Dehradun (Hindi: देहरादून Dehrādūn) is the winter capital of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Nestled between the Himalayan foothills to the north and the Shivaliks to the south, the town offers breathtaking scenery. It is a favourite destination among tourists, pilgrims and enthusiasts alike from different regions with its serene environment. Apart from this, there is an abundance of basmati rice, tea and lychee gardens.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Dehradun (dayh-RAH-doon) has experienced tremendous growth, and has a population of around 550,000. It is also famous for the Doon School, often called the "Eton of India". Dehradun is at an altitude of 2,200 ft in the Doon Valley between two of the most important rivers in India, the Ganges and Yamuna. It offers beautiful scenery and a moderate (but very rainy) climate in summer, and so is an ideal place to relax and escape the heat of the plains below. The town also serves as a convenient base for visiting the area's many tourist sites.
Dehradun has a city bus service run by private owners under STA. The destinations are written in Hindi above the windshield. Generally, however, the buses are crowded, so it is better to use other means of transport. Auto rickshaws are plentiful in the downtown area. They are not metered, but instead use a fixed rate system. However, as the rate is often not prominently displayed, it is advisable to have some idea of the cost to your destination before taking an auto rickshaw. Otherwise, you are very likely to be charged well over the odds. The cheapest way to get around town is via the ubiquitous blue three wheelers called Vikrams.
1 Chetwoode Hall, Dehradun-Chakrata Road. The Indian Military Academy. A charming little museum housing collections of 20th century military artifacts. 2 Clock Tower, Rajpur Road (Rajpur and Gandhi Roads crossing). Built by the British, this remains the icon of the downtown area. 3 The Gurkha Fort, Tapovan Forest Area. 4 Jaspal Rana Shooting Range. Majhon- Paunda, Via Nanda Ki Chowki, Premnagar, Dehradun 5 The Kalinga War Memorial, Sahastradhara Road. The only war memorial of its kind in the world which was erected by the British to honour their foe, the Gurkhas (or the Gorkhas). 6 Kalsi. Small town in the Dehradun District with ancient monuments such as the Edicts_of_Ashoka.
Picnic - Pack a hamper of food and drinks and picnic at Sahastradhara, on the banks of the Baldi River. The mineral waters here are pure and clean. It is a 30-minute drive from the city of Dehradun. You can also rent a cycle from Hotel Madhuban. It takes a little over an hour to bike down. After a hard day's sightseeing, drive down to the village of Dakpathar 45 km away. The sparkling waters of the Yamuna makes this the perfect spot to relax. The neat little GMVN Tourist Complex is in the village. It has a good restaurant and a small swimming pool. Dehradun has plenty of trekking opportunities around as it serves as the nearest railway station to many trekking destinations.
Black Pepper Bar & Restaurant, Astley Hall, Rajpur Rd. One of the finest bar and multicuisine restaurant in Dehradun in a soothing ambience. Flavors, Saharanpur Road, ☏ +91 135 2626166, +91 135 2726166. Daily 11AM-11PM. Delicious food and amazing ambiance with live ghazals. Mid range. Hotel President, 6 Astley Hall, Rajpur Rd, ☏ +91 135 2657082. Hotel with a restaurant, bar, coffee shop. Pavilion is the multi cuisine restaurant in the hotel providing you with a range of Indian, Chinese and Mughlai delicacies. The colonial styled restaurant overlooks the scenic mountain slopes. Polo Bar in the hotel premises keeps a good stock of foreign liquors. Kumar's, Rajpur Road.
Barista. The English Book Depot, 15 Rajpur Road. Excellent coffee, iced tea and pastries. Best Buddy's Cafe, Ground Floor Shop No 2, Pacific Hills, Main Mussorie Diversion, (near Max Super Specialty Hospital), ☏ +91 0135 273 3892. 11AM-11PM. Modern cafe with outdoor seating. Continental, Thai, and Indian meals served. (updated Mar 2019) Cafe Coffee Day, Rajpur Road. Standard CCD fare. (updated Mar 2019) Cafe De Piccolo, 180, Rajpur Rd, Near Sai Mandir, Kishanpur,, ☏ +91 83768 56323. 11AM-10PM. A cozy cafe with outdoor and attic seating. Good coffee. Italian cuisine. Tends to get crowded in the evenings. (updated Mar 2019) Eltham Bakery and Coffee House, Shop no.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Dehradun typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 26 rainy days.
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