Dehra Dun

Dehra Dun is mainly used by travelers as a place to stop over on their way to the hill station of Mussoorie, or to other towns north in the Himalayas. It is at 700m (2310 ft).

The Doon School and Indian Military Academy are two of the most prestigious schools in India. Rajiv Gandhi went to the Doon School. The Survey of India, who makes good detailed maps of Indian cities, has their base here.

Dehra Dun is said to be the place where Rama and Laksman performed austerities to kill the demon Ravana. It is said that Drona came to Tapovan, about 6km from Dehra Dun, in search of self-realization.

Orientation
There is a clock tower in the center of town. The railway station and Mussoorie bus stand are south of the clocktower. Most of the budget hotels are near the railway station or the clock tower. The higher end hotels are mainly located in the north section of town. Paltan Bazaar is the main shopping area.

Information
UP Tourist Office (653-217) is in the Hotel Drona, next to the Delhi bus stand. Open Mon to Sat 8 am to 8 pm during the season and the rest of the year 10 am to 5 pm (closed from 1 to 2 pm).
GMVN (654-371) has an office in the Hotel Drona. Drona Travels in the same building books GMVN hotels and tours and rents cars.
GMVN Headquarters (656-817), 74/1 Rajpur Rd, across from the Hotel Madhuban, gives general and also trekking information about the Garhwal region. Open Mon to Sat 10 am to 5 pm.

GMVN has a tour (Rs 50), Doon Darshan, which goes to FRI, Tapkeshwar Temple, Sahastra Dhara, Malsi Den Park and sometimes goes to Robber’s Cave (extra Rs 10).

The Head Post Office, near the clock tower, does poste restante.

Harish Studio, in the Motel Himshri is a good photography store.

Money
You can change money at the State Bank of India (657-425), which has a branch at Rohini Plaza in the Hotel Ambassador on Rajpur Rd, but there are several other branches around town. The Central Bank, Rajpur Rd, near the Hotel President, changes money.

The Tourist Information Bureau, Astley Hall, changes most major travelers cheques. They give cash advances on Visa and American Express credit card, but you have to wait a few days to get the money.

Bookshops
English Book Depot, 15 Rajpur Rd, is a good bookshop. Natraj Booksellers, 17 Rajpur Rd, has a good selection of books on the Himalayas and other subjects.

Travel Agencies
BJ Travels (657-888), 15-B Rajpur Rd, near the main post office, has computerized reservations and can confirm flights immediately. Treks can be arranged by Trek Himalaya Tours (653-005) or Bajaj Tours & Trekking (624-425), 14A National Rd, Luxman Chowk. Garhwal Tours & Trekking (627-769) is experienced at arranging treks.

Forest Research Institute (FRI)
This place is one of the best institutes in the world for forest research. There are some good museums here. It is in a beautiful botanical garden. Open Mon to Fri 10 am to 5 pm; free. You can take a shared-rickshaw (vikram) here from the clock tower.

Places to See
Tapkeswar Temple is a Siva temple located 5km north of the center of town. Next to it is a stream which flows directly onto the Siva-linga. There is a big festival here during Siva-ratri (Feb/March). People swim in the stream next to the temple. There is also the Laksman Sidh Temple.

Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has a museum. Open Mon to Fri 10 am to 5 pm.

Survey of India, Rajpur Rd, has its main office here, where maps of many places in India can be gotten. Open Mon to Fri 10 am to 5 pm.
Robber’s Cave is a popular place to visit near

Anarwala village, 8km from Dehra Dun. There are pools here to swim in and a swimming pool near by. You can take a bus to Anarwala and then walk the remaining 1½ km to Robber’s Cave.
In the village of Shastradhara there are cold sulfur springs. There is a tourist bungalow there.

