Dehradun District

Dehradun district, located on the north-west border of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand state, has an average elevation of 640 meters above sea level. It shares borders with Himanchal Pradesh to the west and Uttar Pradesh to the south. Dehradun district shares borders with Uttarkashi district in the north and northwest, Tehri Garhwal and Pauri Garhwal districts in the east, and Haridwar in the south, establishing itself as the gateway to the Garhwal region and housing major tourist attractions. Nestled between the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna to the east and west, the Doon Valley hosts the Dehradun district. Dehradun is also home to Rishikesh’s holy confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. 

Dehradun district is particularly well-known for its natural resources, educational institutions, hill stations, magnificent landscape, holy shrines with legendary histories linked to the Ramayana and Mahabharata periods, and pleasant weather throughout the seasons.

Dehradun’s rivers include the Ganga, Yamuna, Asan, Suswa, Tons, Rispana, Bindal, and Amalava. These rivers are the primary source of fertile land char dham yatra tour operators in the Dehradun district, which supports a variety of crops and vegetation. Wheat, rice, maize, mustard, groundnut, oilseeds, sugarcane, barley, and tobacco are the main crops grown in the Dehradun district. Potatoes, onions, peas, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, and tea are among the most important vegetables grown here. People in Dehradun grow cereals such as urd, arhar, masoor, rajma, rapseed, and soybean.

The Dehradun district is well-known for its lichi fruit. Lichi orchards covered Dehradun before it became the capital of Uttarakhand. Urbanization led to the cutting down of lichi trees, resulting in a decline in the honeybee industry. Mango, papaya, lichi, guava, peach, grapes, and strawberry are the other major fruits grown in Dehradun district. Dehradun’s basmati rice is also very popular around the world.

Dehradun is a green city with a variety of forest ranges, including Motichur, Thano, and Barkot. These forest ranges are home to a variety of trees, including banj, bans, coniferous, deodar, panang, sal, semal, and shisham. Other trees found in the Dehradun district include shiris, jhingan, bohera, dhauri, bakli, sain, haldu, chameli, and karaunda.

To provide quality health care, Dehradun district has two district-level hospitals, one district-level female hospital, 24 allopathic hospitals, 1,318 beds in government hospitals, 82 ayurvedic hospitals, one unani hospital, 22 PHD and additional PHD, two tuberculosis hospitals, 190 family welfare centres, seven community hospitals, and fifteen homeopathic hospitals. To meet the educational needs of the general public, Dehradun district has 1498 primary schools, 768 middle schools, 234 secondary and senior secondary schools, 17 colleges, and one technical university.

The Dehradun district currently operates industries such as clothing, leather, wood and wood products, paper and paper products, print and broadcast media, petroleum manufacture, chemical and chemical products, and rubber and plastic products. The tourism and information technology industries have the potential to thrive in the Dehradun District. Encourage a variety of fruit orchards, particularly mango, lichi, and guava in lower regions, and grapes, oranges, apples, and other fruits that thrive in higher altitude regions, to transform Dehradun into a major tourist destination. Prioritizing agriculture can increase the production of crops in the fertile land of the Dehradun district. Development of fruit orchards will make beekeeping a significant business. We can also encourage the production of handicrafts, wood carvings, and pottery, which tourists will enjoy bringing home as souvenirs and gifts for their loved ones.

Most of the beautiful old houses in the Dehradun district date back to the British colonial era, but modernization has led to the replacement of many buildings and architectural monuments. Clock Tower, Forest Research Institute, CNI College, Morrison Memorial Church, Inamullah Building, Jama Masjid, Osho Meditation Center, Indian Military Academy, and Darbar Sahib are some of Dehradun’s notable structures. Is divided into

History of Dehradun.

According to legend, Lord Rama, the hero of the Hindu holy epic Ramayana, and his brother Laxman arrived in Dehradun after defeating the giant Ravana, who had abducted Rama’s wife Sita. Thus, its history dates back to the Treta Yuga. char dham yatra Dronacharya, Pandava, and Kaurava guru lived in the Dehradun area of the Dwapar Yuga. The legend associated with the Tapkeshwar Mahadev temple and the nearby cave stems from Dronacharya’s tenure in the region. During that time, Dehradun was known as Drona-Nagari, which translates to “city of Drona.” Legend has it that Lord Vishnu bestowed upon the Rishis (sages) the city of Rishikesh in the Dehradun district, following his defeat of the giants Madhu and Kaitabh to preserve the world.

The Ashoka rock edict, dating back to his reign 273-232 BC and discovered in Kalsi in Dehradun district, is the true history of Dehradun. In 1676, Guru Ram Rai, the eldest son of seventh Sikh Guru Har Rai, arrived in Dehradun’s Dhamawala, dubbed it his ‘Dera’ meaning settlement, and built a gurudwara in Khurbura with the support of then-King Fateh Shah. Devotees began to visit the gurudwara, and houses began to appear in the surrounding area. Delhi City came into existence in this manner. Dera, referring to Guru Ram Rai’s camp or settlement, and Dun, meaning valley, combine to form the name Dehra. Every year, on the fifth day after the Holi festival, Dhamawala hosts the Jhanda fair. Dehradun, a Garhwal division city, grew up during Najib-ul-Daula’s rule. Short-term policies of Rajputs, Gujjars, Sikhs, and Gurkhas contributed to its demise. The British took over the area in 1816 and ruled it until 1945, when India gained independence. 

Following independence, Dehradun became the capital of Dev Bhoomi, Uttarakhand, known for its majestic natural grandeur and heavenly environment. 

Population of Dehradun

According to the 2011 national census, Dehradun district has a total population of 1,696,694 people, with 804,495 women and 892,199 men. The child population aged 0–6 is 83,901, with 39,846 girls and 44,055 boys. The urban population accounts for 55.52% of the total population, totaling 941,941. Rural areas account for 44.48% of the population, which totals 754,753.

Total Area	3,088 Sq. Km.
Particulars	Total	Female	Male	Remarks
Population	1,696,694	804,495	892,199	Growth rate: 32.33% change as of 2001
Sex ratio	902 women per 1000 men
Literate population	1,259,506	557,290	702,216
Literacy rate (%)	84.25	78.54	89.40
Child population (age 0-6)	201,652	94,906	106,746	11.88% of total
Child sex ratio	889 girls per 1000 boys
Urban Population	941,941	442,633	499,308	52.525 of total
Urban sex ratio	886 women per 1000 men
Urban literate population	741,670	331,836	409,834
Urban Literacy rate (%)	88.27	83.91	92.15
Urban Child population (age 0-6)	101,695	47,152	54,543	10.80% of total
Urban Child sex ratio	864 girls per 1000 boys
Rural population	754,753	361,862	392,891	44.48 of total
Rural sex ratio	921 women per 1000 men
Rural literate population	517,836	225,454	292,382
Rural Literacy rate (%)	79.08	71.78	85.82
Rural Child population (age 0-6)	99,957	47,754	52,203	13.24% of total
Rural Child sex ratio	915 girls per 1000 boys
Proportion to Uttarakhand Population	16.82%

Dehradun’s literacy rate stands at 84.25%.

How to get to Dehradun?

By air: Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport has regular flights to Delhi. Jolly Grant Airport is located 24.8 kilometers from the main city of Dehradun. Jolly Grant Airport offers taxi and cab service to other parts of the district. In Dehradun, you can also find state and city buses.

By Rail: The Dehradun Railway Station is located in Govind Nagar, Dehradun, and is only 1.1 kilometers from the main city. Other rail stations in Dehradun district include Raiwala (42.1 kilometers), Rishikesh (41.9 kilometers), Doiwala (19.8 kilometers), and Harrawala (9.7 kilometers). 

By Road: Dehradun is well connected to the rest of Uttarakhand state, as well as other major cities in India.

Best time to visit Dehradun

You can visit Dehradun district at any time of year. Summer temperatures in the lower region can reach up to 40°C but typically stay below 34°C. During winter, temperatures range from 1°C to 20°C. 

In higher elevations, summers are pleasant and hot, and winters are cold with occasional snowfall. Mussoorie Hill Station is the best winter destination for snowplay. 

The monsoon season brings heavy rains to Dehradun district.

