Dehradun
Dehradun is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand, located in the Garhwal region. Dehradun is made up of two words: ‘Dehra’ is derived from the word “dera”, deriving from griha and meaning home. “Doon” is a term for the valley that lies between the Himalayas and the “Shivaliks”.
The city is also referred as the ‘Rainy City of India’ due to continuous and incessant rainfalls specially in monsoon. Nestled in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, Dehradun is one of the oldest cities of India. Dehradun (nicknamed “Doon Valley”) is linked to the story of Ramayana and Mahabharata. It is believed that after the battle between Ravan and Lord Ram, Lord Ram and his brother Laxman visited this site. Dronacharya, the legendary royal guru to the Kauravas and Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata, is believed to have been born and resided in Dehradun.
Dehradun is 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 slightly milder climate and provides a gateway to the surrounding region.
Fairs and festivals in the city are the best way to display the rich culture in the city. Few of the major festivals and fairs in Dehradun are Jhanda fair, Tapkeshwar Fair, Bissu Fair, and Uttarakhand Mahotsav. These amazing festivities in the city bring all people together. Music and dance called “Barada Nati”is mostly seen during festivals.
The city’s unique flavour and taste of dehradun is the main part of culture. Dehradun is basically famous for pahadi cuisines like Kandalee ka Saag, Bal Mithai, Kulath Phanu, Gulgula, Arsa, Kaafli, Singodi, Sani hui Muli and Nimbu and bakery and basmati chawal are the speciallity of dehradun.
The mesmerizing hill station, Dehradun, can be visited throughout the year.
Dehradun Summers (March to June): have a maximum temperature of 35C and a minimum of 17C. Most of the tourists prefer this period for visiting Dehradun.
Dehradun Monsoons (July to September): offer mild to medium rainfall during which period the destination looks more attractive.
Dehradun Winters (December to February): have a maximum of 22C and a minimum of about 3C. Snowfalls are common feature during this season.
Best time to visit Dehradun is all through the year. Tourists may keep off days of hard winter and heavy snowfalls, usually in January. March to June is ideal for all sight seeings and other activities. July to September is perfect for short trips and also good for enjoying the natural scenic beauties. October to February is offering pretty cool climate and ideal for honeymoon trips. This period is good with snowfalls and is the period of flowering in Dehradun.
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. Other languages spoken in the region are Punjabi, English, Nepali, Tibetan, and Kumaoni. The center is easily recognised by the Clock Tower (Ghanta-ghar), a structure with six functioning clocks.
Tibetan Market
Another popular place to go for shopping in Dehradun is the Tibetan market. This is the best place, especially if you want to buy colorful apparels and cool T-shirts. Both men and women visit this busy shopping center with the hope to lay their hands on some fashionable garments. The popular purchasing items here are woolen garments, exclusive Tibetan objects such as semiprecious pebbles, carpets and jewelry. Close to this place, you will find several small eateries that offer fresh Tibetan delicacies like thupkas, momos and chowmein.
Paltan Bazaar
Paltan Bazaar, situated near the famous landmark of Dehradun-Clock Tower, sells possibly everything under the sun. The city’s pride basmati rice can be bought here at a reasonable price, apart from woolen garments and handicrafts made by tribal community. The best thing about shopping in this market is that all the items are reasonably priced. So you won’t need to burn your pockets deeply while shopping in this market.
Rajpur Road
A blend of modern showrooms and stores selling local handicrafts can be found on this street. Urban dwellers can hit branded outlets like Woodland, Nike, Vishal Mega Mart and Adidas. Besides shops, one can also head to cafes, eatery outlets, restaurants lined up on this street. Also, if you are an avid book reader, visit the English book depot found on this road and browse through the famous novels, fictions and other latest copies of your favorite publishers.
Gandhi Road Market
Gandhi Road Market spotted near the famous Clock Tower is an epitome of memorable curios. All kinds of shops ranging from jewelry, garment, shoes to book stores flank on this road. The popular souvenirs that are worthy to be picked up from this market are Tibetian carpets, fashionable jewelries, brass statues, cool sun glasses and second-hand books.