In the valley surrounded by the Shivaliks lies the city of Dehradun. It has the charm of a hill station with the conveniences of a capital city — after all, it is the capital of Uttarakhand. With quaint cafes, Tibetan food joints, monasteries, temples, malls and hotels, Dehradun has everything that a family could expect from a holiday destination. Not just that, the popular hill station of Mussoorie is just an hour’s car ride away.
Dehradun is easily accessible by train or flight. Its little airport caters to the nearby cities of Rishikesh and Haridwar as well, which are famous tourist destinations for locals and foreigners alike. If the holy cities are where you are planning to go, do keep at least two days in your itinerary for Dehradun.
Nestled between the two great rivers of North India, Ganga and Yamuna, Dehradun boasts of a climate that can be enjoyed in all seasons. It is neither too hot in the summer nor too cold in the winter. Keeping the pleasant weather in mind, quite a few outdoor locations are frequented by tourists and locals and the most beautiful one of them would be the Forest Research Institute (FRI).
This globally acclaimed university is a premier one in the field of forestry and was established in 1878 as the British Imperial Forest School. It has since then changed names but not its purpose. The building standing tall on a 450-hectare lawn may seem familiar as many films have been shot here — the most recent one being Student of the Year. Visitors can stroll on the lawns enjoying the variety of flora or go to the museum to learn about forestry. The tea at the cafeteria should not be missed.
Another popular picnic spot is the Sehestradhara, literally meaning a thousand springs. The sulphur infused waters here are supposed to be very good for the skin so many people go there just to bathe in that water. If getting wet is not on your agenda, there is a ropeway that takes visitors to the top of the mountain to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the springs and the beautiful vegetation surrounding it.
The Tibetan Buddha temple and monastery, bang in the middle of Rajpur Road, which could be called the main road of Dehradun, can be an exotic and vibrant experience for visitors. The bright red and gold colours of the temple as per the Tibetan culture make for beautiful photographs. You will see Buddhist monks in their maroon robes all over the city. This, though, is just one of the many temples in this area.
The Tapkeshwar Temple, so called because of the drops of water continuously falling on the Shivlinga here, is an ancient one. This is dedicated to Lord Shiva and a must visit for all devotees.
Very close to this temple is the Robber’s Cave. The English name may sound dangerous but there is nothing dangerous about this natural wonder.
Also called Guchchupani in the local tongue, the Robber’s Cave has streams of cold water running through it and these provide relief to tourists in the hot summer months when all you need to do is roll up your pants and wade into the cool caves. There is also a waterfall, which can help people cool off during the scorching summer months.
Dehradun was a popular spot in colonial times and the evidence of it is still visible in the historical clock tower in the middle of the town or the old buildings and houses that still stand from the pre-Independence time.
Mussoorie, the nearby hill station, is definitely a more popular destination and a must visit if you happen to be in Dehradun. Since it just takes 60-90 minutes to reach, this can be managed in a day without the need for staying the night.
The Mall Road is where most of the action is and you can enjoy coffee, momos and chaat right on the street without going inside the generic cafes.
If it is luxury you seek, Jaypee Hotels or the very new J W Marriott are there for an opulent cup of coffee.
Dehradun may not be a tourist destination for most and probably just serves as a stopover for people visiting the nearby, more popular towns, but this beautiful city is highly underrated!
Give the city a chance and I am sure it will definitely win you over with its natural beauty and the warmth of the people.