Dehradun’s tourist attractions

Buddha Temple: Buddha Temple/Mindrolling Monastery: Constructed in the 1960s as a replica of Tibet’s original monastery, the Mindrolling Monastery is also known as the Buddha Temple. Nyingma is one of four Tibetan religion schools, along with Shakya, Kagyu, and Geluk. Mindrolling Monastery’s main attractions are Shakya College, well-maintained gardens, and a five-story stupa. The 35-meter-high gold Buddha Statue fills tourists with peace and tranquility. Similar to other Buddhist stupas and monasteries, Mindrolling Monastery features Tibetan art on its walls and roofs. On October 28, 2002, the world inaugurated the world’s largest stupa, standing 60 meters tall, commonly referred to as the Great Stupa. To see the interior decorations and designs of the Buddha temple, you must go on Sunday. On other days, you will relax in the garden and visit shops while taking photos. 

Sahastradhara: Sahastradhara (Sahastra means thousands, and Dhara means taps or springs) is a popular tourist destination in Dehradun, located 14 kilometers from the city center. People travel to Sahastradhara to bathe in the sulfur spring, which has medicinal and healing properties for skin ailments. The water from the spring and the nearby waterfall combine to form the Baldi river, which flows to Lachiwala and eventually joins the Ganga. 

Khalanga War Memorial: Located on the Sahastradhara Road, also known as the Kalinga War Memorial, and 6 kilometers from Dehradun’s clock tower, is the only war memorial built by the army in memory of its foe. The British were so impressed by Gurkha (Nepali) soldiers who fought for six weeks without food or water that they erected a Kalinga (Khalanga) war memorial to honor them. The British defeated the Gurkha by fighting alongside Gurkha soldiers in Nalapani, then a Nepali state. 

Manak Siddh, Madu Siddh, Laxman Siddh, and Kalu Siddh are four small, beautiful temples located in four different parts of Dehradun that draw hundreds of visitors each day. Manak Siddh is located near Shimla Bypass Road, 5 kilometers from the main city, and Madu Siddh is located near Premnagar, 9 kilometers from Dehradun. Lakshman Siddh is located 12 kilometers from the main city of Dehradun on the Dehradun-Rishikesh road, and Kalu Siddh is located 22 kilometers from the main city.

Lachiwala: Lachiwala, located 17 kilometers from Dehradun City and 6 kilometers from Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun, is a popular tourist destination in Uttarakhand. You can even bathe in the manmade water pools along a flowing river in the forest. Lachiwala, which is popular with picnickers, nature lovers, and trekkers, offers opportunities for bird watching. 

Robber’s Cave: Robber’s Cave is located in Vijaypur, near Anarwala village in Dehradun, about 8 kilometers from the Clock Tower. The naturally built cave with scriptural interiors entices visitors and makes them smile. Robbers are believed to have hidden in the Robber’s Cave, also known as Gucchhu Pani by Britishers.

Shri Guru Ram Rai established Ram Rai Durbar in Jhanda Mohalla to protect and spread Hinduism’s principles, traditions, ideals, and philosophy around the world. Ram Rai Durbar, also known as Durbar Sahib, is a well-known religious site among the Udaseen sect. 

FRI: CG Blomfield designed the Forest Research Institute (FRI) Museum, which is spread over 500 hectares of land and was built between 1924 and 1929. The FRI Museum’s main attractions are the old-fashioned and dry displays on every aspect of Indian forestry, as well as Afshan Zaidi’s animal, bird, and plant paintings, a display on the medicinal uses of trees, and a section of a 700-year-old deodar tree. But the red brick building with Mughal towers, arches, and Roman columns keeps visitors spellbound.

Malsi Deer Park: On the way to Mussoorie, 10 kilometers from Dehradun, Malsi Deer Park, at the foothills of the Shivalik range, attracts hundreds of tourists every day due to its pleasant environment and picturesque views. As the name implies, Malsi Deer Park is home to lovely deer, which you can see grazing and treading softly from a distance but cannot approach. The park also features tigers, neelgai, rabbits, and peacocks.

Santaura Devi Temple: Believed to have a connection with the Ramayana period, Santara Devi Temple, located in Santaur Garh, 15 kilometers from Dehradun, attracts a large number of devotees on Sundays. According to legend, Santaura Devi and her brother, unable to withstand the Mughal army, threw their weapons and prayed to God. A flash of light transformed them into statues. The locals worship stone images or statues with enormous love and devotion. 

