Dehradun

Dehradun: देहरादून) pronunciation (help·info), also sometimes spelled Dehra Doon, is the capital city of the Uttarakhand state (earlier called Uttaranchal) in India, and the headquarters of Dehradun District. It is located in the Doon valley, 230 kilometers north of India's capital New Delhi and the Delhi metropolitan area. The district is surrounded by the Himalayas in the north, Shivalik Hills in the south, the river Ganga in the east, and the river Yamuna in the west. The water divide of Ganga and Yamuna passes through the city. It is also located on the north western side of the fertile Gangetic plains of India. Before the creation of Uttarakhand on November 9 2000, Dehradun was a part of Uttar Pradesh. Neighbouring cities and towns include Haridwar, Rishikesh, Roorkee, Mussoorie and Saharanpur. A product that has made Dehradun known within India is "Dehradooni basmati rice". Dehradun is also known for Lychee and educational institutes like Doon School.

Origin of name
Dera (or Dehra) is a camp, while Dun or Doon is a reference to a local term used for a river valley between a smaller range (Shivaliks) and the main Himalaya's. It is also believed that the Dehra reference to is Ram Rai's (Son of Guru Har Rai, the seventh Guru in Sikh History) Gurudwara.

History
Early history and the connection to Vedic Period
The great stupa at Og Min, Ogyen Mindroling Monastery in Dehra Dun
The great stupa at Og Min, Ogyen Mindroling Monastery in Dehra Dun

The earliest tangible evidence of the history of Dehradun dates back to 300 BC, as indicated by a rock inscription at Kalsi, discovered in 1860. This inscriptions located at the northern outskirts of the city are attributed to King dhani ram Ashoka mamaji. In the inscription, there are 14 edicts carved on a rock and adjacent to these is the site where Raja Shilvarma of the Vrisheri dynasty made three horse sacrifices during his rule in the 3rd century BC. At the site, large inscribed bricks are arranged to form the shape of a bird with a fire altar in the middle.

It is also believed that in Vedic times, the Garhwal Mandal, of which Dehradun is a part, was known as the Kedar Khand. Legend has it that Guru Dronacharaya, a Brahmin teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharat , set up his ashram or 'dera' here. Eventually, the Dron Ashram came to be known as Dehradun. Therefore, it is also referred to as Dronpuri in history. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana undertook a penance in Dehradun for killing Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.[citation needed]

Katyuris of Garhwal
There is no evidence of any kind for quite a long period after that, and the next prominent rulers of the valley were the Katyuris of Garhwal. Next, this stronghold of the Katyuri dynasty, passed into the hands of the Sikhs and Mughals and later, the Gorkhas of Nepal ruled here for a long time, until the British took control of the region. For many centuries the region formed part of the Garhwal Kingdom with some interruption from the Rohillas of the adjoining plains of Rohilkhand.

Gorkhas and British Period
For about two decades till 1815 it was under the occupation of Nepal. In April 1815 Gorkhas were ousted from Garhwal region and Garhwal was annexed by the British. In that year the area now comprising the tehsil of Dehra Dun was added to the district Saharanpur. In 1825, however, it was transferred to the Kumaon Division. In 1828, Dehra Dun and Jaunsar Bhabar were placed under the charge of a separate Deputy Commissioner and in 1829, the Dehra Dun district was transferred from the Kumaon Division to the Meerut Division. In 1842, Dun was attached to Saharanpur district and placed under an officer subordinate to the Collector of the district, but since 1871 it has been administered as separate district. In 1968 the district was taken out from the Meerut Division and included in the Garhwal Division.

Following a war between the Nepal and the British, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816 that established the current boundaries of Nepal. Garhwal and Kumaon regions, including Dehradun were ceded to the British. While territories west of the Alaknanda were returned to the Garhwal Raja now established at Tehri, Eastern Garhwal (later British Garhwal) and Dehradun were retained under direct British control.

During British rule, Dehradun used to be the summer base for the Viceroy's bodyguards. The British established: The Forest Research Institute in 1906; The Royal Indian Military College (Rashtriya Indian Military College) in 1922; and The Indian Military Academy in 1932. Dehradun also has a large number of distinguished people living in it.

World War II
During World War II, its facilities included an internment camp for Axis nationals. (Heinrich Harrer's escape from it launched his experiences in Tibet.)

Ram Raiyye Sikh Pilgrimage
According to the local legend, Dehra or 'camp' refers to Ram Rai, son of Guru Har Rai, the 7th Guru of the Sikhs. Ram Rai founded a Dera here in the old city close to the railway station, which is a pilgrimage centre for the "Ram Raiyye" Sikhs. Dehradun is also an important city for the Sikhs as one of the son of a Guru had taken refuge in Dehradun in the seventeenth century. At that time, the Sikhs had doubted the credentials of Shri Ram Rai and drove him out so that he had to set up his camp or dera in the city. Today, the city has the Ram Rai Durbar, a Dera named after him.

