Dehradun Travel Guide

Dehradun is the provisional capital of Uttarakhand state. It is nestled between the Himalayan foothills to the north and the Shivaliks to the South. The town offers breathtaking scenery.

Situated at an altitude of 2,200 ft in the Doon Valley between two of the most important rivers in India, the Ganga, and the Yamuna, it offers beautiful scenery and is an ideal place to relax and escape the heat of the plains below. It also serves as a convenient base for visiting the area’s many tourist sites.

Dehradun is also famous for the Doon School, which is often referred to as the Eton of India.

Things To Do In Dehradun

Dehradun is a base for trekking and adventure tourism, and many people just stay overnight in the city before heading into the Garhwal Hills. Since you are in the Himalayan foothills, there is beautiful scenery all around.

The Char Siddhs

Comprised 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 in scenic and as yet unspoiled locales. It is commonly believed that visiting all four Siddhs in a single day will fulfill a devotee’s wishes.

Dakpathar

After a hard day’s sightseeing, drive down to the village of Dakpathar which is 45 km away. The sparkling waters of the Yamuna makes this the perfect spot to relax.

The neat little GMVN Tourist Complex is located inside the village. It has good restaurants and a small swimming pool.

Sahastradhara

Pack some food and drinks and picnic at Sahastradhara, on the banks of the Baldi River. It is around 14 km (30-minute drive) from Dehradun. You can also rent a bicycle. It takes a little over an hour to bike down.

Sahastradhara is a cold Sulphur water spring and is believed to have exceptional medicinal value. The dripping caves and a bath in the Baldi River near the spring are said to rejuvenate the body and soul.

Robber’s Cave

Also known as Guchchu Pani, Robber’s Cave is situated at a distance of eight km from the city center. It is also another beautiful picnic spot. Moreover, you can witness a strange natural phenomenon here which is a stream of water that goes underground and then reappears a few meters away from a rock.

The cave is surrounded by hills and is a beautiful getaway for those looking for peace and quiet of the hills.

Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology

Another place worth a visit is the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology. It is the best center on Himalayan geology in the country and has done some pioneering work in the field. A museum displaying the geological diversity of the sub-continent is the center of attraction here and a must see for all those visiting the institute.

The Doon School

Commonly called the Doon, it is one of the most prestigious boys-only independent boarding school in India.

Other Places of Interest

• Chetwoode Hall – a charming little museum housing collections of 20th-century military artifacts
• Clock Tower – built by the British, this remains the icon of the downtown area
• Tapovan – according to legend, Guru Dronacharya had done penance here
• Gurkha Fort – in the Tapovan Forest Area
• Kalinga War Memorial – the only war memorial of its kind in the world which was erected by the British to honor their foe, the Gurkhas of Nepal
• Kalsi – a small town with ancient monuments such as The Edicts of Ashoka
• Mindrolling Monastery – a large Buddhist monastery in the Tibetan Nyingma tradition
• Forest Research Institute Museums – one of the largest institutes of its kind
• Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) – one of the finest Indian Armed Forces training school
• 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
• Tapkeshwar Temple – an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Tapkeshwar is situated on the banks of a rivulet
• Jaspal Rana Shooting Range

Nearby Attractions

There are innumerable tourist towns and sites that are well connected to Dehradun.

• Mussoorie – a nearby famous hill station noted for its scenic beauty
• Yamunotri – the source of Yamuna river
• Chakarata – unspoiled views (restricted area for foreign nationals)
• Harkidun – great trekking destination with picture postcard views
• Jaunpur – stunning villages in this area
• Nagtibba – tribal communities
• Haridwar – a sacred Hindu site on the Ganges – a little over one hour by train or road
• Rishikesh – the Char Dham Yatra generally begins from this sacred location
• The Rajaji National Park – located between Haridwar and Rishikesh

January 23, 2019 8:48 pm Published by Salil Jha