Top 10 Points Of Interest In Dehradun
The capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is a hub of tourist attractions. This destination has earned the title of ‘The City of Love’ because of the beautiful locations such as caves, streams and the people who welcome the travellers with a warm heart. Bordered by the Ganges and river Yamuna, its colorful and distinct culture attracts a number of visitors throughout the year. People from all walks of life plan a holiday here to explore these places that are unlike any other cities.
Here are some points of interest in Dehradun that you must visit:
1. Sahastradhara
Topping the list of various points of interest in Dehradun, Sahastradhara, which means ‘Thousand Fold Spring’, is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the city. It’s 9 m deep and a beautiful location in Dehradun. It comprises of caves, waterfalls and steppe. Besides its spellbinding beauty, the water tends to contain Sulphur, which has several medicinal benefits.
2. Mindrolling Monastery
Mindrolling referred to as ‘Place of Liberation’ is India’s largest Buddhist learning center. The magnificent holy shrine and the wall paintings depicting the life of Buddha are the main attractions of this place. The complex of this monastery comprises of a manicured garden as well as a shopping arcade making it one of the best places to visit in Dehradun.
3. Tapkeshwar Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Tapkeshwar Temple is situated at the bank of seasonal river. Located within a natural cave, Shiva lingam is placed inside with natural water dripping on top of it. Residing by the side of thick forest and surrounded by majestic mountains, Tapkeshwar Temple is a must visit during Shivratri.
4. Forest Research Institute
Established in 1906, Forest Research Institute was initially built as the British Imperial Forestry Service. This Greco-Roman architecture site consists of a museum for forestry, which is categorized into six sections. Various popular Bollywood movies, including Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein and Bunty Aur Babli were shot here and made it a popular place to visit in Dehradun.
5. Robber’s Cave
Locally termed as Gucchupani, Robber’s Cave is a 600m long river cave. Surrounded by lofty hills, it consists of a cold spring inside the cave. The unique phenomenon where the stream naturally disappears makes it a mysterious point of interest in Dehradun, and was initially the hiding place of robbers during the British rule.
6. Clock Tower
Located on the Rajpur Road, Clock Tower is a renowned tourist attraction of Dehradun built in the year 1953. Inaugurated by Lal Bahadur Shastri, it was constructed way before India got Independence. It was said that in the earlier times, even the neighborhood city could hear this clock ticking. Marking the independence of India, this tower was named as ‘Balbir Tower’.
7. Fun Valley
Plan a fun trip with your family to one of the best places to hangout in Dehradun, Fun Valley. This amusement park is home to multi-cuisine restaurants, exciting rides, a water park and a motel to stay. Situated amidst the lush green foothills, it is an ideal place to unwind during the weekend.
8. Tibetan Market
Explore the Tibetan culture of Dehradun by visiting the vibrant, Tibetan market. It is located near Parade Ground Road and showcases a wide variety of handicrafts & wooden art pieces. Don’t forget to buy the authentic Garhwali wooden garments and jewelries while you’re here. The market is flooded with shops serving hot noodles with soup and momos.
9. Zonal Anthropological Museum
Displaying a collection of artifacts pertaining to the origin and development of mankind, Zonal Anthropological Museum was established in the year of 1971. Located at Pearson Road in Dehradun, it is easily accessible from the railway station.
10. Asan Barrage
Created in 1967, Asan Barrage is built at the convergence of two rivers, Yamuna and Asan. Serving a winter passage for migratory birds, it is an ideal place for bird watching. The best time to visit this location is during the months of October, November and December.