Dehradun is known as the gateway to the majestic Himalayas. The mountain range lies to the north of the city while the sacred Ganga and Yamuna rivers encircle it from the east and west. Ganga enters Dehradun from the east at Tapovan and flows south-west to reach Haridwar via Raiwala and Rishikesh. Yamuna flows from the west down towards the south. The other rivers of the area are Asan, Tons, Bindal and Rispana.

Places Of Interest
Dakpathar
45 Kms from Dehradun, Dakpathar is a beautiful tourist spot in the western Doon Valley, amidst the Shivalik range. Dakpathar has emerged a wonderful tourist spot under the Yamuna Hydel Scheme. The place is connected by a regular bus service from the Parade Ground and Highway Bus Stand near the Railway Station, Dehradun. Accommodation is available in a Tourist Rest House with swimming pool facilities.

Bhagirathi Resort
Its around 18 Kms run on Chakrata road, Bhagirathi Resort at Selaqui, Dehradun lends a breath-taking spectacle of the Himalayan ranges. The resort lures the tourists with its tranquil swimming pool, water slides and fountains. Against the backdrop of the mountain ranges, the resort is an ideal tourist spot.

Tapowan
Approximately, 5 kms from the City Bus Stand on the Dehradun-Rajpur road, this place is situated in beautiful surroundings. Legend has it that Guru Dronacharya had done penance in this area.

Sahastradhara
Sahasratra Dhara, laterally meaning, the 'thousand fold spring' is situated at a distance of 11 kms. from Dehra Dun. The place makes an ideal picnic spot and is of immense attraction to visitors. The Baldi river and the caves provide a breathtaking view.
The water here has a fall of about 9 metres and leaves an incrustation of lime of all its touches. Particles thus accumulating over the centuries have formed a projecting ledge, and a sort of cave, from the roof of which falls a perpetual shower. There is also a sulphur spring in which visitors often take bath. Its water is said to cure skin infections and possess other medicinal properties.

Asan Barrage Water Sports Resort
A water sports resort has been developed at the Asan Barrage by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam in the year 1994. Asan Barrage was created in 1967 and it is popularly known as Dhalipur Lake. Situated 43 kms from Dehradun on Chandigarh-Shimla highway, the resort offers facilities like water skiing, boating, rowing, kayaking, canoeing etc. Wildlife lovers have an added bonus during the winter season as migratory birds can be seen in the vicinity.

Robber’s Cave (Guchhupani)
An ideal place for a picnic, Robber’s Cave is just 8 Kms away from the City Bus Stand. Local bus services are available upto Anarwala Village, from where it is just a Kilometre’s trek to the spot.

Lachhiwala
3 Kms from Doiwala and 22 Kms from Dehradun, on the Hardwar/Rishikesh road is Lachhiwala. The serene and blissful spot is famous for its picnic spots. The place also provides accommodation to tourists in the Forest Rest House nestled in the greenery.
Tapkeshawar Temple
Tapkeshwar Shiv Temple is an ancient place of worship and is situated on the banks of a rivulet, in the Garhi Cantt. Area, 5.5 Kms from the city bus stand, the temple is well connected by road. It is named Tapkeshwar as water droplets, originating from a rock, fall on the Shivling placed in the shrine. People in large numbers participate in the fair organized on the occasion of Shivratri and pay their obeisance to the deity.

Demographics
As of 2001 India census,Dehradun had a population of 447,808. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Dehradun has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 64%: male literacy is 87% and, female literacy is 81%. In Dehradun, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. The population has a diverse background and comprises Garwali, Punjabi, Kumauni, Western UP and Anglo-Indian communitites.

Climate
Dehradun has typical weather of a north Indian city: cold winters, hot summer, rainy monsoon season and a balmy spring. The winter ranges from November to February is cold, temperature touching freezing occasionally. The months of December and January are the coldest due to winter rains, coinciding with snow-fall in the nearby mountains ranges. Overall the winters are dry. The spring, lasting from March to April, are very pleasant. Almost overnight, with almost no warning, sometime in April spring leads to onset of summer months. Summer last from April-May to July, with fairly high temperatures (sometimes even higher than 40 °C). Monsoon months, ranging from July-September, are a welcome change after the hot summer as they bring the monsoon rains from Arabian Sea (south-west of Indian subcontinent). The monsoon months are extremely humid specially July and early August. A brief autumn, between September and October, leads to winter months. There are no special changes in the autumn season except for mild weather.

Most residents have noticed a change in the weather patterns in the last 2 decades, with the growth of city. As one resident narrates "The city had a wonderful climate till a few decades ago. In summer months, rain was common in the evenings, leading to cooling. Incessant tree logging has severely damaged the local ecosystem, that may be linked to change in the weather patterns and as a result summer have become hotter. Till few years ago, houses in Dehradun did not even need ceiling fans but the need for air-conditioners is felt to keep cool during summer months.". Warmer climate has become a severe issue for Dehradun and its wildlife population. Species found specifically in that region have now become in danger of being extinct; it has already suffered the loss of one of its more exotic species. The Salari cobra population, inhabiting the northern region of Dehradun, has been decreased considerably leading to concerns about extinction.

Source: http://dehradun.nic.in/dehradun.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehradun