Dehradun is located in theDoon Valley on the foothills of theHimalayas nestled betweenSong River, a tributary ofGanges on the east and the Asan River, a tributary ofYamuna on the west. The city is noted for its picturesque landscape and provides a gateway to the surrounding region.
Dehradun has been an important centre forGarhwal rulers, which was first captured byGorkha Kings, in January 1804, and then by the British. For its strategic value, in addition to the location of its principal service academy, theIndian Armed Forces maintain a considerable presence in Dehradun, at theGarhi Cantonment and Naval Station. TheUttarakhand Police is the primary law enforcement agency in the city.[18]
Dehradun is made up of two words "dehra" + "dun." "dehra" is a Hindi word with the meaning of temple, whose etymology is: "dev" + "ghar", fromPrakrit "devahara."[19][20] "dūn" (or Hindi दून derives from theSanskrit droṇī (or द्रोणि) and means "a tract of country lying at the foot of hills; a valley"[21][22]
The town was established whenRam Rai, the son of the seventhSikh Guru,Guru Har Rai built agurudwara or temple in the area in the 17th century.[23] Ram Rai was sent by his father as an emissary to the Mughal emperorAurangzeb inDelhi. Aurangzeb objected to a verse in the Sikh scripture (Asa ki Var) that stated, "the clay from a Musalman(Muslim)'s grave is kneaded into potter's lump", considering it an insult to Islam. Ram Rai explained that the text was miscopied and modified it, substituting "Musalman" with "Beiman" (faithless, evil) which Aurangzeb approved.[24][25] This led Guru Har Rai to bar his son from his presence, and name his younger son as his successor. Aurangzeb responded by granting Ram Rai ajagir (land grant) in Garhwal region (Uttarakhand). The town later came to be known as Dehradun, afterDehra referring to Ram Rai's shrine.[25] Many followers of Ram Rai, calledRamraiyas, settled with Ram Rai.[24][26] Another early name for the settlement was Dera Ram Rai.[27] During the days ofBritish Raj, the official name of the town wasDehra.[28] In due time the word Dehra was linked to Dun, and thus the city was named Dehradun.
In theSkanda Purana, Dun is mentioned as a part of the region called Kedarkhand, the abode ofShiva. According to Hindu mythology, in ancient India during theMahabharata epic era,Dronacharya, the great teacher ofKauravas andPandavas, lived here, hence the name of "Dronanagari" (lit.city ofDrona).[29][30]
The history of the city ofUttarakhand, Dehradun (nicknamed "Doon Valley") is linked to the story ofRamayana andMahabharata. It is believed that after the battle betweenRavana and Rama, Rama and his brotherLakshmana visited this site. Also, known as 'Dronanagari' on the name ofDronacharya, legendary Royal guru to theKauravas andPandavas in the epic Mahabharata, is believed to have been born and resided in Dehradun.[31] Evidence such as ancient temples and idols have been found in the areas surrounding Dehradun which have been linked to the mythology ofRamayana andMahabharata. These relics and ruins are believed to be around 2000 years old. Furthermore, the location, the local traditions and the literature reflect this region's links with the events of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Even after the battle of Mahabharata, the Pandavas had an influence on this region as the rulers ofHastinapura with the descendants ofSubahu ruled the region as subsidiaries. Likewise,Rishikesh is mentioned in the pages of history whenVishnu answered the prayers of the saints, slaughtered the demons and handed the land to the saints. The adjoining place calledChakrata has its historical impression during the time of Mahabharata.
In the seventh century, this area was known as Sudhanagara and was described by the Chinese travellerHuen Tsang. Sudhanagara later came to be recognised asKalsi.Edicts of Ashoka have been found in the region along the banks of the riverYamuna in Kalsi indicating the wealth and importance of the region in ancient India. In the neighbouring region of Haripur, ruins were discovered from the time of King Rasala which also reflect the region's prosperity. It was under control of Garhwal for many centuries.
Fateh Shah, a Garhwal king, donated three villages in Dehradun toSikh guru Ram Rai. Before the name of Dehradun was used, the place is shown on old maps as Gurudwara (a map by Webb, 1808) or Gurudwara (a map by Gerard, 1818). Gerard's map names the place as "Dehra or Gurudwara". Surrounding this original Sikh temple were many small villages that are now the names of parts of the modern city.
Dehradun itself derives its name from the historical fact thatRam Rai, the eldest son of the Seventh Sikh GuruHar Rai, set up his "Dera" (camp) in "dun" (valley) in 1676. This 'Dera Dun' later on became Dehradun.
The Mughal EmperorAurangzeb was highly impressed by the miraculous powers of charismatic Ram Rai. He asked the contemporary Maharaja of Garhwal,Fateh Shah to extend all possible help to Ram Rai. Initially, a Gurudwara (temple) was built in Dhamawala. The construction of the present building,Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib, was completed in 1707. There are portraits of gods, goddesses, saints, sages and religious stories on the walls. There are pictures of flowers and leaves, animals and birds, trees, similar faces with pointed noses and big eyes on the arches which are the symbol of the colour scheme ofKangra-Guler art andMughal art. High minarets and round pinnacles are the models of Muslim architecture. The huge pond in the front measuring 230 by 80 feet (70 m × 24 m) had dried up for want of water over the years. People had been dumping rubbish; it has been renovated and revived.
In 1804 battles of Khurbura at Dehradun fought between Garhwal king Pradyuman shah and Gorakhali forces led by General Amar Singh thapa in which king Pradyuman shah died and came under control of Gorakha. In 1806 the Nepalese CommanderKajiAmar Singh Thapa under the central leadership of Prime MinisterMukhtiyarBhimsen Thapa united many of the Indian territories that now fell under places such asAlmora,Pathankot,Kumaon,Garhwal,Sirmur,Shimla,Kangra and Dehradun.
Princely flag ofKingdom of Garhwal. Dehradun was part of the princely state of Garhwal before becoming part of British India after theAnglo-Nepalese War in 1816.
Capt John War memorial maintained by the army at Dehradun
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, was quite fond of the city and often visited. He spent his last few days here before dying in Delhi in 1964.[32] Another leader from the independence movement,Rash Behari Bose, who was one of the key organisers of theGhadar conspiracy and, later, theIndian National Army was based in Dehradun in his early days before he was forced to move to Japan in 1915 to continue the freedom struggle.
Post-independence Dehradun (part of theUnited Provinces of Agra and Oudh) was merged with three other princely states and made part ofUnited Provinces which was later renamed the state ofUttar Pradesh. In 2000, Uttarakhand state (Named Uttaranchal till 2008) was created from the northwestern districts of Uttar Pradesh under theUttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000. Dehradun was made its interim capital.
Dehradun's Afghan connection dated back to theFirst Anglo-Afghan War, after which theAfghan EmirDost Mohammad Khan was exiled by the British to Dehradun.[33] He stayed inMussoorie for over 6 years. The Balahissar ward under the Mussoorie municipality has been named after the palace of Dost Mohammad. The famous DehradooniBasmati was brought along by him fromKunar Province in Afghanistan and it continues to be counted as a delicacy of the valley.[33][34]
According to Dehradun historian and heritage activist Lokesh Ohri, "Dost Mohammad Khan was fond of pulao and missed it during his exile. He broughtBasmati rice to the Doon valley and is credited with improving its genetic variety. His grandson Yaqub Khan gave Basmati seeds to a Paltan Bazaar trader and asked him to cultivate them in Dehradun. Surprisingly, the Doon valley's weather suited the rice and it turned out even better than the variety in Afghanistan."[35]
Forty years later, after theSecond Anglo-Afghan War, his grandson,Mohammad Yaqub Khan, was sent to exile to India in 1879. Just like his grandfather, he chose Doon valley as his abode. Yakoob became the first Afghan to formally settle in Dehradun. The present Mangla Devi Inter College was once the Kabul Palace where Yakoob spent a few years of his life. The extended family and servants of the King were also relocated to Dehradun.[36]
