Dehradun Tourism: Hotels, Reviews, Packages, Photos, Maps, Experience, Itinerary

This popular hill station town is cradled in the Doon Valley at the foothills of the Himalayas. It is a hot spot for many tourists who come visiting here en route to Mussoorie. Its name is derived from the words Dera meaning a camp and Dun, meaning a river valley. Dehra is also a reference to the Gurudwara of Ram Rai, the son of Guru Har Rai. The origins of the city can be traced back to a rock inscription, which states its existence in 300 BC. It is said to be the place where the great guru Dronacharya lived, and also where Lord Rama and his brother prayed for atonement for slaying Ravana. During the medieval ages it changed rulers several times, though it stayed the base mainly for the Garhwal kingdom, followed by the British finally capturing it. The British converted it into a typical colonial settlement, using it as a summer base for the Viceroy's