67+ Unknown Facts About Dehradun You Must Know !
Uncover the secrets of the Doon Valley—from the mysterious Robber's Cave and haunted mines to the British-era bakeries and the world's only war memorial built for an enemy.
It was founded in 1676 by Guru Ram Rai, the eldest son of the seventh Sikh Guru, who set up his 'Dehra' here. ☬
Before the British, Dehradun was ruled by the Gurkhas of Nepal for roughly a decade (1803–1815). ⚔️
In the Mahabharata, Dehradun is identified as 'Dronagiri', the personal estate of Guru Dronacharya. 🏹
It is believed that Lord Rama and Lakshmana performed penance here after killing Ravana to atone for the sin of killing a Brahmin. 🕉️
The 'Khalanga War Memorial' is the only monument in the world built by a victorious army (British) to honor their enemy (Gurkhas). 🎖️
The British were so impressed by the bravery of the Gurkha commander Balbhadra Kunwar that they erected this memorial. 🤝
The city features on the Ashokan Rock Edict at Kalsi (near Dehradun), proving its importance in the Mauryan Empire (250 BC). 🪨
Dehradun is known as the 'School Capital of India' due to its high concentration of elite boarding schools. 🎒
The Doon School is often called the 'Eton of India' and has produced alumni like Rajiv Gandhi and Amitav Ghosh. 🎓
FRI is the only institution in India where the building itself is a 'National Heritage' site while still being a functional office. 🌲
The 'Chetwode Motto' of IMA is legendary: 'The safety, honor and welfare of your country come first, always and every time.' 🇮🇳
The 'Survey of India', established in 1767, has its headquarters in Dehradun and is the oldest scientific department in India. 🗺️
The 'Great Trigonometrical Survey' which measured the height of Mount Everest started from here. 🏔️
The Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) acts as a feeder institution for the NDA and IMA. ⚔️
Dehradun is situated at a lower altitude (435m) than Bangalore (920m), despite being a 'hill station' gateway. 📉
Robber's Cave (Guchhupani) has a mysterious river that suddenly disappears underground and reappears a few meters later. 🌊
Legend says Robber's Cave was used by bandits in the late 1800s to hide their loot from the British. 💰
Sahastradhara ('Thousandfold Spring') is famous for its sulphur water springs which are believed to cure skin diseases. 🧪
The city sits in a wide valley between the Himalayas in the north and the Shivalik range in the south. ⛰️
Dehradun is one of the few cities in India that has a 'Zoological Survey of India' and 'Botanical Survey of India' presence. 🌿
The 'Malsi Deer Park' (now Dehradun Zoo) is famous for its herds of Spotted Deer and Two-horned Deer. 🦌
Lachhiwala is a popular picnic spot where the river is diverted into man-made pools for swimming. 🏊♂️
Tapkeshwar Temple is a cave temple where water naturally drips (Tapak) from the ceiling onto the Shiva Lingam. 💧
Dehradun Basmati Rice is world-famous and was the first Basmati to get a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. 🍚
The famous 'Stick Jaws' (butter toffees) were invented in Dehradun bakeries during the British era. 🍬
Ellora's Melting Moments bakery is iconic for its 'Rusks' and 'Plum Cakes' that people carry back home in cartons. 🍞
Dehradun is also the 'Litchi Capital' of Uttarakhand; the litchis here are sweeter than the Muzaffarpur variety. 🍒
The 'Katlam' is a special flaky, deep-fried bread found in the old city, usually eaten with chole. 🥐
Tibetan Momos in Dehradun are considered superior to Delhi because of the large Tibetan settlement in Clement Town. 🥟
Author Ruskin Bond has lived in the Dehradun-Mussoorie belt for decades and bases most of his stories here. 📚
The 'Clock Tower' (Ghanta Ghar) is a central landmark with six faces, though for years none of the clocks showed the right time. ⏰
Lambi Dehar Mines (just outside Dehradun) is considered one of the most haunted places in India. 👻
Locals say 50,000 workers died coughing blood at the mines, and their screams are still heard at night. 💀
The 'Pari Tibba' (Hill of Fairies) is famous in Ruskin Bond stories as a place where lightning strikes frequently due to 'magic'. 🧚♀️
A haunted house on Rajpur Road was famous for decades because nobody could stay there for more than a night. 🏚️
The 'Mindrolling Monastery' in Clement Town has one of the tallest Stupas in the world (185 feet). ☸️
Dehradun has a 'Cricket Stadium' (Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium) that served as the home ground for the Afghanistan Cricket Team. 🏏🇦🇫
Jolly Grant Airport is situated in a way that gives one of the most scenic landing approaches in India. ✈️
The city has a 'Smart City' project which has introduced electric buses and smart traffic lights across Rajpur Road. 🚦
Dehradun is the gateway to the 'Char Dham Yatra' (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri). 🕉️
The 'Maggi Points' on the Dehradun-Mussoorie road are a cultural phenomenon, open until late at night. 🍜
Vikram Tempos (blue three-wheelers) are the lifeline of the city; they have specific numbers (1, 2, 3, 5, 8) for specific routes. 🛺
There is a 'Tibetan Market' near Parade Ground famous for first-copy sneakers and winter jackets. 🧥
Dehradun houses the 'Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology', which monitors earthquakes in the Himalayas. 📉
The city is highly vulnerable to earthquakes (Zone IV) due to the 'Main Boundary Thrust' fault line. ⚠️
Before 2000, Dehradun was a part of Uttar Pradesh; it became the capital of Uttarakhand only after the state formed. 🗺️