Where to Stay—Lower
The railway Retiring Rooms are Rs 150 and Rs 60 for a dorm bed.
Hotel Daichi (658-107), 6 Mahant Laxman Das Rd, has rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 250/400. It is a good value.
Oriental House (627-059) has basic rooms for Rs 150/200.
White House (657-765), near Kanak Cinema, has rooms for Rs 200/250 and with air-cooling for Rs 250/350. It is a good popular place.
Chandra (684-360), Old Mussoorie Rd, 15km north of Dehra Dun, is a good place that has rooms for Rs 250/300. It has nice views and a nice garden.
Doon Guest House (657-171) has rooms with bath for Rs 250/275. Bucket hot water.
Meedo Hotel (627-088), 71 Gandhi Rd, has rooms with bath for Rs 200/300. The rooms in the back are better.
Hotel Dai Chi (658-107), near Rajpur Rd, has rooms with hot water for Rs 250/300.
Where to Stay— Middle and High
Motel Himshri (653-880), 17 Rajpur, has rooms for Rs 300/400 and a deluxe rooms is Rs 650/750.
Hotel Ambassador (655-831), 11A Rajpur, has air-cooled rooms with a TV for Rs 450/550.
Hotel Meedo Grand (747-171; fax 745-722), 28 Rajpur Rd, has comfortable modern rooms for Rs 600/800 and Rs 800/1000 with A/C. It is well-managed.
Kwality (657-001), 19 Rajpur Rd, has spacious, comfortable rooms for Rs 400/600 and Rs 550/750 with A/C.. It has a good restaurant.
GMVN Hotel Drona (654-371), 45 Gandhi Rd, near the Delhi bus station, has good-size rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 500/700 and Rs 750/900 with A/C. It is a good value.
Osho Resorts (749-544), 111 Rajpur Rd, has rooms with hot water and a TV for Rs 450/550. It has a good restaurant.
Hotel President (658-880), 6 Astley Rd, has air-cooled rooms for Rs 900/1000.
Hotel Ajanta Continental (749-595; fax 749-990), 101 Rajpur Rd, has comfortable clean rooms for Rs 1250/1700. It has a pool and a restaurant. It is well-managed.
Hotel Madhuban (749-990; fax 746-496), 97 Rajpur Rd, has clean comfortable rooms with A/C for Rs 1550/2500. It has good views, is well-managed, has a mini golf course, a good restaurant and is a good value.

Where to Eat
Sammam Veg Restaurant, Paltan Bazaar near the station, has good thalis for Rs 40.
Grand Bakers, Paltan Bazaar, is a good bakery.
Standard Confectioners, near the Hotel President, has good baked goods.
Vegetarian, nearby on Rajpur Rd, has South Indian, Punjabi and good cheap thalis for Rs 30.
Kumar, 15B Rajpur Rd, near Motel Himshri, is a very good popular vegetarian place. Meals are about Rs 50. It has good service and is recommended.
Kwality, 19 Rajpur Rd, is a good place with Indian, Chinese and Continental food.
Heaven’s Garden, Osho Resort, 111 Rajpur Rd, has good Indian, Chinese and Continental food.
Motimahal is one of the better places.

Travel
Train The fully A/C Shatabdi Exp departs New Delhi daily except Tues at 6 am and arrives in Dehra Dun at 11.45 am, stopping at Haridwar at 10.45 am. The Mussoorie Exp #4042 departs from Dehra Dun at 9.30 pm for Delhi (9½ hr). The Mussoorie Exp departs Old Delhi station at 10.30 pm and arrive in Dehra Dun at 8 am stopping in Haridwar at 6 am.

There are trains to Varanasi Dehra Dun- Varanasi Exp #4266 (6.40, 24 hr), Mumbai, Calcutta and Lucknow. The Doon Exp #3010 (10.30 pm) goes to Calcutta (32½ hr) via Lucknow (10 hr). Delhi Shatabdi Exp #2018 (5 pm, 5½ hr) via Haridwar.

Bus There are two bus stands. From the Delhi bus stand, next to the Hotel Drona, there are deluxe and semi-deluxe buses to Delhi (2 or 3 an hour). There are also buses to Haridwar (2 hr), Rishikesh ((1½ hr), Shimla (7 hr, mainly depart in the morning), Chandigarh (9 hr, morning departures), Manali (17 hr, 3 pm), Kullu (14 hr), Dharamsala (16 hr), Haldwani (9 hr) and Paonta Saheb.

From the Mussoorie bus stand, Haridwar Rd, near the railway station, buses depart to Mussoorie (1½ hr, hourly), Uttarkashi (7 hr), Tehri (4 hr), Almora (12 hr) and Nainital (11½ hr).

Taxi Shared taxis depart to Mussoorie (1¼ hr, Rs 65) from the Mussoorie bus stand on Haridwar Rd during the day. Shared taxis to Mussoorie depart from the railway station when trains arrive. Shared taxis or jeeps depart from near the Hotel Prince on Rishikesh Rd to Haridwar (1½ hr, Rs 20), Rishikesh (1½ hr, Rs 20) and Paonta Saheb (Rs 25). The shared taxis to Paonta Saheb stops one km from the border of Himachal Pradesh and you have to get a rickshaw from there.

During the high season, taxis are: Mussoorie (Rs 350), Haridwar (Rs 400), Rishikesh (Rs 300), Shimla (Rs 1800) and Uttarkashi (1200). During the low season you may get Rs 100 off these rates.

You can hire a taxi for the day from GMVN at their offices in the Hotel Drona and on Rajpur Rd. Ventures Rent-a-Car (652-724), 87 Rajpur Rd, also rents out cars for the day.

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