Home  >> Hill Resorts  >> Travel to Dehradun

Travel to Dehradun

Dehradun, the capital of the north Indian state of Uttaranchal is an important town in North India. It is also a beautiful hill station to which people travel in the summer to escape the heat of the plains. The town lies in the Dun Valley, which is paret of the watershed of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Its name is derived from 'Dehra,' which means camp, a reference to the camp of Ram Rai, the son of Hari Rai, the 7th Sikh guru. Apparently, Ram Rai was not made guru after his father, and consequently, disputed the decision. Defeated, he came to Dun Valley, where the Raja of Garhwal gave him a warm welcome. Ram Rai established a gurudwara in the Jhanda Mohalla area, in the 17th century, where people still worship today.

During British colonial rule, Dehradun was the summer base of the Viceroy's Bodyguard. The hill resort became an important educational centre and military cantonment. Dehradun is home to the Rashtriya India Military College a school for students who intend to join the Defence Services, it is also home to the Indian Military Academy. The Forest Research Institute and the Wildlife Institute of India, institutes known for their collections of flora and fauna, are located in Dehradun as are many well-known residential schools.

Travel Attractions in Dehradun:

The Forest Research Institute, has an extensive campus with many different and rare plants from all over India and the world.

The Sericulture Institute with its mulberry demonstration farms are also worth a visit.

Gucchu Pani, or Robber's cave a popular picnic spot is located eight kms from Dehradun.

Five kms away is Tapovan, where the legendary Dronacharya, the great guru of the heroes of the Mahabharata, is believed to have performed years of intensive penance.

The Sahastradhara, 14 kms away, is renowned for its sulphur springs.

The Rajaji National Park, with many species of wildlife and plants, is located 20 kms away.

Kalsi, 50 kms from Dehradun has a rock inscription of Asoka, the great Mauryan emperor.

Tapkeshwar Mahadev, a cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located 6 kms from the centre of the town, by the banks of a river. According to a tale from the Mahabharata, Shiva made milk flow from this cave for Asvathama, the son of guru Dronacharya.