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Dehradun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the municipality in Uttarakhand, India. For its namesake district, see Dehradun district.

Dehradun

Doon

Urban

Forest Research Institute(FRI)

Dehradun

Coordinates:

30.3157N 78.3586ECoordinates:
30.3157N 78.3586E

State

Uttarakhand

District

Dehradun

Elevation

440-557 m (1,387 ft)

Population (2011)[1]
Urban

578,420

Metro[2]

714,223

Languages
Official

English, Hindi, Sanskrit

Time zone

IST (UTC+5:30)

PIN

248001

Telephone code

91-135

Vehicle registration

UK-07

Website

dehradun.nic.in

, Dehradoon) is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand in

Dehradun /drdun/ (Hindi:
the northern part of India. Located in theGarhwal region, it is 236 km north of India's capital New Delhi and is
one of the "Counter Magnets" of the National Capital Region (NCR) being developed as an alternative centre of
growth to help ease the migration and population explosion in the Delhi metropolitan area.[3] Dehradun is
located in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas nestled between two of India's mightiest rivers the Ganges on the east and theYamuna on the west. The city is famous for its picturesque landscape and
slightly milder climate and provides a gateway to the surrounding region. It is well connected and in proximity to
popular Himalayan tourist destinations such as Mussoorie, Nainital and Auli and the Hindu holy cities
of Haridwar and Rishikesh along with the Himalayan pilgrimage circuit of Char Dham.

Dehradun is also renowned for its natural resources, publishing services and particularly for its prestigious
educational institutions. It hosts some of India's best schools and training institutions of national importance
such as the Indian Military Academy. It is also home to national foundations such as the Ordnance Factory
Dehradun and Opto Electronics Factory of the Ordnance Factories Board and the Defence Electronics
Application Laboratory and Instruments Research and Development Establishment of the Defence Research
and Development Organisation which maufactures products for the Indian Armed Forces. Other institutions
include the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation,Survey of India, Indian Institute of
Remote Sensing, Wildlife Institute of India and the Forest Research Institute .[4]
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun is locally known as Nagar Nigam Dehradun, and other urban entities
involved in civic services and city governance and management include: Mussoorie Dehradun Development
Authority (MDDA), Special Area Development Authority (SADA), Jal Sansthan, Jal Nigam and among others.
Contents
[hide]

1 Etymology

2 History

3 Geography

4 Climate

5 Demographics

6 Tourism

7 Transportation

8 Education

9 Culture

10 Architecture

11 Economy

12 Images

13 Sister cities

14 See also

15 References

Etymology[edit]
Dehradun is made up of two words Dehra and doon. 'Dehra' is derived from the word "dera", meaning camp,
and "doon" is a term for the valley that lies between the Himalayas and the "Shivaliks". When Ram Rai Ji, son
of Guru Har Rai, came to this region along with his followers, he established a camp here for their stay. It was
around this time that the modern city of Dehradun started to develop. This is when the word Dehra was linked
to doon, and thus the city was named Dehradun.[5] Some historians also believe that the word Dehra cannot be
regarded as a term for camping.[6]

History[edit]

Princely flag of Kingdom of Garhwal. Dehradun was part of the princely state of Garhwal before becoming part of British
India post Anglo-Nepalese War in 1816.

Main article: History of Dehradun

The history of the capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun (sometimes written as Dehra Doon, nicknamed "Doon
Valley") is linked to the story of Ramayanaand Mahabharata. It is believed that after the battle
between Ravan and Lord Ram, Lord Ram and his brother Laxman visited this site. Dronacharya, the legendary
royal guru to the Kauravas and Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata is also believed to have been born and
resided in Dehradun.[7] Evidence such as ancient temples and idols have been found in the areas surrounding
Dehradun which have been linked to the mythology of Ramayana andMahabharata. These relics and ruins are
believed to be around 2000 years old. Furthermore, the location, the local traditions and the literature reflect
this region's links with the events of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Even after the battle of Mahabharata,

the Pandavas had influence on this region as the rulers of Hastinapur along with the descendants
of Subahu ruled the region as subsidiaries. Likewise, Rishikesh is also mentioned in the pages of history
when Lord Vishnu answered the prayers of the saints, slaughtered the demons and handed the land to the
saints. The adjoining place CalledChakrata also has its historical impression during time of Mahabharata.
In the seventh century this area was known as Sudhnagar and was described by the Chinese traveler Huen
Chang. It was Sudhnagar that later came to be recognised as the name of Kaalsi.Edicts of Ashoka have been
found in the region along the banks of river Yamuna in Kaalsi indicating the wealth and importance of the
region in ancient India. In the neighbouring region of Haripur, ruins were discovered from the time of King
Rasala which also reflect the region's prosperity.
Before the name of Dehradun was used the place is shown on old maps as Gurudwara (a map by Webb, 1808)
or Gooroodwara (a map by Gerard, 1818). Gerard's map actually names the place as "Dehra or Gooroodwara".
Surrounding this original Sikh temple were many small villages that are now the names of parts of the modern
city.
Dehradun itself derives its name from the historical fact that Shri Ram Rai Ji, the eldest son of the Seventh Sikh
Guru Har Rai Ji, set up his "dera" (camp) in "dun" (valley) in 1676. This 'Dera' 'Dun' later on became Dehradun.
The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was highly impressed by the miraculous powers of charismatic Ram Rai Ji.
Hence he asked the contemporary Raja of Garhwal, Fateh Shah to extend all possible help to Shri Guru Ram
Ji. Initially a Gurudwara(temple) was built in Dhamawala. The Construction of the present building of Darbar
Sahib was completed in 1707. There are portraits of gods, goddesses, saints, sages and religious stories on
the walls. There are pictures of flowers and leaves, animals and birds, trees, similar faces with pointed noses
and big eyes on the arches which are the symbol of the colour scheme of Kangra-Guler and Mughal art. High
minarets and round pinnacles are the models of the Muslim architecture.(The huge Talab in the front measuring
230 x 80 feet which had dried up for want of water over the years and in which people had been dumping
rubbish, has now been renovated and revived. Now whoever pays a visit to the Shri Darbar Sahib would
definitely notice this change.)
Dehradun was invaded by Mahmud of Ghazni during his campaigns into India followed by Taimooralang in
1368, Ruahela Njibuddulo in 1757 and Ghulam Qadir in 1785. In 1806 King Prithvi Narayan Shah united and
many of the Indian territories now fell under such as Almora, Phatankot, Kumaon, Garhwal,
Simur, Shimla, Kangra and Dehradun itself.
On the western front Garhwal and parts of Himachal Pradesh up to Punjab and on the eastern front the state
of Sikkim up to Darjeeling became parts of Nepal for a brief period until the BritishEast India Company went on
war from 1814 to 1816. The war ended with signing of the Treaty of Sugowli where almost a third was ceded to

British East India company. The British got Dehradun in 1816 and colonised Landour and Mussoorie in 18271828.
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was quite fond of the city and often visited the city and spent his
last few days here before passing away in Delhi in 1964.[8] Another leader from the independence
movement, Rash Behari Bose, who was one of the key organisers of the Ghadar conspiracy and later,
the Indian National Army was based in Dehradun in his early days before he was forced to move to Japan in
1915 to continue the freedom struggle.
Post independence Dehradun and other parts of Garhwal and Kumaon were merged with United
Provinces which was later renamed to the state of Uttar Pradesh. In 2000, Uttarakhand (earlier called
Uttaranchal) state was created from the north-western districts of Uttar Pradesh under the Uttar Pradesh
Reorganisation Act 2000 and Dehradun made its provisional capital. After becoming the capital the city has
seen continuous development.[9]

Geography[edit]
The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is
the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m
above sea level. The Doon valley contains the settlements including Dehradun, Doiwala, Herbertpur,
Vikasnagar, Sahaspur, Rishikesh, Raiwala and Subash Nagar, Clement Town.
The district contains Rajaji National Park which is home to several elephants. The Doon valley has the Terai
and Bhabar forests within it as well as the Shiwalik hills and Lesser Himalayan Range containing hill stations
such as Mussoorie and Chakrata. The district is bordered by the Himalayas in the north, the Sivalik Hills to the
south, the river Ganges to the east, and the Yamuna river to the west. Towns located in the foothills of the
mountain ranges include Mussoorie,Sahastradhara, Chakrata, Lahkhamondal, Gautam Kund Chandrabani and
Dakpathar.
This district is divided into two major parts, the main city Dehradun surrounded by Shivalik and the Himalayas,
and Jaunsar Bavar, which is located in the foothills of Himalayas. In the north and northwest it borders on the
district of Uttarkashi and in the east by Tehri and Pauri. In the west, it is bordered by Sirmaur
district of Himachal Pradesh and the Tons and Yamuna rivers. To the south are Haridwar and Uttar
Pradesh's Saharanpur district.
It is located between latitudes 29 58' N and 312'N and longitudes 77 34' E and 78 18'E. [10] This district
consists of 6 tehsils namely Dehradun, Chakrata, Vikasnagar, Kaalsi, Tjonee and Rishikesh, 6 Community

Development Blocks namely Vis, Chakrata, Kalsi,Vikashnagar, Shaspur, Rajpur and Doiwala, 17 towns and
764 villages. Out of these 746 villages are inhabited whereas 18 districts are uninhabited. [11]

Climate[edit]
The climate of Dehradun is generally temperate, although it varies from tropical; from hot in summers to
severely cold, depending upon the season and the altitude of the specific location. The nearby hilly regions
often get snowfall during winter, but although the temperature in Dehradun can reach below freezing during
severe cold waves[12] this is not a frequent occurrence. However, Summer temperatures can reach up to 40C
for a few days in the summer, whereas winter temperatures are usually between 1 and 20C. During
the monsoon season, there is often heavy and protracted rainfall. Dehradun and other plains areas of
Uttarakhand see almost as much rainfall as Coastal Maharashtra and more than Assam. The weather is
considered to be good during winter in the hilly regions but it is often hot in the "Doon" valley. Agriculture
benefits from fertile alluvial soil, adequate drainage and plentiful rain. [13] Mountain areas are also used for
agriculture. Dehradoon is known internationally for its variety of Basmati rice and Lychees.

[hide]Climate data for Dehradun

Month

Average high C (F)

Average low C (F)

Precipitation mm (inches)

% humidity

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

19.3

22.4

26.2

32

35.3

34.4

30.5

29.7

(66.7)

(72.3)

(79.2)

(90)

(95.5)

(93.9)

(86.9)

(85.5)

3.6

5.6

9.1

13.3

16.8

22.4

22.6

22.3

(38.5)

(42.1)

(48.4)

(55.9)

(62.2)

(72.3)

(72.7)

(72.1)

46.9

54.9

52.4

21.2

54.2

230.2

630.7

627.4

(1.846)

(2.161)

(2.063)

(0.835)

(2.134)

(9.063)

(24.831)

(24.701)

91

83

69

53

49

65

86

89

Source:

[14]

Demographics[edit]
Religions in Dehradun
Religion

Percent

Hindus

60%

Sikhs

25%

Muslims

10%

Jains

1.4%

Others

3.6%

Distribution of religions[citation needed]

Buddhists (<0.2%).

As per provisional reports of Census India, population of Dehradun in 2011 is 578,420; [1] of which male and
female are 303,411 and 275,009 respectively. The sex ratio of Dehradun city is 906 per 1000 males. [1] From
literacy perspective, total number of literates in Dehradun city is 463,791, of which 251,832 are males and
211,959 are females.[1] Average literacy rate of Dehradun city is 89.32 percent, whereas male literacy and
female literacy rates are 92.65 and 85.66 percent, respectively.[1] Total number of children of age under six in
Dehradun city is 59,180 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There are 31,600 boys while 27,580
are girls.[1] Child sex ratio of girls is 873 per 1000 boys.[1]