The Afghan royal family maintained a presence in Dehra Dun. It was the birthplace of the second to lastKing of Afghanistan,Mohammed Nadir Shah. Two quaint palaces – the Kabul Palace in Dehradun[37] and Bala Hissar Palace in Mussoorie – stand testimony to this connection with Afghanistan. They were built by these Afghan rulers in exile in India in the early part of the 20th Century and are palaces are a miniature replica of the palatial structures owned by the kings in Afghanistan. The Bala Hissar Palace has now been turned into Mussoorie'sWynberg Allen School. Doon-based heritage enthusiast Ghanshyam told the Times of India, "The police station at Karanpur used to be the royal guard room of Yakoob way back in 1879. The electrical office located at the Survey Chowk was the royal servants quarter."[33]
Today the descendants of the former royalty, Yakub Khan and his grandson Sardar Azim Khan's family have integrated with the mainstream of Dehradun life.[38] The Doon connection was revived when Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan while undergoing treatment in New Delhi during the last years of his life expressed a desire to meet his Doon cousins but the meeting could not take place as the family members were away.[38]Ashraf Ghani, formerPresident of Afghanistan has mentioned that his grandmother grew up in Dehra Dun. "I speak ofTagore because I was raised on Tagore by my grandmother who lived in Dehradun...," Dr Ghani said while talking about India's vision and the remarkable transformation.[39] Dehradun is also being selected to be the second "home" ground of theAfghan cricket team.[40] and Afghan cricket fans recall this "centuries old link" with the town.[41]
The city of Dehradun mainly lies inDoon Valley and is at a varying height from 410 m (1,350 ft) inClement Town to above 700 m (2,300 ft) at Malsi which is 15 km (9.3 mi) from the city. However, the average elevation is 450 m (1,480 ft) above sea level.[42] Malsi is the starting point of Lesser Himalayan Range that extends to Mussoorie and beyond.Jaunsar-Bawar hills in Dehradun district rises to 3,700 m (12,100 ft) above sea level. The hilly region ofMussoorie goes up to a height of 1,870–2,017 m (6,135–6,617 ft) above sea level. Its geomorphological and meteorological characteristics make it prone to a number of natural hazards. Beside earthquakes, the region is frequently devastated by landslides, cloudbursts, flash-floods, cold waves and hailstorms.
This district is divided into two major parts: the main city Dehradun surrounded by Shivalik and the Jaunsar-Bawar, which is in the foothills of Himalayas. In the north and northwest it borders on the district ofUttarkashi andTehri Garhwal, in the east and southeast byPauri Garhwal andGanges river, in the west, it is bordered byShimla andSirmaur districts ofHimachal Pradesh,Yamunanagar district ofHaryana and theTons andYamuna rivers. To the south areHaridwar andUttar Pradesh'sSaharanpur district. It is between latitudes 30°01' N and 31°2'N and longitudes 77°34' E and 78°18'E.[43] This district consists of six tehsils – Dehradun, Chakrata, Vikasnagar, Kalsi, Tiuni and Rishikesh – six community development blocks – Vis, Chakrata, Kalsi, Vikasnagar, Sahaspur, Rajpur and Doiwala – 17 towns and 764 villages. Out of these 746 villages are inhabited; 18 are uninhabited.[44]
There was once an extensive canal network in the city, which irrigated many surrounding villages and produced a cooler microclimate in the region. The earliest canal, Rajpur canal, was laid in the 17th century but after Dehradun became the state capital in 2000, most of the heritage canals were covered or demolished to widen the city roads.[45] Within 15 years after becoming state capital, almost all of the canal system across Dehradun city has been demolished or covered. Outskirts of dehradun and around lacchiwala, Maldevta. etc still have a few canal systems uncoverd. Environmental groups have campaigned for the revival of the network, citing its benefit for the city'secology, aesthetics, microclimate andbuilt environment.[46]
The climate of Dehradun ishumid subtropical (Cwa). The city is in Doon Valley and temperature variations due to difference in elevation are considerable.[47] In the hilly regions, the summer is pleasant but in the urban areas, the heat can be intense and summer temperatures can reach up to 40 °C (104 °F) for a few days asLoo blows over North India. Winter temperature is usually between 6 and 20 °C (43 and 68 °F), though the temperature in Dehradun can reach below freezing during severe cold snaps.[48] The area receives an average annual rainfall of 2,073.3 mm (81.63 in). Most of the annual rainfall in the city is received during the months from June to September, July and August being rainiest. During themonsoon season, there is often heavy and protracted rainfall. Agriculture benefits from fertile alluvial soil, adequate drainage and plentiful rain.
