Dehradun

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

Dehradun

Capital city

Forest Research Institute(FRI)

Dehradun

Coordinates:

30.3157N 78.0336ECoordinates:

30.3157N 78.0336E

Country State District

India Uttarakhand Dehradun

Elevation

440-545 m (1,348 ft)

Population (2011)[1] Capital city Metro

[2]

578,420 714,223

Languages Official English, Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit,Tibetan

Time zone

IST (UTC+5:30)

PIN Telephone code Vehicle registration

248001 91-135 UK-07

Website

dehradun.nic.in

Dehradun /drdun/ (Hindi: , Dehradoon) is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand in thenorthern part of India. Located in the Garhwal 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 the Yamuna on the west. The city is famous for its picturesque landscape and pleasant 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 andAuli and the Hindu holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh along with the Himalayan pilgrimage circuit ofChar Dham. Dehradun is also renowned for its natural resources, publishing services and particularly for its prestigious educational institutions. It hosts some of the countries best boarding 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 which maufactures products for the Indian Armed Forces, 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]
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 See also 14 References

[edit]Etymology

Dehradun is made up of two words Dehra and doon, where 'Dehra' derived from the word "dera" meaning camp whereas "doon" is term for the valley that lies between the Himalayas and the "Shivaliks". When Ram Rai, 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. This term is still used inPunjabi and Hindi.[6]
[edit]History

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 Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is believed that after the battle between Ravanand Lord Ram, Lord Ram and his brother Laxman visited this site. Dronacharya, the legendary royal guru to theKauravas 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 and Mahabharata. 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. 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. 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 Nepali King Prithvi Narayan Shah united Nepal and many of the Indian territories now fell under Nepal 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 eatern front the state of Sikkim up to Darjeeling became parts ofGreater Nepal for a brief period until the British East India Company went on war with Nepal from 1814 to 1816. The war ended with signing of the Treaty of Sugowli where almost a third of Greater Nepal was ceded to British East India company. The British got Dehradun in 1816 and colonised Landour andMussoorie in 1827-1828. Rash Bihari Bose, prominent revolutionary, made the city his hideout and planned here the bombing of Viceroy Hardinge's procession in Delhi before escaping to Japan in 1915. 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.[8]

Dehradun

Climate chart (explanation)

M A

47

55

52

21

54

230

931

1127

261

32

11

21

22

31

34

36

35

31

30

32

28

24

21

19

20

22

22

22

20

13

10

Average max. and min. temperatures in C

Precipitation totals in mm

Source: Climate of Dehradun District

[show]Imperial conversion

[edit]Geography

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 Clement Town. There 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 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.[9] 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. [10]
[edit]Climate

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 the temperature in Dehradun is not known to fall below freezing. Summer temperatures can often reach 40C whereas winter temperatures are usually between 2 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.[11] Mountain areas are also used for agriculture. Dehradoon is known internationally for its variety of Basmati rice andLychees.
[hide]Climate data for Dehradun Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

19

22 (72)

26 (79)

32 (90)

35 (95)

34 (93)

30 (86)

30 (86)

30 (86)

28 (82)

24 (75)

21 (70)

27.6 (81.6)

Average high C (F)

(66)

5 (41)

10 (50)

15 (59)

20 (68)

22 (72)

22 (72)

22 (72)

20 (68)

13 (55)

10 (50)

6 (43)

14.2 (57.5)

Average low C (F)

(41)

47

55 (2.17)

52 (2.05)

21 (0.83)

54 (2.13)

230 (9.06)

631 (24.84)

627 (24.69)

261 (10.28)

32 (1.26)

11 (0.43)

3 (0.12)

2,024 (79.69)

Precipitation mm (inches)
(1.85)

Source: Climate of Dehradun District

[edit]Demographics

A Garhwali lady in traditional attire. Dehradun is part of the Garhwal region ofUttarakhand.

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] See also: List of cities in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh In education section, total literates in Dehradun city are 463,791 of which 251,832 are males while 211,959 are females.[1] Average literacy rate of Dehradun city is 89.32 percent of which male and female literacy was 92.65 and 85.66 percent.[1] Total children (0-6) in Dehradun city are 59,180 as per figure from Census India report on 2011. There were 31,600 boys while 27,580 are girls.[1] Child sex ratio of girls is 873 per 1000 boys.[1] Dehradun city is governed by Municipal Corporation which comes under Dehradun Urban Agglomeration. Although Dehradun city has population of 578,420; its urban / metropolitan population is 714,223 of which 377,174 are males and 337,049 are females.[2]

[edit]Tourism

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

Dehradun is a popular tourist destination. The famous Tapkeshwar temple, Malsi Deer Park, Kalanga monument, Laxman Siddh, Chandrabani, Guchhupani, Forest Research Institute, Tapovan, Santala Devi temple and Wadia Institute are all situated here.[12] On the other side, away from the valley there are other attractions as well. 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 nature, temples for its faith dimensions, sanctuary for animal and bird lovers. Visitors can engage in activities like rafting, trekking and rock climbing. It is easy to get to the nearby hill stations like Mussoorie, Sahastradhara, Chakrata, Dakpathar and Lahkhamondal. Famous temples Tapkeshwar and Santala Devi are here along with amusement parks like fun and food and fun valley. There are museums and institutions for those who are interested in history and architecture. Dehradun can be visited in any season; the weather is best in SeptemberOctober and MarchApril.
[edit]Transportation

Transport options include:

By air: Indian Airlines and private carriers offer five flights per week 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. High-speed trains running through Dehradun include the Shatabdi, Mussoorie Express, Jan Shatabdi and Doon Express.

Road: Dehradun is linked to all parts of the country by road. 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 1570 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.[13]
[edit]Education

The Doon School, one of the premier schools of the country, is situated in Dehradun. The main building of the school can be seen here.

The Garhwal Rifles marching in theRepublic Day Parade.

Dehradun is home to some of India's most ancient and elite educational institutions. [14] The Doon School, St. Joseph's Academy, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Rashtriya Indian Military College, St. Thomas' College,Welham Girls School and Welham Boys School are considered to be some of India's most prestigious and well performing schools.[weasel words] Several Indian luminaries have attended these schools including former prime ministers and film stars like Rajiv Gandhi, Himani Shivpuri and Udita Goswami, all are the ex students of these prestigious institutions. Dehradun is also well renowned for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) training and military services. TheIndian Military Academy, a premier institution for training the nation's military officers, is located there. In addition, other national foundations like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Survey of India, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing and Indian Institute of Petroleum are also located here. Two Defence Research and Development Organisation labs, namely the Defence Electronics Application Laboratory and Instruments Research and

Development Establishment are also located in the city. There are numerous forest officials in India who have attended the Forest Research Institute in Dehradun. The Dehradun institute of technology,University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Uttaranchal Institute of Technology and Graphic Era University, in Dehradun. It is also home to many different religious schools as well as public schools. Yoga, Ayurveda and meditation also have a great influence in Dehradun. Some key organisations are in the process of doing important work in the field of education. Among which National Institute for Visually Handicapped[15] (NIVH) plays a key role in helping the blind people. It is first such institute in India and also the first press for Braille script. This campus is spread over large area and is located in Rajpur Road. The employees board in the campus itself. In addition, there is also a part of this campus which is located in Rajpur and named Sharp Memorial School for the Blind, [16] which provides education and service to the blind children. There is other institute called Bajaj institute of learning which is built up for people with hearing problems and other disabilities. All these organisations and institutes are located in Rajpur Marg. Dehradun also houses organizations like The Latika Roy Foundation[17] which work to make Uttarakhand a model state where people with disabilities have access to education, employment, and full inclusion in the community. Their Gubbara centre is a state-of-the-art assessment centre for children with multiple disabilities aged between 0 to 6 years, the centre is located in a government hospital in Dehradun and is fully funded by the National Rural Health Mission. A few of their other projects include The Karuna Vihar School[18] which is a day school for children with disability from 6 to 14. The school offers holistic, activity-based education and therapy program to help children achieve their full potential. The Latika Roy Foundations College of Vocational Training is a college for young adults with disability, where they learn vocational and job-oriented skills. All these organisations and institutes support to improve the life of the residents here.
[edit]Culture

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 and Hindi 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 David Cling, Nayantara Sahgal, Alan Saila, Bil Acne 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.[19] 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 its lychees. 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 Sikh community that attracts Sikhs from all over India and abroad. There are different religions followed in this state and they are Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh etc.
[edit]Architecture

Ghanta Ghar (clock tower), Dehradun

Dehradun has many beautiful old buildings. Unusually in India, house roofs are slanted, as rainfall can often be heavy. As winters can be cold, houses traditionally have a fireplace, even if they also have modern central heating. 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.
[edit]Economy

Dehradun has a per capita income close to $2400 (national average $800), and 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[20]) 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 2 multiplexes situated namely Glitz cinemas near isbt and Silvercity multipex in rajpur road respectively.
[edit]Images

Mindroling stupa

Tara statue and stupas

Forest Research Institute

Forest Research Institute

Osho Institute, Dehradun

Buddha statue, Dehradun

Dehradun at night fromMussoorie

5 faced Clock Tower marks the center of the city.