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Major city · India

Dehradunदेहरादून

Use Dehradun as a 1-night staging stop for Mussoorie, Rishikesh or trekking, not a sightseeing base: the town itself needs half a day.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
INR
Best months
Feb–Apr, Sep–Nov
avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon, heaviest rain of the year), late Jul–early Aug (Kanwar Yatra crowds on the Delhi road)
Airport
DED
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 6
  • South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
  • South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
  • India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
  • India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
  • India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
  • India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Dehradun is the winter capital of Uttarakhand, sitting in the Doon Valley at about 670 m between the Shivaliks and the Himalayan foothills. It is a working Indian town with a compact centre, a railway terminus and an airport, and it works best as a transport hub: most travellers pass through on the way to Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar or a Garhwal trek. Give the town itself one night and half a day, then move on. Two nights if you want the Forest Research Institute and Robber's Cave without rushing.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Dehradun, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Street or quick mealChai at a roadside stall₹10–30 (≈ under US$1)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi to Sahastradhara or Robber's Cave, returncheck₹800–1,500 (≈ US$10–18)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)
  • Museum or sight ticketForest Research Institute museum entrycheck₹25 (≈ under US$1)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person₹500 (≈ US$6)
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹3,000 (≈ US$35)
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹6,000 (≈ US$70)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,800 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₹4,000 (≈ US$50) · High ₹9,000 (≈ US$110)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Forest Research InstituteRobber's Cave (Guchchu Pani)Mindrolling MonasteryGateway to Mussoorie and RishikeshBasmati rice and lychee gardens
Airports
DED Jolly Grant Airport (About 20 km from the centre; daily domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow, Pune, Ahmedabad and Srinagar. Red Uttarakhand buses to Rishikesh pass the airport every 20–30 min in daylight; a private taxi is the usual choice with bags.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Dehradun: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

20°C

7°C

3 rd

Feb

23°C

9°C

4 rd

Mar

27°C

13°C

4 rd

Apr

33°C

17°C

3 rd

May

35°C

21°C

4 rd

Jun

34°C

23°C

10 rd

Jul

31°C

24°C

20 rd

Aug

30°C

23°C

20 rd

Sep

30°C

21°C

11 rd

Oct

29°C

16°C

3 rd

Nov

26°C

11°C

1 rd

Dec

22°C

8°C

2 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The centre is compact: Rajpur Road and Chakrata Road cross at the Clock Tower, and walking across town takes about 30 minutes. Autos are plentiful but not metered — agree the fare before you get in. Blue shared Vikrams run fixed numbered routes and are the cheapest option. Uber and Ola work but cars are not always available; a hired car with driver is the practical way to reach Sahastradhara, Robber's Cave or the airport.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Mussoorie

overnight

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Shared taxi or bus up the Mussoorie road, about 35 km

The classic hill station above the Doon Valley; worth a night, not a rushed return.

Rishikesh

go

Door to door: 1–1.5 h

Bus or shared taxi on the Dehradun–Rishikesh road, about 45 km

Ghats, river rafting and yoga ashrams; easy as a day trip or a base of its own.

Haridwar

go

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Train or bus, about 55 km

Evening Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri; go for the evening and return late.

Sahastradhara

go

Door to door: 30–40 min

Auto or taxi, about 15 km east of the centre

Sulphur springs and a shallow river; a half-day picnic, best in the morning.

Robber's Cave (Guchchu Pani)

go

Door to door: 20–30 min

Auto or taxi, about 8 km from the centre

A stream that disappears underground and reappears; short walk, go early to avoid the crowd.

Lansdowne

overnight

Door to door: 4–5 h

Taxi or bus via Kotdwar, about 150 km

Quiet hill cantonment; too far for a comfortable return day.

Auli

overnight

Door to door: 10–12 h

Drive via Rishikesh and Joshimath, about 290 km

A ski and meadow stop high in Chamoli; plan at least two nights and check road status.

Badrinath

overnight

Door to door: 11–13 h

Drive via Rishikesh and Joshimath, about 300 km

A pilgrimage route, not a day trip; the temple closes for winter, so check dates.

