Dehradun sits in the Doon Valley, between the Shivalik range to the south and the outer Himalaya to the north, at roughly 450 metres. It is a city of schools, research institutes, military academies and government offices, and it served as the interim capital when Uttarakhand was created in 2000. Its name is traced to the dera, or camp, that Ram Rai, the eldest son of the seventh Sikh Guru, set up in the valley in the 1670s.
Most visitors treat Dehradun as a stopover on the way to Mussoorie, Rishikesh or Haridwar, which undersells it. A good two days here can cover the Forest Research Institute and its colonial campus, the Great Peace Stupa at Mindrolling, the old Guru Ram Rai Darbar and the bustle of Paltan Bazaar, with foothill outings to Robber's Cave and Sahastradhara in between.
The city is easier than most hill destinations for older travellers. It is flat, with a mild winter and a warm but not extreme summer, and most sights are short drives apart. The weak point is traffic, which is heavy on Rajpur Road and around the Clock Tower, and the monsoon from July to September, when rainfall is among the heaviest in northern India and foothill sights become unsafe.
Use Dehradun for what it does well: a calm base, good Tibetan and North Indian food, and a handful of sights that do not need much walking. Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Haridwar are covered by their own guides and work best as day trips if you want them.
Before you plan
Dehradun at a glance
- Best months
- October to November and February to…October to November and February to April are the most comfortable. December and January are cool and clear; May and June are hot, and July to September is the heavy monsoon.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 days covers the main sights2 days covers the main sights; 3 days adds the foothill outings at an easy pace
- Airport
- Jolly Grant AirportJolly Grant Airport (DED) at Doiwala, about 20 to 30 km south-east of the city; allow roughly 45 to 60 minutes by road, traffic dependent
- Railway station
- DehradunDehradun (DDN), the terminal station of its line in the city centre, with connections to Delhi and other major cities
- Getting around
- App cabsApp cabs, autos and shared vehicles work in the city; a car and driver is easiest for Robber's Cave, Sahastradhara and Mussoorie Road
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person…Roughly ₹1,500 to ₹3,500 per person per day excluding hotel, for food, local transport and entry fees; varies with car hire and dining choices
- Senior comfort
- Good: the valley floor is flatGood: the valley floor is flat, and major sights have easy access, though Robber's Cave and the Sahastradhara steps are demanding
- Language
- Hindi is the official languageHindi is the official language; Garhwali is widely spoken, and English is understood in hotels and shops
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Dehradun: February, March, October, November. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Dehradun itinerary
One good day
1 day in Dehradun
Start at the Forest Research Institute when it opens, and spend about two hours on the main building, museum and lawns. Drive to Mindrolling Monastery in Clement Town to see the Great Peace Stupa, then have a Tibetan lunch. After a rest, visit Guru Ram Rai Darbar and finish with the Clock Tower and a short walk into Paltan Bazaar for snacks.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Dehradun
Visit the Forest Research Institute early, then go to Mindrolling Monastery and the Great Peace Stupa. Have a momo and thukpa lunch at Kalsang Friends Corner, rest, then visit Guru Ram Rai Darbar in the late afternoon.
Three unhurried days
3 days in Dehradun
Begin at the Forest Research Institute, with lunch nearby and a visit to Mindrolling Monastery in the afternoon. Keep the evening free.
