Dazzling Dehradun
As we move Northwards in the Indian map, there are a string of hill stations that offer respite from everyday life and make good weekend destinations. Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand in Northern India, is a popular destination among all age groups. It lies in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas between Ganga and Yamuna.
The climate remains towards the cooler side throughout the year, which makes it a desirable destination. Dehradun is renowned for its natural resources giving rise to plenty of caves and waterfalls like Tiger Falls and Sahastradhara. It also acts as a gateway to many Himalayan tourist destinations like Nainital, Auli, Mussourie and the holy cities of Hardwar and Rishikesh. This makes it convenient for tourists and pilgrims alike to halt here.
This city finds its mention in the age-old legends of Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Ramayana, Lord Rama is believed to have visited Dehradun with his brother after defeating Ravana. In Mahabharata, Guru Dronacharya the teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas, was believed to have his origins here. Tapovan on the banks of Ganga is where he is believed to have performed his penance according to Mahabharata. Ancient temples and idols dating back to almost 2000 years are found here which substantiates these legends. Local traditions, cultures and literature too stem from such beliefs. The neighbouring town of Rishikesh is discussed in many mythological tales surrounding Lord Vishnu.
Plenty of water sports activities are available here for the more adventurous ones. Those in quest of peace can visit some of the monasteries like the Mindrolling Monastery. The Ngagyur Nyingma College, one of the largest Buddhist learning centers in India, is found in this monastery.
Spending some time in the Zonal Museum is beneficial for those interested in the origins of the inhabitants in the foothills of Himalayas. The world’s largest stupa in Clement town should not be missed. Towards the end of the day it might be a good idea to do some shopping from the widespread old world charm markets like Paltan Bazaar or its very own modern market called the Pacific Mall.
As it falls under the Garhwal region, the local language is Garhwali along with Hindi. Most of the customs are also derived from Garhwalis. That is not to imply that people from different religions and backgrounds do not reside here. The diversity is maintained as a result of the various institutions that bring people from all over the country under one roof. Dehradun consists of many government and research institutes, as it is the capital of Uttarakhand. However it is also renowned for its educational institutions and nicknamed School Capital of India for its excellent quality schools like Doon School, Welham for Boys and Girls, etc. They are equally notable for their alumni with the former educating most of the Gandhi family. Dehradun is known to influence the statutory system with a number of law colleges like Uttrakhand University and UPES.
The pride of this hill station however rests with the Indian Military Academy. It is the officer training Academy of the Indian Army and was established in 1932 amidst a lot of non-cooperation from the British. A notable alumnus is Sam Manekshaw (Bahadur), the first Indian Field Marshal.
An interesting bit of trivia is the fact that the legendary band- Beatles, had once traveled to Dehradun to visit the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. George Harrison was highly influenced by the Indian cultures and wrote a song as a tribute to Dehradun.
Besides all the sightseeing, Dehradun is a place where time seems to regulate itself as per its people. This nature’s gift should simply be enjoyed peacefully with your better half, family and/or friends.