Sai Durbar Temple is a spectacular marble stone temple with Sai Baba’s idol at its center. It attracts hundreds of visitors each day, both devotees and tourists. Sai Durbar Temple’s ornamented interior, hilly setting, and peaceful environment appeal to both peace lovers and Hindu devotees. Unlike other Hindu temples, the Sai Durbar Temple is open to people of all castes and creeds, establishing it as the jewel of Hinduism. 

Raja Ji National Park: 

Rishikesh: 

Triveni Ghat: Triveni is where three rivers meet. Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh is the holy confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Devotees take a dip in the holy confluence to wash away all their sins and achieve salvation. Evening Aarati at Triveni Ghat is popular among people from Dehradun, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and India, as well as Hindu devotees living outside of India. Triveni Ghat will enchant you with its floating diyas, flowers, sacred mantras, and bhajans. The massive statue of Lord Shiva sitting on a bull, as well as the statue of Krishna and Arjun in a chariot depicting the start of the Mahabharata war, captivate you.

Bharat Mandir: The Bharat temple in Rishikesh houses a statue of Lord Vishnu with Shankha, Chakra, Gada, and Padma in four different hands made of a single saligram (a stone worshipped as a form of Lord Vishnu). The great Hindu holy epics, Vishnu Puran, Mahabharata, Geeta, Vaman Puran, and Narsingh Puran, mention Bharat as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the Bharat temple. Every year on Basant Panchami, people take the Shaligram to Mayakund for a bath. The return journey is a grand procession. People believe that if a devotee performs 108 pradakshina (rounds) of Lord Hrishikesh Narayan on Akshya Tritiya, the Lord will grant all of her/his wishes. 

Mushoorie Hill Station: 

Kempty Falls: Located 15 kilometers from Mussoorie on the Chakrata road, Kempty Falls is a breathtaking sight that draws tourists on their way to Mussoorie. The fall, located 4,500 feet above sea level, enchants visitors with water drops falling from 40 feet, splitting into five streams that jump over one another and fascinate viewers. You can take a refreshing bath at Kempty Falls. If you’re looking for a picnic spot in the area, head to Lake Mist, which is 5 kilometers before Kempty on the Mussoorie-Kempty Road. Lake Mist, with the Kempty River flowing through it and the small waterfalls it creates, is the jewel of Mussoorie, the Queen of Hills. Boating is also available at Lake Mist.

Jwalaji Temple: Devoted to Goddess Durga, the temple sits atop Benog Tibba/Hill, 9 kilometers west of Mussoorie and 2,240 meters above sea level. Jwalaji Temple offers a breathtaking view of the Aglar River Valley. 

Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna in the Hindu holy epic Mahabharata, is the subject of the Bhadraj Temple. Bal Bhadra, another name for Balaram, is the source of the temple’s name. Situated west of Mussoorie, the view of Himalayan treks on one side and Indian plains on the other will captivate you with their magnificent beauty. The Assan Barrage Bird Sanctuary, Chakrata Ranges, Dakpathar, Doon Valley, High Himalayan Peaks, Jaunsar Bawar, and Shivalik Ranges are all popular destinations from Bhadraj Temple. 

Landour Hill Station is located on the lower western Himalaya in the Mussoorie range, adjacent to Mussoorie hill station, cantonment town, and hill station. Its elevation ranges from 2,250 meters to 2,377 meters above sea level. Landour hill station, 35 kilometers from Dehradun, attracts hundreds of tourists each day. 

The Nag Tibba range, 16 kilometers from Landour hill station, stands 3,022 meters above sea level and is the highest peak among the lesser Himalayas, which include Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal and branch off from the great Himalayas. The name comes from the local belief that Nag Devata resides on the tibba (hill). Each year, the locals pray to Nag Devata for their cattle’s protection.

Surkanda Devi Temple: Surkhanda Devi Temple is one of India and Nepal’s 51 Shakti Peethas. Unconsciously roaming the Indian and Nepali hills with his dead wife Sati on his shoulder, Lord Shiva dropped Sati’s head at a specific location, leading to the construction of the Surkhanda Devi temple. Surkhanda Devi Temple is one of three Devi temples: Surkhanda, Chandrabadani, and Kunjapuri.

Jharipani Falls: Jharipani Falls is 8.5 kilometers from Mussoorie on the Mussoorie-Jharipani road, and you can get there by local bus. A 1.5-kilometer trek will take you to the Jharipani Falls, which provide enchanting beauty and a breathtaking view.