Dehradun is the provisional capital of Uttarakhand state. It is nestled between the Himalayan foothills to the north and the Shivaliks to the South. The town offers breathtaking scenery.Dehradun is situated at an altitude of 2,200 ft in the Doon Valley between two of the most important rivers in India, the Ganga and Yamuna.
It offers beautiful scenery and a moderate climate in summer, and so is an ideal place to relax and escape the heat of the plains below. The town also serves as a convenient base for visiting the area's many tourist sites. Dehradun has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, and currently has a population of around 550,000. It is also famous for the Doon School, which is often referred to as the Eton of India.
Dehradun has a city bus service run by Uttarakhand Roadways. The destinations are written in Hindi above the windshield. Generally, however, the buses are crowded, so it is better to use other means of transport. Semi-deluxe and ordinary Uttarakhand State buses depart every hour from ISBT, Kashmere Gate in New Delhi.
There is also an overnight deluxe A/C service run by Uttarakhand Tourism. It is a six to seven hour journey from Delhi. However, the bus station is inconveniently located several km from the town. If you are coming from Delhi side the trains will generally be more convenient.
Dehradun is in principle a 5 hour drive from Delhi, but unless you leave Delhi very early in the morning, you will encounter traffic that makes the trip significantly longer. The town is located on NH 72A (Chhutmalpur to Dehradun). The road is two-laned, but not very wide. There may be many slow-moving vehicles at harvest times, and pilgrims walking on the road in late July and early August.
Nearby locations are the hill stations of Mussoorie Landour just 36 km away. There is a 16 km (easy) trekking route from Dehradun to Mussoorie. Dhanaulti is a lovely hill station beyond Mussoorie Chakrata is another nearby hill station, but it is a good 80 km away. Paonta Sahib is a pilgrimage place for Sikhs with a historic Gurudwara on the banks of the Yamuna. Other nearby religious places are Haridwar and Rishikesh.
The mountains around Dehradun receive sustained snowfall in winter, and the city suffers from clod waves in the winter April to June are the summer months, with highs averaging around 33oC (93oF). The monsoon starts in late June and ends in September often with weeks of torrential rainfall, this season should generally be avoided by visitors.
Paonta Sahib is on national highway 72 connecting Chandigarh and Dehradun. To Nahan 45 km., Shimla to Paonta Sahib 258 km., Chandigarh to Paonta Sahib 132 km. Nearest railway station is Dehradun 45 km away and nearest airport is Dehradun(Jolly Grant Airport) 70 km. There is frequent bus service from nearby towns. Rickshaws are common for travelling short distances, especially by school-going children, housewives and the elderly. Auto rickshaws are limited, and most often ply to and from on main roads.
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