Climate data for Dehradun (1991–2020, extremes 1901–present)
Thedemonym for residents of Dehradun areDoonites andDoonvasi. The2011 census reported a population of 578,420 in Dehradun city;[4] male and female are 303,411 and 275,009 respectively. The sex ratio of the city is 906 per 1000 males.[4] Natives of Uttarakhand form the majority of Dehradun's population most having migrated from the hills. Thesex ratio of the city is 907 females per 1000 males and child sex ratio of 873 girls per 1000 boys, lower than the national average.[4] The number of children of age under six in Dehradun city was 80,180 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There are 50,600 boys and 28,580 are girls.[4] Total numbers of slums in Dehradun city and its Out Growth numbers 32,861 in which population of 158,542 resides. This is around 27.58% of total population of Dehradun city & its outgrowth which is 574,840.
Hindus form the majority of Dehradun's population; Muslims compose a large minority. According to provisional results of the 2011 national census,Hinduism is majority religion in Dehradun city with 82.53% followers.Islam is the second most practised religion in the city with approximately 11.75% following it.Sikhism by 3.5%,Christianity is followed by 1.06%,Jainism by 0.63%, andBuddhism by 0.29%. Around 0.01% stated 'Other Religion', approximately 0.24% stated 'No Particular Religion'.[54]
Dehradun's literacy rate at 89.32% is the highest in the region. Male literacy is 92.65% and female literacy is 85.66%. The number of literates in Dehradun city is 463,791, of which 251,832 are males and 211,959 are females.[4]
As capital of the state of Uttarakhand, Dehradun houses important state government facilities such as the offices of the local governing agencies, theVidhan Sabha (the home of the Uttarakhand state legislature), andRaj Bhavan (the residence of the governor of Uttarakhand). Most government establishments and institutions are housed in the city.
Dehradun city falls in Garhwal division of Uttarakhand which is headed by thedivisional commissioner of Dehradun, who is anIndian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of high seniority. Thedistrict magistrate and collector of Dehradun[57] report to thedivisional commissioner as well. The DM is assisted by a chief development officer; five additional district magistrates for finance/revenue, city, rural administration, land acquisition and civil supply.
The city is represented in two Lok Sabha constituencies, ofTehri Garhwal by MPMala Rajya Laxmi Shah from theBJP, and Garhwal represented by BJP'sTirath Singh Rawat, elected in 2019.[58] The city is also represented by four MLAs elected from four state assembly constituencies, as per the 2008 delimitation:[59][60]
Nagar Nigam Dehradun, also calledDehradun Municipal Corporation, is the local government of the city. The corporation originated in 1998. Prior to December 2003, this body was known as Dehradun Municipal Council, and after revamping the municipality, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation came into existence under the Uttarakhand (The Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1959) (Amendment) Act, 2017.[61]
As of 2018, the municipality covers an area of 196.48 km2 (75.86 sq mi) and administers a population of 803,983.[2][3][62] In 2017, with the inclusion of 72 adjoining villages in the DMC limits, the number of wards increased from 60 to 100.[63] As of 2020, the corporation consists of 100 wards and the elected head is themayor who presides over a deputy mayor and 99 othercorporators representing the wards.[64][65] Themayor is directly elected for a period of five years and as of January 2025 is Saurabh Thapliyal from BJP.[66]
Themunicipal commissioner is the executive head of the local government institutions (themunicipal corporation) in the division, in charge of infrastructure development in his division, and is also responsible for maintaining law and order in the division. As of 2020, the municipal commissioner is Vinay Shankar Pandey while the deputy municipal commissioner is Soniya Pant.[67] The corporation has the following departments: public works, property tax, health, street lights, project implementation unit, Information Technology and sanitation.[68] As per the ASICS report 2017, Dehradun municipality generates very few of its own revenues and relies primarily on grants from the state government.[69] The municipality collects revenue from property taxes and parking fees.[70][71][72]
Other urban entities involved in civic services and city governance and management includeparastatals like theMussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), Special Area Development Authority (SADA), Jal Sansthan, and Jal Nigam among others. These oversee the city's civic infrastructure which comes underDehradun Urban Agglomeration and covers a population of 714,223 according to the 2011 census.[73]
Dehradun falls under the Lucknow zone of the Chief Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is part of the central government.[79] Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACB) Dehradun, has jurisdiction over 13 districts in Uttarakhand.[80][79]
Dehradun city receives potable water from two primary sources- surface water and groundwater to meet its supply needs.[81] The sources of water were mainly from Kaulu khet Spring, Maussifall, Bindal River,Bijapur canal and more than 100 tubewells.[82] It suffers from lack of sufficient ground water recharge and depleting ground water tables.[83] The water supply of Dehradun is operated and maintained by Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS),[84] a state agency.