Ghangaria (Valley of Flowers)

overnight

Door to door: 2 days

Drive to Govindghat, then trek; permits and a medical certificate are needed

A multi-day trek base; arrange permits in advance and go in the monsoon-bloom window.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Rajpur Road / Clock Tower

The main avenue and the most useful base: cafés, shops, hotels and the Clock Tower roundabout where Rajpur and Chakrata roads meet.

Race Course and Haridwar Road

Quieter, greener and slightly cheaper; 10–15 min by auto from the Clock Tower.

Clement Town

West of the centre, close to the Mindrolling Monastery; useful if the monastery is your main stop.

Near Dehradun railway station

Best for a late arrival or an early train out; the station is central but the immediate area is busy and plain.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
₹1,500–3,000 (≈ US$18–35) excl. bed
Mid
₹3,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
High
₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × ₹3,000₹3,000
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹4,000₹8,000
Airport taxi, one way1 × ₹1,200 · check₹1,200
Shared Vikram ride in town2 × ₹20 · check₹40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹800₹1,600
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge₹1,380
Trip total≈ ₹7,610 per person per day, bed included₹15,220≈ US$180

2026 estimate in rupees; flights and trek packages excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Chai at a roadside stall₹10–30 (≈ under US$1)
Thali or a plate of momos₹80–250 (≈ US$1–3)
Auto ride across the centreAgree the fare before you get in.₹80–200 (≈ US$1–3)
Forest Research Institute museum entrycheck₹25 (≈ under US$1)
Taxi to Sahastradhara or Robber's Cave, returncheck₹800–1,500 (≈ US$10–18)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Dehradun is generally safe for tourists, including solo women in the centre in daylight. The real risks are monsoon landslides on hill roads, unlit stretches after dark, and unmetered autos: agree the fare first and keep a taxi number for late nights.
  • Autos have no meters and rates are often not displayed: agree the price first or you will be overcharged.
  • July and August bring very heavy rain — landslides and blocked hill roads are common on the Mussoorie and Rishikesh routes.
  • Late July to early August, Kanwar Yatra pilgrims walk the Delhi–Haridwar road: allow extra hours and expect diversions.
  • Hill roads to Mussoorie, Sankri and the trek bases are slow and winding; a 90 km drive can take 3–4 hours.
  • Trekking beyond the Doon Valley needs permits and, for some routes, a medical certificate and insurance: arrange them in Uttarkashi before you start.

Emergency numbers

All services (police, fire, ambulance)
112
Ambulance
108
Tourist helpline (national, 24 h)
1363

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Dehradunदेहरादून

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

इस पते पर ले चलिएTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All services112
  • Ambulance108
  • Tourist helpline (24 h)1363

Embassy

No embassies in Dehradun; most are in New Delhi. The US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all have embassies or high commissions in Delhi (check current addresses).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Jolly Grant Airport → city centre, taxi: about ₹1,000–1,500 (≈ US$12–18), 40–50 min (check)
  • Dehradun → Rishikesh, bus: about ₹50–100 (≈ US$1–2), 1–1.5 h (check)
  • Dehradun → Delhi, Vande Bharat or Shatabdi: about ₹700–1,500 (≈ US$8–18), 5–6 h (check)

Say or show

  • नमस्ते — Hello / Namaste (namaste)
  • धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
  • कितना है? — How much is it? (kitna hai)
  • इस पते पर ले चलिए — Please take me to this address (is pate par le chaliye)
  • शौचालय कहाँ है? — Where is the toilet? (shauchalay kahan hai)
  • नहीं चाहिए, धन्यवाद — I don't want it, thank you (nahin chahiye, dhanyavaad)

Autos and Vikrams are cash-first: carry small notes.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Dehradun. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Feb–Apr, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon, heaviest rain of the year), late Jul–early Aug (Kanwar Yatra crowds on the Delhi road) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 9 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DED: bus times to Rishikesh, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Clock Tower and Rajpur Road, Race Course, Clement Town, the station.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Forest Research Institute, Mindrolling Monastery, Robber's Cave) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Monsoon and Kanwar Yatra fixtures so the hill-road warnings can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to India

Sources