About Dehradun
Dehradun is the state capital of Uttarakhand and the largest city in the state. Situated at 640m in the Doon Valley between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, it enjoys a pleasant climate year-round and serves as the gateway for most Uttarakhand destinations.
The city is home to several prestigious national institutions — the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Wildlife Institute of India, Survey of India and the Forest Research Institute (FRI). It is also a major education hub with UPES, DIT and many other universities.
Top Places in Dehradun
1. Mussoorie – Queen of Hills
Just 35 km from Dehradun, Mussoorie at 2,005m is one of India's most popular hill stations. Highlights: Kempty Falls, Gun Hill (ropeway), Lal Tibba viewpoint, Camel's Back Road and the colonial-era Landour area. Peak season: April–June and September–November.
2. Sahastradhara (Thousand Springs)
A natural sulphur spring complex 14 km from Dehradun — "Sahastradhara" means "thousand springs". The sulphur water is believed to have healing properties. A picturesque spot with a ropeway, caves and pleasant gardens.
3. Robber's Cave (Guchhu Pani)
A fascinating natural cave through which a stream flows — visitors wade through the ankle-to-knee-deep water inside the cave. 8 km from Dehradun city centre. Very popular with local families.
4. Forest Research Institute (FRI)
A stunning colonial-era building set in 450 acres of forest — one of the finest examples of Greco-Roman architecture in India. Houses six museums on forestry and timber. A UNESCO candidate site.
5. Tapkeshwar Temple
An ancient cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the banks of the Assan river. Naturally dripping water from the cave ceiling constantly bathes the Shivalinga — hence "Tapkeshwar" (dripping god).
6. Mindrolling Monastery
One of the largest Buddhist monasteries in India — a magnificent Tibetan Buddhist complex with the 185-foot Great Stupa (Druk Ugyen Mindrolling Chorten). Beautiful peaceful gardens.
History of Dehradun District
The Doon Valley — the wide, fertile basin in which Dehradun sits — has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archaeological finds in the valley suggest continuous human settlement for over 5,000 years. In Hindu mythology, the Doon Valley is associated with the exile of the Pandavas and appears in the Ramayana as a place where Rama's brother Lakshmana performed austerities. The name "Dehradun" is believed to derive from Dera Doon — "the valley of encampments" — a reference to the military camps of the Sikh Guru Ram Rai, who established a dera (religious camp/settlement) here in 1676.
The recorded medieval history of the Doon Valley is marked by its position as a contested borderland between the Garhwal kingdom to the north and the plains kingdoms of the Mughal empire to the south. The Garhwal kings claimed sovereignty over the Doon but could not always defend it against incursions from the plains. Mughal governor Ali Mardan Khan occupied the valley briefly in the 17th century. The Sikh Guru Ram Rai, exiled from Punjab by Emperor Aurangzeb, was granted the Doon Valley as a jagir (land grant) and established the Darbar Sahib (now the Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara), around which the city of Dehradun grew.
In 1757, the Rohilla chief Najib-ud-Daula plundered the valley, killing thousands and destroying the Guru's settlement. The valley was rebuilt but remained vulnerable until the British consolidation. The Gurkhas of Nepal occupied the Doon Valley in 1804–05 and held it until the Anglo-Gurkha War (1814–16), after which it was ceded to the East India Company under the Treaty of Sugauli.
The British period transformed Dehradun from a modest valley town into one of India's most important administrative and educational centres. The British immediately recognised the valley's strategic value: its pleasant climate, proximity to the Himalayas and good road access made it ideal for military and civil headquarters. The Survey of India (India's national mapping agency) was relocated to Dehradun in 1900 and remains here today. The Forest Research Institute (FRI) was established in 1906 — its magnificent colonial building becoming one of Dehradun's most iconic landmarks. The Indian Military Academy (IMA), which trains Indian Army officers, was established in 1932.
The city also became famous as an education hub. The Doon School (1935) — India's most prestigious boarding school — was established here, along with Welham Boys' and Girls' schools. This educational tradition attracted generations of India's political and business elite to study in Dehradun, giving the city a lasting association with institutional excellence.
After Independence, Dehradun became part of Uttar Pradesh. When the Uttarakhand movement — demanding a separate hill state — gained momentum in the 1990s, Dehradun was the obvious choice for the state capital. Uttarakhand was formed on November 9, 2000, and Dehradun became its interim (and effectively permanent) state capital, cementing its position as the political and economic anchor of the new hill state. Today the Doon Valley faces challenges of rapid urbanisation and traffic congestion, but Dehradun remains the essential gateway to Uttarakhand's mountains.
How to Reach Dehradun
- By Air: Jolly Grant Airport (35 km) — flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata
- By Train: Dehradun Railway Station — Shatabdi from Delhi (5 hrs)
- By Road: 280 km from Delhi via NH-58 (6–7 hours)