The sewage[84] of Dehradun is operated and maintained by Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS) but is also selectively under the aegis of the Smart City project funded by the central government.[85] As per a report from 2015, only 25% of the city is covered by the existing sewage system.[82] According to the Smart Cities Annexe 2, the sewerage covers 30% of the city, and has an efficiency of 10%.[86]
The city of Dehradun generates 350 metric tons (350,000 kg; 390 short tons) of waste per day.[87] The landfill or dumping site has since shifted from the dumping ground on Sahastradhara[88][89][90] road in 2017[91] to one centralised solid waste processing plant in Dehradun, Shishambara[92] on the outskirts of the city which has the capacity of 600 MP per day.[87] Only 69 of the 100 wards in the city are covered by this plant[91] and only 3% of the wards in Dehradun have 100% segregation of waste at source.[93] Segregation of waste at source is lacking in the city, although the municipality spends around one crore per month on collection and transportation of solid waste.[87] A decentralised pilot project was started in Nathuwala ward with the help of local residents and an NGO called Feedback Foundation and has since been declared a zero waste zone.[91]
Electricity in Dehradun is regulated through the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL), while Fire services are handled by the Uttarakhand Fire and Emergency Services. State-ownedBharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, or BSNL, as well as private enterprises, among themVodafone,Bharti Airtel,Reliance,Idea Cellular, andTata Teleservices are the leading telephone and cell phone service providers in the city.
The health sector in Dehradun (and Rishikesh) receives a large number of patients from the rest of Uttarakhand due to understaffed and ill equipped health centers in the hills. Most hill health centers have minimal or absent secondary health centers and at timesPrimary Health Centers are also understaffed and underequipped.[94]
The healthcare facilities in Dehradun consist of private and public hospitals, formal and informal service providers as well as secondary and tertiary healthcare with single clinic doctors. In spite of having special status under theNational Health Mission, the city is facing a healthcare crisis due to the shortage of medical manpower in the state and financial constraints. Hospitals and medical centres in the Dehradun are plagued by non-functioning equipment in the operating theatre and the insufficient number of labour rooms.[95]
Hospitals in the city include the Doon Hospital, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shri Mahant Indresh Hospital, Himalayan Hospital, Uttaranchal Ayurvedic Hospital, Combined Medical Institute (CMI) Hospital, Luthra Hospital, and Government Hospital Premnagar (managed by the state government).
Uttarakhand Board of School Education is responsible for administering courses of instructions, textbooks, and to conduct examinations for secondary school students of the state. The board was set up in 2001 and is headquartered inRamnagar.[96]
After completing their secondary education, students typically enrol in schools that have a higher secondary facility and are affiliated with the Directorate of higher education, theICSE, or theCBSE. The colleges are each affiliated with a university or institution based either in Uttarakhand or elsewhere in India. In recent times, Dehradun has evolved as a pivot location for higher education in India.
