Dehradunदेहरादून — दून घाटी की राजधानी, चार धाम का द्वार
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Dehradun in one minute
Dehradun — live weather, population, hidden places and cost of living, auto-updated.
Dehradun sits in a valley the Ganga and Yamuna leave open between Shivalik and Mussoorie ridges — a town that grew from eighteenth-century monastic settlements (the ‘dera’ in the name) into the capital of Uttarakhand. The Forest Research Institute (1906) still owns the city’s grandest colonnade, while ONGC, Survey of India and a ring of national institutes give it a quiet research-town character.
The valley now works three ways: government — secretariat, assembly and state jobs; education — residential schools, universities and coaching streams pulling students from across the north; and the tourism gateway — Mussoorie 34 km up, Rishikesh 45 km east, and the Char Dham road beginning an hour beyond. Dehradun (DDN) is the railway terminus from Delhi, Jolly Grant (DED) sits ~25 km southeast, and the Paltan–Clock Tower market belt stays the city’s daily centre.
Fast facts
| Status | Municipal corporation (dehradun nagar nigam) |
| District | Dehradun (HQ) |
| Division | Garhwal |
| District population (2011) | 16,95,860 |
| City population (2011) | 5,78,438 |
| Urban agglomeration | 7,06,124 |
| Density | ≈5,000 / km² |
| Languages | Hindi · Garhwali · English |
| Main stations | Dehradun (DDN) — Delhi terminus |
| Nearest airport | Jolly Grant (DED) — ~25 km |
| Rivers / water | Yamuna · Asan & Malun |
| Sub-divisions | Dehradun · Kalsi · Vikasnagar · Doiwala |
| District literacy | 85.83% (2011) |
| Famous for | FRI · ONGC HQ · Doon schools |
City map
Demographics CENSUS 2011
Last official census — 2021 census deferred, estimates update on release.
5,78,438 residents
per 1,000 males
municipal area (2011)
≈63,628 children (est.)
🌟 Hidden & heritage places
Dehradun beyond the postcards — quiet places and lanes most guides skip.
Tapkeshwar
The Shiva cave temple on the Malun — forest shade, a spring inside and weekday devotees only.
Directions ↗Robber’s Cave
The river that runs under rock — wade through cold water in a cut gorge, locals with towels.
Directions ↗Mindrolling Monastery
The great stupa and prayer halls of the Tibetan quarter — murals, quiet courtyards and less tour noise.
Directions ↗Lachhiwala
The river-side nature park on the Paonta road — shade, small rapids and Sunday family groups.
Directions ↗Maldevta
A small town of farms and river shingles — stream-side dhabas where the Doon crowd actually relaxes.
Directions ↗Asan Barrage
The birding barrage on the Yamuna canal — wintering ducks, herons and a morning hide.
Directions ↗Weekend getaways
Approximate road distances from Dehradun.
Cost of living
Indicative monthly estimates for a single person — verify locally before deciding.
| 1 BHK rent (city) | ₹3,000 – 6,000 / mo |
| 2 BHK rent (city) | ₹6,000 – 11,000 / mo |
| Meal at a local eatery | ₹70 – 150 |
| Groceries (single, month) | ₹3,500 – 5,500 |
| Utilities (basic) | ₹1,200 – 2,500 |
| Monthly total (est.) | ₹10,000 – 17,000 |
Estimates only · tier-2 Uttarakhand market · updated with market data over time
Top industries
What actually runs Dehradun.
State capital & secretariat
The Vidhan Sabha, secretariat and state departments — the employment floor of the valley.
Capital ↗FRI & national institutes
Forest Research Institute, Survey of India, Wadia and IMD — a research town’s old guard.
Institute belt ↗ONGC headquarters
The oil major’s head office and campus on the city’s west — engineers and the valley’s biggest payrolls.
Corporate ↗Schools & university belt
Residential academies, colleges and coaching streams — the reason the city speaks in students.
Campus ↗Selaqui industry belt
Manufacturing and IT units on the Delhi-side corridor — the valley’s factory addresses.
Industrial belt ↗Char Dham & tour operators
Bus permits, taxi offices and trek outfitters sending pilgrims up the Himalayan roads.
Gateway ↗Rail terminus & airport
The Delhi line ends here; Jolly Grant carries the flights — Doon’s connective tissue.
Gateway ↗Top restaurants & food
Where locals actually eat — local counters, classics and street institutions.
Puran Singh
The old Punjabi room of the cantonment belt — tandoori classics and a clientele of long standing.
Directions ↗Paltan street plates
Bedai-aloo and kachori at the bazaar’s morning counters — the Doon breakfast before offices open.
Directions ↗Rajpur Road cafés
The foothill road’s coffee rooms — students, laptops and weekend traffic from Mussoorie.
Directions ↗Sahastradhara road stalls
Tea and maggi at the spring’s edge — families in the sulphur water, then back down.
Directions ↗Verified from local guides · Sep 2026 · hours change — call ahead
Markets & shopping
Paltan Bazaar
The city’s central lane — clothes, chaat and the clock-tower crowd every evening.
Directions ↗Clock Tower
Ghanta Ghar’s crossing — showrooms, sweet shops and the bus routes turning through.
Directions ↗Tibetan Market
The seasonal strip of jackets, rugs and refugee-cuisine stalls opposite the mall belt.
Directions ↗Festival & fair calendar
Makar Sankranti
Kite skies over the valley and til-gur sweets in the bazaar lanes.
Holi
Braj-style colours in the Doon streets and temple courtyards.
Harela
The sowing festival of Uttarakhand — saplings in every office and hill home.
Diwali & Govardhan
Market lights, lamps on parapets and the valley’s biggest shopping week.
Oct – Mar
Post-monsoon clarity — Doon views, cool evenings and Char Dham road opening.
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FAQ
Why is Dehradun famous?
As the Doon Valley capital — Forest Research Institute, ONGC headquarters, the school town, and the gateway to Mussoorie and the Char Dham.
What is the population of Dehradun?
As per Census 2011, Dehradun city has 5,78,438 residents; the urban agglomeration is 7,06,124 and the district 16,95,860.
What are the places to visit there?
FRI, Robber’s Cave, Tapkeshwar, Sahastradhara and Mindrolling Monastery — with Mussoorie and Rishikesh a short drive.
How do I reach Dehradun?
Dehradun (DDN) is the railway terminus from Delhi, Jolly Grant airport (DED) ~25 km, and buses climb onward to the hills.