Area : 30 Sq.kms. Altitude : 520000 Season : Throught the year
Now the capital of Uttaranchal Dehradun is situated in the broad
Doon Valley between the Shivaliks and the front range of the
Himalayas Dehradun is now the capital of Uttaranchal. It is also an
old centre of the Raj.
Nestled in a wide and thickly forested valley of the Shivalik ranges
Dehradun is known for its salubrious climate.Once a stronghold of
the Garhwal kings and later appropriated by the British as a
residential resort the town has several institutions and public
school. It is probably best known for the institutions the British
left behind most notably the huge Forest Research Institute in the
north of the town. Another important institutions include the Indian
Military Academy the Wildlife Institute of India and the Survey of
India. Its proximity to Mussoorie is an added attraction. The
climate is conducive to the growth of fruit trees and Dehradun is
famous for its fruit orchards.
Places of attraction Forest Research Institute: Established by the British in the
early years of this century the Institute is one of the finest of
its kind in the world. The Institute set in fine lawns and forests
surrounding it with the Himalaya providing a spectacular backdrop.
Across the six galleries of its Museum are laid out some of the best
collection of specimens of flora and fauna.
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology: A museum containing
rock samples semi-precious stones and fossils is the centre of
attraction here.
Tapkeshwar Temple: Popularly known as Guchhu Pani it is
situated 8 kms.from Dehradun. The last kilometer has to be covered
on foot. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The cave is a
picnic spot surrounded by hills.It‘s set beside a pretty little
river in a damp cave. Here water vanishes underground only to
reappear after a few yards in the form of stream. A large festival
is held here on Shivratri day. Other places of interest include
Masli Deer Park Lachhiwala.
Ram Rai Darbar : Tucked away in the streets of the paltan
Bazaar is Dehradun’s best-kept secret the mausoleum of Ram Rai and
errant son of the seventh Sikh Guru Har Rai. Rami Rai disgraced
himself by performing tricks for the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and
thus was excommunicated by his father from the Sikh faith. Aurangzeb
took pity on him and presented him site of Dehradun in 1675. Rai
established his own religious order the Udasi sect and upon his
death in 1687 Aurangzeb ordered a mausoleum to be built in the
saint’s memory. The resulting structure is of Mughal architecture
and is covered with fine frescoes of flowers and animals.In the
central chamber is the bed of Ram Rai in a state of eternal
readiness by devotees of Udasi sect.