Tourism[edit]

Central Braille Press, Dehradun - the first braille press of India

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

Tourist destinations include the Tapkeshwar temple, Malsi Deer Park, Kalanga monument, Laxman Siddh,
Chandrabani, Guchhupani, Forest Research Institute, Tapovan, Santala Devi temple, Central Braille
Press[15] and Wadia Institute.[16]
The tourist destinations in Dehradun can be divided into four or five areas: nature, sports, sanctuary, museums
and institutions. The nearby hill stations are well known for their natural beauty,[17] temples for its faith
dimensions, sanctuary for animal and bird lovers. Hill stations includeMussoorie, Sahastradhara, Chakrata, and
Dakpathar. Famous temples Tapkeshwar, Lakhamandal and Santala Devi are located here.
In regards to sports tourism, the Doon Ice Rink at Maharana Pratap Sports Complex, Raipur is the first fullsized ice arena in India,[18][19] and it has hosted both ice skating competitions and ice hockey tournaments,
including the IIHF Challenge Cup of Asia.[20]

Transportation[edit]
Transport options include:

By air: Air India, Jet Airways and SpiceJet offer weekly flights from Delhi to Dehradun's Jolly Grant
Airport, 25 km from the valley of Dehradun.

Railways: Dehradun has a railway station with services to major cities including Delhi, Mumbai,
Kolkata, Lucknow and Varanasi. Some fast trains running to and from Dehradun include the Shatabdi
Express, Jan Shatabdi Express and New Delhi - Dehradun AC Express.

Road: Dehradun is linked to all parts of the country by road. Luxury Volvo and Deluxe buses are easily
available from Delhi to Dehradun. Deluxe and semi-deluxe buses run to Shimla and Mussoorie from
Dehradun Interstate bus terminal (ISBT) near Clement Town. A deluxe bus service is offered by UPSRTC
to and from Delhi (Gandhi Road). From ISBT there are bus services to Dehradun and Mussorie every 15
70 minutes. There are also buses available to and from cities neighbouring Dehradun starting at the
Parade Ground. The distances to Dehradun from some of the major cities are Delhi 255 km, Haridwar
54 km, Risikesh 42 km, Agra 382 km, Shimla 221 km, Yamunotri 279 km, Kedarnath 270 km and Nainital
297 km.[21]

Education[edit]
Dehradun is home to some of India's renowned educational institutions, which include [22]The Doon School,
Army School,Ann Mary School,Riverdale School, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Cambrian Hall, St. Thomas'
College, St. Joseph's Academy,Scholars Home , Rashtriya Indian Military College, Welham Girls
School and Welham Boys School. Several Indian and International luminaries have attended these schools.
There are numerous forest officials in India who have attended the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. It is
also home to many different religious schools as well as public schools. Yoga, Ayurveda and meditation also
have great influence in Dehradun.
National Institute for Visually Handicapped[23] (NIVH) plays a key role in helping the blind people. It is the first
such institute in India and also the first press for Braille script in the country.[24] which provides education and
service to the blind children. Dehradun also houses organizations like 'The Latika Roy Foundation' [25] for people
with disabilities have access to education, employment, and full inclusion in the community.It also harbours
innovative organizations like "The ASK foundation" working to channelize the teaching community and for
uplifting the overall academic level of students of Dehradun. [26]
Dehradun also has instititutions for engineering, medical, management and others for purpose of higher
education.