Uttarakhand Technical University has eight constituent institutes[99] and approximately 132 affiliated colleges[100]
The campus ofForest Research Institute which was established in the year 1906 hosts theIndira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), the staff college that trains officers selected for the Indian Forest Service (IFS).Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change, Government of India which carries out wildlife research.
Dehradun has four medical colleges.Government Doon Medical College is the only government medical college located in the city. Private medical colleges includeShri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical & Health Sciences affiliated toHemwati Nandan Bahuguna Uttarakhand Medical Education University and Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences affiliated toSwami Rama Himalayan University. These three medical colleges caters to the population of Dehradun and nearby hilly areas.National Institute for Empowerment of People with Visual Disabilities[101] (NIEPVD) plays a key role in helping blind people. It is the first such institute in India and the first press forBraille script in the country[102] which provides education and service to the blind children. Dehradun houses organisations like the Latika Roy Foundation[103] for people with disabilities to access education, employment, and full inclusion in the community. The ASK Foundation, an educational charity, is also located in Dehradun.[104]
Central Braille Press, Dehradun – the firstBraille press of India
The main source of economy in Dehradun is itstourist places. The city's economy is enhanced by the presence of nearby national parks, mountain peaks and historical sites. Dehradun has a per capita income close to $2,993 (per 2020 figures). It has witnessed a strong economic growth in the last 20 years.[105] Dehradun has experienced a commercial and information technology upswing, amplified by the establishment of software technology parks of India (STPI)[106] and SEZs (Special economic zones) throughout.
The largest profession in Dehradun is agriculture. Staple foods are rice and dal with raita, curd and salad. Dehradun is known for its lychees and for growing the world's finest basmati rice.[107][108]
Dehradun is served byDehradun Airport, also known asJolly Grant Airport (IATA:DED,ICAO:VIDN), which began its commercial operations in on 30 March 2008. It is located in Jauligrant, 25 km (16 mi) south of the city, 20 km (12 mi) fromRishikesh and 35 km (22 mi) fromHaridwar. Commercial operations began on 30 March 2008, after the runway was extended to accommodate larger aircraft. A new terminal building was inaugurated in February 2009. The current passenger terminal was inaugurated in October 2021. . Over 1,325,931 passengers passed through the airport in 2021–22, making it the33rd busiest airport in India. The airport is to be developed as an international airport, which has caused protests since it would require the felling of trees in the ecologically sensitive area of Thano.[110][111][112]
Dehradun lies on theNational Highway 7,National Highway 307 which connects it to statesPunjab,Haryana,Himachal Pradesh, andUttar Pradesh. There are two sets of major roads in Dehradun city, one along NE-SW (Rajpur main road) and the other along with NW-SE (Raipur, Kaulagarh and Chakrata) directions and they, in turn, are connected to another minor road network. There is NH 7 road which connectsFazilka toMana and on the same highway Shimla Bypass road is there too, which connects Dehradun toShimla viaPoanta Sahib andNahan directly. The road density is high in the central part of the city around the bus stand and railway station.
Other modes of travel for local inter-city transportation are public transportation buses,auto rickshaws andcycle rickshaws. The Blue city busses, Blue Vikrams (A three wheeled auto rikshaw) and whiteTata Magic (a four-row Microvan) provide a reliable and affordable transport service. Insert 2022 the Government launched an electric bus service which now contains a fleet of 30 busses for inter-city transportation.[115]
Dehradun was home to freedom fighters whose names are engraved in gold on the Clock Tower. It was called "The city of grey hair and green hedges" because ex-Army officers and VIPs considered this place ideal for residence after retirement.[116]
After becoming the capital, there has been continuous growth in education, communication and transport. As the state capital, Dehradun is home to many government institutions.
City buses are identified with blue bars. There are auto rickshaw which are often used for transportation but blamed for pollution and noise. The evening buzz of Rajpur road is an attraction. The city centre is easily recognised by theClock tower (Ghanta Ghar), a structure with four functioning clocks. The statue of San Dijen placed in Shanti Niketan contributes to the beauty of the city.[citation needed] Dehradun has been home to artists and writers includingStephen Alter,Nayantara Sahgal,Allan Sealy,Ruskin Bond and also to country singerBobby Cash.
Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib
There are fairs (melas) throughout the year which is in trend with the hills of Uttarakhand where festivals were marked by the organisation of various melas. Notable fairs include Magh Mela, held on 14 January and Jhanda Mela in March, is celebrated as the birthday of Ram Rai, the eldest son of the seventh Guru of the Sikhs, Har Rai. A massive banner (jhanda) is raised during this fair to commemorate his arrival in the Doon Valley on this very day in 1733. The Jhanda Fair is observed on the fifth day ofchaitra, which also falls five days afterHoli. It is held in Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib in Jhanda Bazaar.[117][118]
The tourist destinations can be divided into four or five areas: nature, sports, sanctuary, museums and institutions. The nearby hill stations are well known for their natural environment,[125] temples for its faith dimensions, sanctuary for animal and bird lovers. Hill stations includeMussoorie,Sahastradhara,Chakrata, andDakpathar. Famous temples include Tapkeshwar,Lakhamandal and Santala Devi.
TheKipling Trail is the old walking route between Dehradun andMussoorie that was named after English novelistRudyard Kipling, who is believed to have walked the trail in the 1880s. It begins at Shahanshahi Ashram in Rajpur village. The trail is being revived as nature, history and hiking enthusiasts are increasingly using the trail over driving up to thehill station.
The Battle of Nalapani was the first battle of the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814–1816, fought between the forces of the British East India Company and Nepal, then ruled by the House of Gorkha. The battle took place around the Nalapani fort, near Dehradun, which was placed under siege by the British between 31 October and 30 November 1814.
There are various temples of Maa Bala Sundari Devi situated in India and this is one such temple. The main temple is in Trilokpur, Himachal Pradesh. This temple is situated approximately three km (1.9 mi) South-West Direction ofSudhowala. This great temple is situated inside a forest.Gaur Brahmin ofSudhowala are Pandits (Brahman) of this temple. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Maa Bala Sundari, also known as Bal Roop of Maa Vaishno Devi, a manifestation of the HinduMother GoddessMahalakshmi.[126] The words "maa" and "mata" are commonly used in India for "mother", and thus are often used in connection with Maa Bala Sundari.
Various modes of transportation are available from Sudhowala, including ponies, electric vehicles and palkis operated by 2 or 4 persons. Many pilgrims visit from the northern Indian states to get the blessings of Mahamaya Bala Sundari. A trust is also run by Mandir Maa Bala Sundari Trust, Sudhowala.
Robber's Cave (locally known as Guchhupani), is ariver cave formation inHimalaya, located approximately eight km (5.0 mi) from the centre of Dehradun City inUttarakhand state of India. Believed to be the hideout of the Sultana Daaku and his band of dacoits. The cave formation has thus been named Robber's Cave.
The cave is about 600 metres (2,000 ft) long, divided into two main parts. The cave has a highest fall of about 10 metres (33 ft). In the central part there is a fort wall structure which is now broken.[128] It consists of an extremely narrowgorge formed in aconglomeratelimestone area onDoon Valley's Dehraplateau.[129]
It is a natural cave formation where rivers flows inside the cave. The place is a tourist site and is maintained byUttarakhand State. Local bus services are available up to Anarwala village, from where it is a 1-kilometre (0.62 mi) trek.[128][130]
It is a popular tourist destination especially during summers. It is well known for its forests, man-made water pools and bird watching. It is now known as Nature Park.[citation needed]
It is a temple of Pashupati Shiva. It is situated beside a forest on the bank of the Asan river and the main deity (Shivalinga) is housed in a natural cave. According to the holy epicMahabharata, GuruDrona is said to have resided in this cave for a period of time. The temple's natural cave is named Drona cave after him.[131] Water trickles down the ceiling of the cave and drops on the Shivalinga creating a magnificent image.
Formerly known as Malsi Deer Park, the main objectives of Dehradun Zoo are conservation of wild animals, developing an education centre and a rescue centre for wild animals. It is located on the foothills of Shivalik Range on the Mussoorie Road. It is about ten km (6.2 mi) away from Dehradun and 23 km (14 mi) fromMussoorie.
