Tourist Places in and Around Dehradun

Planning to escape to the hills in summer? What better place to go to than Dehradun in the Doon Valley. The valley is located in the foothills of the Himalayas and has two rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna on two sides. Dehradun is known for its picture-postcard-pretty look.

Doon Valley (Photo Courtesy: http://pwcvoyageursblog.blogspot.in)

While in Dehradun, visit the Forest Research Institute (FRI), which was established as the Imperial Forest Research Institute in 1906. The main building of the Institute has been designed in the Greco Roman style. The FRI also has a forestry museum which has six divisions, including the Pathology Museum, Social Forestry Museum, Silviculture Museum, Timber Museum, Non-Wood Forest Products Museum and the Entomology Museum.

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (Photo Courtesy: www.indiamike.com)

The other museum you should visit is the Zonal Museum, simply known as the museum, which has a display of artefacts dating back to the origin of mankind and stages of evolution. It is located on Haridwar Road and is a huge hit with tourists.

Another spot that finds itself on most tourist lists as it did on ours when we went to Dehradun was Tapovan, which is on the Dehradun-Rajpur Road. The legend that surrounds this place is that Guru Dronacharya performed penance in this region.

When it comes to temples, there are two famous ones, the Tapkeshwar temple, which is a cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Then, there is the Santaura Devi temple, which is located 16 km away from Dehradun, in Santur Garh. The deity is also known as Santaula Devi by some.

The other places of scenic beauty you must make a list of while in Dehradun are:

Robber’s Cave: Also known as Guchhupani, it is a great picnic spot, and is eight km away from Dehradun’s bus stand.

Robber’s Cave, Dehradun (Photo Courtesy: http://deepakmehndiratta.blogspot.in)

Sahastradhara: This is a water spring known for its medicinal value and is at a distance of 14 km from Dehradun. 

Sahastradhara, Dehradun (Photo Courtesy: http://www.alltravels.com)

Rajaji National Park: The Park is a treat for nature lovers, and is spread across a little over 820 sq km. There are rest houses inside the park which provide accommodation to tourists.

Sambar Deer, Rajaji National Park, Dehradun (Photo Courtesy: http://www.therishikesh.com)

Malsi Deer Park: This is a relatively new park on Mussoorie Road and is a great place to take your kids to.

Malsi Deer Park, Dehradun (Photo Courtesy: http://www.zipmytravel.com)

Chakrata: This place is 98 km from Dehradun and is a cantonment hill town. There are forests dotted with conifers, oaks and rhododendrons, and is ideal if you are into trekking.

Most tourists plan their itinerary in such a manner that they club Dehradun with Mussoorie. We did it too on our trip, because Mussoorie is only over 35 km from Dehradun. We had our schedule planned much before we booked our tickets on one of the Dehradun flights so we knew what not to miss while there. Mussoorie offers incredibly beautiful views of the Himalayan ranges. I loved the time I spent with my family trekking and taking long walks. There are good accommodation facilities in both the hill stations. If you are planning a visit, book tickets for your family on one of the flights to Dehradun.