Culture[edit]

Statue of Tara and Great Stupa Dehra Dun

Dehradun is a part of Garhwal region, therefore the local customs of the Garhwali people have had a great
influence on its culture. Garhwali andHindi are the primary languages spoken in this state. Other languages
spoken in this region are Punjabi, English and Kumaoni. There are people from differing religions and
backgrounds residing here. After becoming the capital, there has been continuous growth in education,
communication and transport. As the state capital, Dehradun is home to many government institutions.
Dehradun is also renowned all over India for its quality education institutions.
Buses are identified with blue bars. There are also auto-rickshaws which are often used for transportation but
also blamed for pollution and noise. The evening buzz of Rajpur road is an attraction. After becoming the
capital of Uttarakhand, the development of the city has accelerated but it is still known as a peaceful city with
pleasant weather. The center of the city is easily recognised by the Clock Tower (Ghanta-ghar), a structure with
six functioning clocks. The statue of San Dijen placed in Shanti Niketan contributes to the beauty. This is the
reason that Dehradun is home to many artists and writers like Stephen Alter, Nayantara Sahgal, Allan Sealy,
and Ruskin Bond, who either stayed in Dehradun for a long time or wrote during their stay. Dehradun was
home to freedom fighters whose names are engraved in gold on the Clock Tower. It was also called "The Gray
City" in the initial days because most Ex-Army Officers and VIPs considered this place as residence after
retirement. [27]

Woolen blankets are typical of this region and worn by people living at high altitude. Women wear saris with full
sleeved blouses along with angra, a kind of jacket. Girls used to wear full skirts with scarfs covering their head
and shoulders; more recently they have adopted more modern day wear and salwar suits. In villages and to a
lesser extent in towns, men wear the traditional dhoti, angarkha and langoti. The way dhotis are worn
represents backgrounds and castes: Short dhotis represent low status whereas long dhotis represent high
status. It is more common in urban areas for men to wear shirts and trousers, denims or kurta-pyjamas as daily
wear. In winter men usually dress in jacket, hat and overcoat. Hemp is grown in great quantities in this region,
so its yarn is frequently used as lining.
The largest profession in Dehradun is agriculture, and there are large numbers of people in the military,
businesses or education. Staple foods are rice and dal with raita, curd and salad. Dehradun is known for its
lychees and basmati rice.
There are fairs (melas) throughout the year. Notable fairs include Magh Mela, held on the 14 January and
Jhanda Mela in March, a fair for the Hindu community that attracts Hindus from all over India and abroad.
There are different religions followed in this state and they are Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh etc. Sikhism is a
prominent religion in Dehradun with over 25% population representing Sikhs. The Sikhs are prominent in
Racecourse, Vasant Vihar, Dalanwala and other areas of the town.

Architecture[edit]

Ghanta Ghar (Clock tower), Dehradun

Dehradun has many beautiful old buildings. After Dehradun was made the capital of Uttarakhand there was a
construction boom, especially in residential property. Modern buildings have gradually supplanted older
architectural styles including those related to the British colonial rule of India. Important older buildings include
Clock Tower, Forest Research Institute, CNI College, Morrison Memorial Church, Inamullah Building, Jama
Masjid, Osho Meditation Center, Indian Military Academy and Darbar Sahib.

Economy[edit]
Because of the low population and great educational institutes Dehradun garners a good per capita income
close to $2400( Rs. 1,31,000 per 2012 figures) (national average $800) despite the fact that it does not have
any major industry. It has enjoyed strong economic growth in the last 20 years. Dehradun today has
experienced a commercial and information technology boom, amplified by the establishment of Software
Technology Parks of India (STPI[28]) and various SEZs (special economic zones) throughout the city. The
construction of the Delhi-Dehradun four-lane highway will enable more economic development. Paltan bazar
and Rajpur road are the economic heart of business in Dehradun. There are also 4 multiplexes situated namely
GLITZ Cinemas near ISBT, Silvercity multiplex in Rajpur road, PVR Cinemas in Pacific mall and Reliance Big
Cinemas inside Vikas Cinemall in Indira Nagar respectively. A large number of malls are coming up in the city to
boost the economy which is also adding to the reduction in forest cover and change in climate/environmental
conditions.
Dehradun boasts of major fashion and retail stores such as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Puma, Reebok,
Madame,Tissot,Adidas,Club America,Vero Moda, Being Human,French connection are some of them. Many
malls like Crossroads, Pacific, City Junction Mall, Parsavnath Elegenza, Stanmax, V-mart and Vikas Cinemall
are also resulting in economic growth.

Images