The institute is one of the oldest and biggest forest-based training institutes in India. The institute is known for its research work and wonderful architecture that dates to British Raj. FRI is affiliated to the Forest Research Institute University and is approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The aim of the institution is to accomplish the needs of the Indo-Gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh, as well as the Uttarakhand Himalayas.[133]
The museum was founded in 2017 and is Uttarakhand's first art museum. It exhibits various aspects of the calamity and the folk culture of Uttarakhand through paintings, sculptures, and other artworks.[136][137][138]
Regional Science Centre (RSC) is located within the campus of Uttarakhand Council of Science and Technology (UCOST) at Vigyan Dham, Suddhowala on the outskirts of Dehradun. The Uttarakhand Regional Science Centre is developed by the National Council for Science Museum (NCSM) in collaboration with the UCOST. The Regional Science Centre is a common destination for school educational tours and hosts a science museum, planetarium, a 3D theatre, science gallery and scientific law based interactive exhibits.[139]
Virasat is a cultural festival that celebrates all aspects of the country's cultural heritage.[141] The festival was held for the first time in 1995 in Dehradun.[141][142] It is recognised as the Afro-Asia's biggest folk life and heritage festival.[143] Organised by REACH (Rural Entrepreneurship for Art & Cultural Heritage), this week-long festival includes performances and workshops in Indian folk and classical arts, literature, crafts, theatre, cinema and yoga.[141][142]
Virasat 2008 expanded the festival into a nationwide event.[144]
Most of the media houses in Uttarakhand are based in Dehradun. Among Dehradun's widely circulated Hindi-language newspapers areDainik Tribune,Shah Times,Uttarakhand Aaj,Dainik Jagran,Gorkha Sandesh,HindustanRashtriya Sahara,Divya Himgiri, andAmar Ujala.The Dehradun Street andThe Garhwal Post are two major English-language newspapers that are produced and published from the city. Other popular English-language newspapers published and sold in Dehradun includeThe Himachal Times,Deccan Herald,The Times of India, andHindustan Times.
Since, the formation of the state in 2000, the state suffered a blow to its sports facilities asUttar Pradesh had the entire infrastructure for sports.Uttarakhand had hosted very few matches ofRanji Trophy. Due to lack of infrastructure, players started moving to different states.[citation needed] In November 2012,Former Chief Minister of UttarakhandVijay Bahuguna laid the foundation of the stadium hoped that the stadium would bring Dehradun on the international cricket map.On 16 December 2016, Chief MinisterHarish Rawat inaugurated the stadium along withRajeev Shukla (theIPL chairperson). The stadium has a seating capacity of 25,000 people, along with floodlights facility for conducting day-night matches. The stadium is built on a 23-acre site and was selected as the second home ground for the Afghanistan cricket team in India.[148][151]
After Dehradun was made the capital of Uttarakhand, there was a construction boom, especially in residential properties.[152][citation needed] Modern buildings have gradually supplanted older architectural styles including those related to the British colonial rule of India. Important older buildings still upstanding include the Clock Tower,Forest Research Institute, CNI College, Morrison Memorial Church, Inamullah Building, Jama Masjid, Osho Meditation Centre,Indian Military Academy and Darbar Sahib.
^"Constituent Institutes".uktech.ac.in. Uttarakhand Technical University. 16 June 2016.Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved18 January 2021.
^"Affiliated Institutes".uktech.ac.in. Uttarakhand Technical University.Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved18 January 2021.
^"इनका आकर्षण है खास" [They have special charm] (in Hindi). देहरादूनएक्सकर्शन्स [Dehradun Expresscans]. Archived fromthe original on 2 June 2008. Retrieved26 March 2011.
^Satpathy, Kriti Saraswat (20 June 2016)."Latest travel Articles & blogs".India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com.Archived from the original on 14 July 2020. Retrieved14 July 2020.
^"Dehradun radio stations". ASIAWAVES: Radio and TV Broadcasting in South and South-East Asia.Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved9 June 2020.
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