The unhurried lifestyle and moderate climate of Dehradun make it the ideal
retirement town it is. Some parts of the town still retain a distinctive British
character, while a lot of it has outgrown its colonial origins. The town is
also a centre for renowned public schools and educational institutions.
In recent times, widespread environmental degradation due to limestone quarrying
around the town has caused concern amongst local inhabitants and conservationist.
After a lengthy process of protests and litigation, the Supreme Court imposed
a ban on limestone quarrying, and efforts at re-forestation of the denuded
hill slopes around Dehradun have begun.
Today, Dehradun is the administrative centre of the hill region of Uttaranchal
and the capital of the new hill state that has been carved out of Uttar Pradesh.
Dehradun sees a lot of local tourists escaping the hot and dusty plains to
its temperate climes.
History
The area around Dehradun has references in several ancient Hindu texts. It
is known as the land of Shiva, the region where the Hindu mythological heroes
Rama and Lakshmana performed penance, and the Pandavas of Mahabharata rested
on their way up to the mountains. Apart from mythological associations, Dehradun
was once ruled by the great Mauryan Emperor Ashoka (1st century BC), whose
rock edict was found near Kalsi, just off the town. Over the centuries, this
area passed from one ruler to the next, including the Sikhs, Mughals and Gurkhas.
Finally, the British established it as an army base and educational centre
in 1815. In the post-independence era, Dehradun has witnessed dramatic transformations,
from a quiet sub-Himalayan town to a bustling commercial centre. The spiralling
local movement for a separate hill state was spearheaded from this town, which
is now all set to become the new capital of Uttaranchal.
Places to See
Survey of India
About 4 kms up the Rajpur Road is the sprawling campus of the Survey of India,
set up by the British in 1767. The centre of all major mapping and survey
activities in India, its historical high point was measuring the height of
Everest, which was then named after the Surveyor-General, Sir George Everest.
Forest Research Institute
Built in 1914, the FRI campus is a verdant expanse of Botanical Gardens and
forests. Within, is a library stocked with a huge collection of books on forestry,
a bookshop and a museum divided into six parts. The museum is worth visiting,
with its array of wood samples, insects and wildlife. The Wadia Institute
of Himalayan Geology also has an interesting museum displaying rock
samples, semi-precious stones and Himalayan fossils.
Tapkeshwar
6 kms from the centre of town is the cave shrine of Tapkeshwar, dedicated
to Lord Shiva. Lying next to a swift flowing forest stream, the cave has a
stone lingam with milky water dripping onto it from the ceiling. Every year,
during Shivratri the entire area is taken up with festivities because of a
fair where devotees jostle with holy men to gain access to the cave. Outside,
stalls selling knick-knacks, food items and toys drum up a festive atmosphere.
You can also get a shot at having a special bhang (cannabis) drink.
Robber’s Cave
About 8 kms from Dehradun is Robber’s Cave, also known as Guchhu Pani.
A popular picnic spot, the cave is reached after a kilometer trek up the hills.
Here, waters of a spring vanish underground and reappear some distance away.
Tibetan settlement
At Rajpur, 12 kms from the centre of town is a Tibetan settlement with a new
gompa called the Shakya Centre. Decorated with ornate frescoes, the settlement
has a centre for Tibetan medicine
Chandrabani
Situated 7 Km from Dehradun on the Dehradun-Delhi route is the famous temple
of Chandrabani (Gautam Kund). Mahirishi Gautam, his wife and daughter Anjani
who is widely worshiped by the people, inhabited this spot.
Kalanga Monument
Located on the right side of the Dehradun - Sahastradhara route, the Kalanga
monument recalls the story of the bravery of 180-year-old battle between the
British and the Gorkhas
Excursion
Mussoorie
The highly popular north Indian hill resort is 34 kms from Dehradun. Mussoorie
is located in the Garhwal hills. The name, Mussoorie, is derived from plants
of 'Mussoorie' which were found in abundance here. Due to its immense natural
beauty, Mussoorie is known as the queen of hill stations. In the evenings,
the lights on the hills of Mussoorie can be seen from the valley.
Haridwar
Gateway to the four pilgrimages in the Uttrakhand region is located on the
foot hills of Shivaliks. It is on the banks of River Ganga. The Ganga leaves
the mountains and enters the plains with Haridwar being the first major town
on the plains.
Rishikesh
It is one of the best located pilgrimage centers along the right bank of the
Ganga. The holy river emerging from high mountains not far from here, runs
deep and silent through the thickly wooded hills of the terai that straddle
this region
There are some other getaways at short distances from Dehradun
Sahasradhara (‘thousand streams’) with its sulphur springs is
14 kms away, the snow peaks of Chakrata, 9 kms away and the new Malsi Deer
Park, 10 kms down the Dehradun – Mussoorie road. 12 kms away is the
shrine of Lakshman Sidh. These make for wonderful drives and picnics and are
truly quite idyllic. Close to Dehradun are two major north Indian towns of
Roorkee and Saharanpur. While Roorkee is famous for its Engineering College
established in 1847 and now declared a University, Saharanpur is well known
for its woodcarving. Once the summer retreat of the Mughals and an army base
for the British, Saharanpur is also an important source of fruits supplied
to the whole of north India.
Dining Out
Restaurants attached to the larger hotels and some of the ones on Rajpur Road
offer good food, ranging from steaming sizzlers to Chinese and tandoori fare.
Some hotels also have bars and some arrange games of golf and riding for their
guests. Bakeries in Astley Hall cater to the scores of hungry students out
from the boarding schools on the weekends.
For a budget meal try any of the roadside food stalls that dish up anything
from Tibetan momos to bun samosas and spring rolls. Watch out for your digestion
though!
Shopping
The main shopping areas are around the Clock Tower, along Rajpur Road, Paltan
Bazaar and Astley Hall. The shops mostly sell woollens, jewellery and brassware.
Visiting
The weather is very pleasant in March, April and October, November. The summer
months of May and June are hot, whilst it is awfully slushy once the rains
hit in end-June. It continues to rain till September. The winter months, from
December to February, are wet and decidedly cold with temperatures dropping
to 2 degrees centigrade.
How to get there
By Air : Flights from Delhi on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,
operated by the national carrier land at Jolly Grant airport, 24 kms from
the city. Chartered flights are also available to Dehradun, Mussoorie and
other small towns in the area.
By Train : There are many train connections (Railway station
– Ph: 0135 – 622131) with New Delhi. Travel up on the super fast
luxury Shatabdi Express or the overnight Mussoorie Express and the Doon Express.
Other major cities connected by rail are Lucknow, Varanasi, Mumbai and Calcutta.
From the station you can take a bus or hop into an auto rickshaw to take you
to your destination in the city.
By Road : You can drive to Dehradun from any neighbouring
state or town. The drive from Delhi takes six hours and the road is good in
parts. Also, it helps if you have a car at your disposal in Dehradun.
Buses arrive at the Delhi Bus Stand on Gandhi Road, Mussoorie Bus Stand near
the railway station or the City Bus Stand near the Parade Grounds. There are
regular services connecting Mussoorie, Haridwar, Nainital, Kullu, Shimla,
Agra and Delhi.
