanda Mela, Laxmansidh Mela, Shahid Veer Keshri Chandra Mela, Mahasu Devata Mela, and Bissu Mela. Trade festivals are also organized here every month where you can buy exotic products from different states of India at reasonable prices.

What is Dehradun famous for?

Dehradun is famous for its historical and picnic spots, educational institutions, the capital city, food, shopping, and zoos. It is a popular destination for various activities such as Biking, Business Hub,Char Dham Route, Shopping, Christmas, New Year, and Weekend Getaways. The city is recommended for corporates, families, couples, children, foreigners, groups, and solos.