The capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun lies in the valley created by the Sivaliks and the lesser Himalayas, and has the Yamuna and Ganga flowing along its western and eastern boarders. It’s no wonder the city is known for its scenic beauty and wildlife, making tourism in Dehradun almost a natural delight. Here is a short travel guide for you to plan your trip to Dehradun.

Dehradun being a very popular tourist place and with the efforts of the government to develop it as a counter magnet to the growing migration in Delhi, it has very well established transportation modes from Delhi. A good way to reach the city would be to access it from Delhi, but there are bus and rail services from almost all major cities in the country.

Air:

The Jolly Grant Airport is a functional airport situated at the outskirts, about 20 kilometres from the city centre. If you book a cab at the airport it will barely take you 45 minutes to get to the city as you will encounter almost no traffic.

Rail:

Dehradun has frequent trains connecting Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Ujjain, Mumbai, and Chennai. Within the city there is excellent public transport systems in place, like buses, autos and vikrams.

Road: 

This would be the best way to reach the city. You will encounter the magic of the Sivalik hills en route. There are all sorts of bus services available: AC deluxe buses, sleeper buses and interstate buses by the Uttarakhand government leaving the Delhi ISBT every half an hour. Once within the city you can catch buses to other tourist destinations like Uttarkashi, Rishikesh, and Mussoorie.

Dehradun district is mostly valley but it also comprises of towns from the lesser Himalayas. This means Dehradun is open throughout the year. During the summer months high altitude places like Mussoorie will relieve you from the terrible heat that has hit the rest of the country and during the winter months the valley experiences a very pleasant weather throughout the day. In January make sure you keep an eye on the weather reports and visit Landour to catch the snow! The only time you may want to avoid is during the monsoon season. Dehradun has the reputation of being one of the wettest and land-slide prone places in India.

Located between two mountain ranges and two rivers, Dehradun is quite strategic for trekkers and mountain sport enthusiasts. Moreover, Dehradun houses a huge number of institutions like the Forest Research Institute, Central Braille Press, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, and so on.

Rajaji National Park:

One of the most famous National parks in India; this has to be on the top of your list. The park is a wildlife haven, inhabiting elephants, tigers, panthers, spotted deer, wild boars, Himalayan black bears, sloths and the 400 different varieties of birds. Needless to say, this is the place to be for wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers and those who want to experience the tranquility of nature.

Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara:

This 17^th Century structure is one of the oldest religious institutions in Dehradun and is an important part the city’s history. The high domes, mural paintings, minarets of the Gurudwara were established much later. It displays a beautiful blend of both typical Hindu and Muslim architecture of the time.

Mussoorie:

At an altitude of over 6000 feet, Mussoorie gives a unique view of the Himalayas to the north and the valley of Dehradun to the south. Mussoorie can be explored on foot and will give you time to absorb the breath-taking view.   

Dehradun has streets lined with restaurants serving authentic Chinese, Tibetan, Punjabi, Mugalai, and of course Garwali food. Check out Gandhi road for delicious biryani and the Tibetan market for its Tibetan specials. Char Dukhan in Landour is well known food point at the top of the mountain. 

Dehradun is famous for its Tibetan market that works throughout the year. You can buy good quality at a cheaper rate given that their markets are tax free. On Sundays a flea market emerges by the side of the Tibetan market, the stalls go on for miles and attract a huge gathering. Another favourite shopping spot is the Mall Road in Mussoorie; this is the place for those who are looking for antiques, handicrafts, hand-woven woollen clothes and more.