Nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand. It is one of the most beautiful resorts in the sub mountain tracks of India, known for its scenic surroundings. The name Dehradun is a collection of two words “dera” meaning camp and ” dun” meaning valley.
Said to be one of the oldest cities in India, it is believed that Lord Rama and his brother did penance here for killing Ravana, the demon king. During the 17th and 18th centuries Dehradun changed hands several times: Guru Ram Rai retreated here from Punjab, the Mughal Governor Najib-ud-Daula occupied it from 1757-1770 and the Gorkhas overran it on their westward expansion before ceding it to the British in 1815. Under the British, Dehradun became an elite town with many a fine institutions like Forest Research Institute, Doon School and Welham Schools for girls and boys, many more, like the ONGC and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Studies, were added in time. Dehradun has now become an important tourist destination.
City Facts
Population: 12,79,083 (2001 census).
Altitude: 960 m. Area: 300 sq km.
Climate: Cold in winters, hot and humid in summers.
Season: Round the year.
Clothing Summers: Cotton clothes.
Winters: Heavy woollens.
Languages: Hindi and English.
Altitude: 960 m. Area: 300 sq km.
Climate: Cold in winters, hot and humid in summers.
Season: Round the year.
Clothing Summers: Cotton clothes.
Winters: Heavy woollens.
Languages: Hindi and English.
Distances
- Chandigarh to Dehradun 167 km
- Delhi to Dehradun 245 km
- Shimla Manali to Dehradun 282 km
- Lucknow to Dehradun 544 km
- Kanpur to Dehradun 554 km
Best Season / Best time to visit
The mesmerizing hill station, Dehradun, can be visited throughout the year.
Winter (December to February) have a maximum of 22 °C and a minimum of about 3 °C.
Summer (March to June) have a maximum temperature of 35 °C and a minimum of 17 °C. Most of the tourists prefer this period for visiting Dehradun as it is best for adventure and sightseeing. It is in fact, the perfect season for Dehradun tourism. Monsoon (July to September) offer mild to medium rainfall during which period the destination looks more attractive.
Autumn (October to November), is good for enjoying the natural beauty as the regions turn burnt red with lively shades of gold. Dehradun is an all year destination where summers are ideal for all sightseeing and other activities while the winter season offers pretty cool climate and is enjoyable time for honeymoon in Dehradun. Snowfall can be enjoyed only on very high altitudes. Monsoon on the other hand is perfect for short trips and also good for enjoying the natural scenic beauties.
