Dehra Dun travel guide

History

A third century BC Asoka rock inscription found near Kalsi suggests that this area was ruled by the emperor. During the 17th and 18th centuries Dehra Dun changed hands several times. The Gurkhas overran it on their westward expansion from Kumaon to Kangra, finally ceding it in 1815 to the British, who developed it as a centre of education and research. It is still a major centre for government institutions like the Survey of India and the Royal Indian Military College, and in November 2000 it became the provisional state capital of Uttaranchal (re-named in 2007 as Uttarakhand), but by mid-2007 there was no sign of agreement of an alternative state capital.

Getting around

The City Bus Stand, also used by private buses, is just north of the clock tower in the busy town centre, about 10 minutes on foot from the railway station. Although the town centre is compact it is best to get a taxi or auto-rickshaw for visiting the various sights, which are between 4 km and 8 km away.

Ins and outs

Getting there

The railway station, off Haridwar Road to the south of town, has trains from Delhi, Varanasi, Rajasthan and Kolkata. Buses and shared taxis heading for the Mussoorie and the Garhwal hills use the Mussoorie Bus Stand, just outside the station, while those bound for the plains and the Kumaon hills use the new inter-state bus terminal (ISBT, often referred to as the ‘New’ Delhi Bus Stand) 5 km southwest of the centre. Shared tempos and rickshaws (Rs 50-60) can take you into town.

Dehra Dun

Air

Jolly Grant air strip (24 km), enquiry T0135-241 2412; limited flights to/from Delhi.

Bus

Local buses leave from Rajpur Rd, near clock tower. Long-distance buses leave from New Delhi Bus Stand (ISBT), Clement Town, T0135-309 3367, for most hill destinations and the plains, including Chandigarh (5 hrs), Delhi (7-8 hrs), Dharamshala (14 hrs), Haridwar (1 hr) Kullu/Manali (14 hrs), Nainital (12 hrs); Ramnagar for Corbett (7 hrs), Rishikesh (1 hr; board inside terminal as buses fill to bursting at the main gate), Shimla (8-9 hrs). Mussoorie Bus Stand, outside the railway station, T0135- 262 3435. Half hourly to Mussoorie, 0600- 2000, tickets from counter No 1, Rs 22. Private buses from City Bus Stand, Parade Ground. Regular services to Mussoorie, 1 hr. Drona Travels (GMVN), 45 Gandhi Rd, T0135-265 3309, or Doon Tours & Travels, 16 Bhatt Shopping Complex, 1 Haridwar Rd, T0135-262 4520. Rs 800-1000 per day, friendly, professional.

Taxi/rickshaw

Taxi, T0135-262 7877. Auto-rickshaw Rs 50 from station to centre. Cheaper but crowded vikrams easily available.

Train

Railway Station, T0135-262 2131. Reservations opposite, 0800-2000, Sun 0800- 1400; book early for Haridwar. New Delhi: Shatabdi Exp 2018, 1700, 5 hrs; Delhi: Dehradun Bandra Exp 9020, 1035, 10 hrs; Mussoorie Exp 4042, 2115, 9 hrs. Allahabad: Link Exp 4114, 1320, 24 hrs. Kolkata: Howrah Exp 3010, 2020, 34 hrs (via Varanasi, 19 hrs). Varanasi: Dehra Dun-Varanasi Exp 4266, 1815, 24 hrs.

Banks

Punjab National Bank, Ashley Hall, Ugrasain Rd, with exchange; ATMs nearby on Rajpur Rd. State Bank of India, Convent Rd, 1st floor. President Travels, 45 Rajpur Rd, changes TCs.

Medical services

Doon Hospital, Amrit Kaur Rd, T0135-265 9355.

Useful contacts

Rajaji National Park, 5/1 Ansari Marg, T0135-262 1669. For permits. Wildlife Institute of India, PO Box 18, Chandrabani, T0135-264 0111, http://www.wii.gov.in.