Dehradun

The capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is a valley-town in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. This is an ideal retreat for those who want some peace and beauty by their side, away from the mundane routine of the city life or the blazing summers in most of India. This hill station is also the gateway to some of the famous tourist hotspots like Mussoorie, Nainital, Haridwar, Rishikesh etc.

Dehradun is also home to the ever-famous Indian Military Academy, producing some of the best officers of the Indian Army. Known as a centre for education, the Doon Valley also houses the famous Doon School established in 1935, unequivocally renowned as the best boarding school for boys in India. If you're looking for a soothing retreat, without the hustle and bustle of the adventurous hilltops, Dehradun is the right choice for you.

The name ‘Dehradun’ has been derived from two distinct words - ‘Dehra’ (from ‘dera’) meaning home and ‘Doon’ meaning a valley between Himalayas and Shivaliks (Dehradun lies in the Doon Valley). When Guru Ram Rai visited this place with his followers, he set up a camp here. Around this time, the modern city of Dehradun began developing. Many historians have opined that ‘Dehra’ can be used to refer to camping, thus the name ‘Dehradun’ - The Campsite of Doon. The city also finds mention in the ancient epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Though today Dehradun’s significance as an educational hub is indispensable, till the early 90s there were only 4 colleges for Graduation and Post-graduation courses - DAV PG college, DBS college, SGRR PG college and KP PG Girls’ college. Several parts of the Garhwal and Kumaon region, including Dehradun, were a part of the United Provinces - later named as the state of Uttar Pradesh. In the year 2000, under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, the state of Uttarakhand (formerly known as Uttaranchal) was carved out of the northwestern districts of Uttar Pradesh and Dehradun was made the interim capital.

Evidence, such as temples and idols found in and around Dehradun, suggest that the history of Dehradun can be linked to the times of Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is said that Lord Ram and his brother Lakshman visited this place to perform an atonement after the battle with Ravana in Lanka. Dronacharya, the royal guru of the Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharata, was also believed to be born in Dehradun. Hence, the city of Dehradun is also known as ‘Dronagiri’. As per certain legends, the Pandavas rested here on their way to the top of the mountains.

• Religion & Culture: Uttarakhand is a state steeped in culture and mythology, so there are scores of temples dotting Dehradun, among which the main tourist attractions are Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple and the Tapovan Temple. Festivals are a big part of the Dehradun culture and the city celebrates many festivals all year round with great pomp and enthusiasm.
• Wildlife: The Malsi Deer Park is another renowned tourist attraction in Dehradun, as you get to see a vast variety of rare species here, such as the two-horned deer and the nilgai. Spread over an area of 25 hectares, Malsi Deer Park is a picnic spot that draws hundreds of visitors daily and provides for an enthralling getaway for wildlife and nature lovers.
• Shopping: Dehradun has a reputation for being a shopaholic’s paradise, with Paltan Bazaar and Indira Market being two of the primary shopping destinations that tourist flock to. You can buy traditional handicrafts and artefacts as well as jewellery, shoes, bags and clothing, at a relatively inexpensive price. Dehradun has food stalls, and eateries lined up at the corners of every street - so that you can have your fill of chaat, momos, chowmein and other local dishes.
  

Though Dehradun offers a number of choices, the local Pahadi cuisine is worth trying while here. These include Kandalee ka Saag, Gahat ki Daal, Aloo ke Gutke, Kaafli and Gulgula. Traditional sweets that you cannot miss include Bal Mithai, Arsa and Jhangora ki Kheer at places like Kumar Sweets and Anandam Sweets. Known for its confectionaries and bakeries, Dehradun's pista & aata biscuits, rusk and pastries are famous all over India. Ellora's Melting Moments, Standard Bakers and Grand Bakers are exceptional. Stick jaws candy is another local speciality of Dehradun. The kachoris at the famous Chetan Puri Wala in Hanuman Chowk are a local favourite. While the flavours of Dehradun promise to satiate your hunger, North Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Thai, Italian, South Indian, Continental cuisines are also easily available in Dehradun.
View Top Restaurants in Dehradun

Day 1 - Once in Dehradun, take some rest and begin your trip with a stroll through the local market, especially the Paltan Bazaar, a fascinating market, with its share of amazing streets and alleys, just near to another famous site in Dehradun city, The Clock Tower on the Rajpur Road. You can buy curios, handicrafts, souvenirs among many other things here.  
 Day 2 - The next day, you should set off officially for the trip, starting with blessings from Lord Shiva at the holy Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir. Not very far from here, at a distance of approximately 6.9 km. is the Robbers' Cave, a popular picnic cum adventure sports hotspot for the bold travelers. By evening, you can hop back to your hotel for some rest, for the journey might be quite tiring.
Day 3 - The final day should be reserved for a trek to the Malsi Deer Park, a wildlife reserve, where you can witness some rare breeds of deer prancing about. For the historical enthusiasts, and the qualified applicants of the CDS exams, the Indian Military Academy is always open for you.  

Rich heritage. Well connected by rail, road, and air. Acts as a connecting hub for a lot of places in Uttarakhand.

Congested in peak seasons. Expensive for budget travellers. 

People who want a break from the humdrum of the mundane routines. People visiting farther places in Uttarakhand can make a night stop here or take rentals from Dehradun.

Throughout the year
Lying in the foothills of the Himalayas, Dehradun is a soothing retreat which can be visited at any time of the year. An ideal season for a trip to Dehradun is the summer season when the climate is pleasant. It is also worth visiting during the monsoon and autumn season. Winters are not advisable as Dehradun remains cold but does not offer snow like its sister-towns.
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Though Dehradun offers a number of choices, the local Pahadi cuisine is worth trying while here. These include Kandalee ka Saag, Gahat ki Daal, Aloo ke Gutke, Kaafli and Gulgula. Traditional sweets that you cannot miss include Bal Mithai, Arsa and Jhangora ki Kheer at places like Kumar Sweets and Anandam Sweets. Known for its confectionaries and bakeries, Dehradun's pista & aata biscuits, rusk and pastries are famous all over India. Ellora's Melting Moments, Standard Bakers and Grand Bakers are exceptional. Stick jaws candy is another local speciality of Dehradun. The kachoris at the famous Chetan Puri Wala in Hanuman Chowk are a local favourite. While the flavours of Dehradun promise to satiate your hunger, North Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Thai, Italian, South Indian, Continental cuisines are also easily available in Dehradun.
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The nearest railway station is the Dehradun junction, which is well connected to major cities in northern India, primarily New Delhi. Jolly Grant Airport serves Dehradun domestically, with regular flights coming in from many major cities in India. Regular bus services also prevail to and fro Dehradun through an excellent roadways network.
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The packages for Dehradun start at INR 7000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

There are 302 in Dehradun which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Dehradun are Hill-View Studio Home on Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Premium 1BR Stay on Rajpur Road, Dehradun, Vaara, The Doon Homestay, Classic 1BR Stay in Maaldevta, VASUDHARA HOME STAY. You can see all the hotels in Dehradun here

The top things to do in Dehradun are Robber's Cave, Sahastradhara, Mindrolling Monastery, Lacchiwalla, Har Ki Dun, Tapovan Temple. You can see all the places to visit in Dehradun here

The top places near to Dehradun are Rishikesh which is 34 km from Dehradun, Mussoorie which is located 15 km from Dehradun, Haridwar which is located 43 km from Dehradun, Shimla which is located 120 km from Dehradun, Kanatal which is located 31 km from Dehradun