Located at the foothills of the scenic Shivalik hills, Dehradun is the provisional capital of Uttarakhand. Right place to escape the heat and humidity of the plains, this city has long been popular with Indian and foreign tourists attracting a steady flow of tourists from all parts of India and abroad. The place is home to a large number of luxury hotels, budget hotels. Eateries and cafes line the streets of Dehradun.
A niche tourism town, Dehradun is a favorite travel destination for honeymooners and family getaways. In fact Dehradun is a very pleasant stop, on a tour in different parts of Uttarakhand that is home to great number of world famous Hindu shrines as well as some of the most breathtaking scenic grandeurs in the world. Cosnsidred to be one of the oldest living cities in India, tradition has it that Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana did penance here for killing Ravana.
Located in the Doon valley in the north west of the state, Dehradun is also surrounded by some of the best hiking, mountain biking, rifer rafting opportunities in India.
Dehradun is the base which can be used by the tourists to visit Hardwar, Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Auli and other famous tourist places in the Indian sate of Uttarakhand. There are various travel agencies in Dehradun that can book buses and taxis to different parts of the state of Uttarakhand.
The area that constitutes the present day Dehradun was ruled by many kingdoms in different periods of history. After the rule of the Katyuris of Garhwal, the Mughals and the Sikhs ruled the area. The area came under the control of the Gurkhas followed by the British.
Dehradun brims with many interesting places to visit. The city and its adjacent area are home to some of the most scared places interspersed with legend and history. You can visit Tapkeshwar temple and Tapovan, the two sacred places associated with the great Indian epic, Mahabharata. Located in the Garhi Cantonment area of Dehradun, the cave shrine of Tapkeshwar is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Tapovan is traditionally believed to be the place where the ashram of Dronacharya, the legendary arms teacher of the Pandava brothers, was situated. Maldevta, Santhla devi, Laxman Siddh temple and Pointa Sahib are some of the other holy places in and around Dehradun. For scenic grandeur, the visitors can take a trip to Dakpathar and Robbers cave.
Located in a scenic landscape, Sahastradhara is renowned for its hot water springs and is high on the list of attractions in a trip to Dehradun. The water of the Sahastradhara very high in sulphur contents is said to provide cure for ailments.
Dehradun is also a famous centre of educational institutes and research institutes. Some of the reputed schools, academic institutions and research centers in Dehradun are Forest Research Institute, Botanical Survey of India Indian Military Academy IMA, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, Zoological Survey of India Wildlife Institute of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE) and National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH).
Kempty Falls, Dhanaulti, Yamuna Bridge, Surkhanda Devi Chamba, Nag Tibba, Lakha Mandal, Chakrata, Dak Pathar, Tiger Falls, Deovan, Lakshman Sidh and Shiv Mandir are some of the popular excursion sites which are located within a radius of 100 km from Dehradun.
Dehradun, the provisional capital of Uttarakhand, is accessible through rail, road and air.
How to reach Dehradun by Air: Dehradun is home to Jolly Grant which is the nearest airport. The airport is connected to major cities of India.
How to reach Dehradun by Rail: Dehradun is well connected by rail to almost all the major cities in India.
How to reach Dehradun by Road: Dehradun is well connected to the major cities in India. Thanks to a wide network of roads, Dehradun is easily accessible from any part of India. Some of the cities that are well connected with Dehradun are, Delhi (235kms), the capital of India, Agra (381kms), home to Taj Mahal, Jaipur (493kms), the capital of Rajasthan and Lucknow (582kms), the capital of Uttar Pradesh.