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Dehradun

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Dehradun is a busy and important city in India.

Snow Above the Dehradun Valley (14828890544)
Snow Above the Dehradun Valley (14828890544)

It sits inside the Doon Valley at the foot of the Himalayan mountains.

Doon Valley, Dehradun, 1850s
Doon Valley, Dehradun, 1850s

The city is the winter capital of the state of Uttarakhand. It is also the largest city in that state. Two rivers flow near the city to provide water. The Song River flows on the east side of the valley. The Asan River flows on the west side.

Nagar Nigam Dehradun
Nagar Nigam Dehradun

Many people visit Dehradun to study and learn new things. It is a famous hub for schools and scientific research. You can find the Forest Research Institute here.

Front View of F.R.I., Dehradun
Front View of F.R.I., Dehradun

There is also the Indian Military Academy. Many well-known schools like The Doon School are in the city.

The Doon School
The Doon School

The city is even a place for important government work. It helps manage the surrounding district and the Garhwal division.

The name of the city tells a story about its past. The word "dehra" means temple in Hindi. The word "dun" means a valley at the foot of hills.

Guru Ram Rai Temple, Dehradun, 1858
Guru Ram Rai Temple, Dehradun, 1858

In the 1600s, a man named Ram Rai built a temple there. This temple is called the Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib. The city grew around this original site. Some old maps even called the area "Gurudwara." This shows how the temple helped start the town.

Dehradun has seen many different rulers over the years. It was once part of the Garhwal kingdom.

Flag of the Princely State of Tehri Garhwal
Flag of the Princely State of Tehri Garhwal

In 1804, Gorkha rulers captured the area. Later, the British took control in 1816 after a war.

Capt john
Capt john

The city also has a special link to Afghanistan. An Afghan ruler named Dost Mohammad Khan lived nearby. He is said to have brought Basmati rice seeds to the valley. This rice grew very well in the local weather.

Today, Dehradun is a gateway to many beautiful places. It is close to famous mountain towns like Mussoorie. People use the city to reach holy sites like Rishikesh and Haridwar. You can also find many places for hiking and camping nearby. The city is known for being one of the safest places in India. It is a lively place where history and nature meet.

Dehradun cricket stadium
Dehradun cricket stadium
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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Doon Valley, Dehradun, 1850s.jpg
Doon Valley, Dehradun, 1850s.jpg
File:Guru Ram Rai Temple, Dehradun, 1858.jpg
Guru Ram Rai Temple, Dehradun, 1858.jpg
File:Flag of the Princely State of Tehri Garhwal.svg
Flag of the Princely State of Tehri Garhwal.svg
File:Capt john.jpg
Capt john.jpg
File:Snow Above the Dehradun Valley (14828890544).jpg
Snow Above the Dehradun Valley (14828890544).jpg
File:Nagar Nigam Dehradun.jpg
Nagar Nigam Dehradun.jpg
File:The Doon School.jpg
The Doon School.jpg
File:Front View of F.R.I., Dehradun.jpg
Front View of F.R.I., Dehradun.jpg
File:Central Braille Press, Dehradun (photo - Jim Ankan Deka).jpg
Central Braille Press, Dehradun (photo -...
File:Tara statue Great Stupa Dehra Dun.jpg
Tara statue Great Stupa Dehra Dun.jpg
File:Dehradun cricket stadium.jpg
Dehradun cricket stadium.jpg
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