Located in Doon Valley, Dehradun is one of the popular tourist destinations in Uttarakhand that promises a lot of variety like waterfalls, wildlife shelters, scenic spots, temples and more. It is one such travel destination that you can visit with your loved ones, friends and family. Are you looking for places to visit in Dehradun for couples? Are you trying to search for the best places to visit in Dehradun in 1 day? Then you are at the right spot. In this article I am going to share with you some of the best places to visit in Dehradun. So keep on reading.
15 Places to Visit in Dehradun
Sahastradhara
Location: Sahastradhara Road, Timlimansigh, Dehradun
Timings: 8am to 7pm
Entry Fee: Entry is free. Ropeway ride costs Rs.200.
Sahastradhara or Thousand Fold Spring as it is called is one of the mesmerizing beauties in Dehradun that you must visit. The water falls so impressively from the top, rolling, it almost looks like a thousand waterfalls together. The sulfur rich water is believed to contain therapeutic elements in it that cures skin ailments. Also the locals there believe drinking this water can cure stomach diseases too. The ropeway ride there is the most interesting aspect of this tour as you can get a panoramic view of the entire city from up above. It is surely going to be an interesting and memorable experience.
Robber’s Cave
Location: Gucchupani, Malsi, Dehradun
Timings: 7am to 6pm
Entry Fee: Rs.35 per person
The Robber’s Cave as the name suggests is famous because once upon a time robbers used this cave to hide their looted materials from the British. This is a natural river cave. You can go inside the cave but if you are visiting during winters then be careful because the water level rises up during this time. You can also dip your feet in the water and enjoy a good time. The destination is perfect as a place to visit in Dehradun for couples. The destination is ideal for excursions and picnics. Bathrooms and lockers are available here so you can think of carrying an extra pair of clothing because you might get wet in the water here.
Tapkeshwar Temple
Location: Garhi Cantt, Dehradun
Timings: 6am to 7pm
Entry Fee: Free entry
The Tapkeshwar Temple is located at a 6.5km distance from Dehradun City Centre. The main presiding deity is Lord Shiva. The river is surrounded by mountains and is situated on the banks of Tons River. The temple is built in a natural cave. The word Tapkeshwar came from “Tapak” which means dripping and “Ishwar” means God. The specialty of this temple is water continuously drops on the Shiva Lingam hence the name Tapkeshwar. It is an important religious sight in Dehradun that you must visit.
Tapovan
Location: Raipur, Dehradun
Timings: 6am to 8pm
Entry Fee: Entry is free
Tapovan is a site of great religious importance because of the Tapovan Temple. The word Tapovan is a Sanskrit word that came from “Tapas” which means penance and “Vana” that means Forest. So ideally Tapovan means a forest for spiritual practice. It is believed that the Great Guru Dronacharya did his penance here. The Tapovan Temple is also known as the Rudraksha Shiv Mandir. The inner sanctum has a Shiva Lingam and there are idols of Goddess Kali, Goddess Durga and Lord Hanuman in the temple premise.
Mindrolling Monastery
Location: 3, Buddha Temple Road, Clement Town, Dehradun
Timings: Open on all days. Summer timings are 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 7pm. Winter timings are 9am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 6pm.
Entry Fee: Entry is free.
Mindrolling Monastery is the largest center for Buddhist learning in India. This is a Buddha temple founded by His Eminence Kochen Rinpoche and his small group of Tibetan Monks in 1965. Their intention was to spread and preserve the Buddhist culture and teachings of Lord Buddha. This is a place for research on Buddhist Scriptures, traditional Tribal medicines, Astronomy, Calligraphy and Tibetan Lunar Calendar.
The main structure is 220 feet high and is one of the most visited and attractive spots for the tourists. There is a 103 foot tall Buddha statue as well. The shrine of Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava are special attractions here. The monastery also has a Great Stupa which is 60m high and is believed to be the world’s tallest stupa. There are murals that depict the life of Lord Buddha that is a very engaging sight.
The name of the temple complex is Nyingma. There are other schools there as well known as Sakya, Kagyu and Geluk. The area comes with a commercial gallery and a well maintained garden. You can buy souvenirs, artifacts and jewelry from the commercial galley there. By climbing the wooden stairs up to the fourth floor you can get an all encompassing view of the Doon Valley, while standing on the open observation platform.
Malsi Deer Park
Location: Mussoorie Road, Dehradun
Timings: 10am to 5pm. Mondays are closed.
Entry Fee: Rs.20 per person.
Malsi Deer Park also known as Dehradun Zoo was established in 1976. It is at a 10km distance from Mussoorie Road. The area is spread across 25 hectares. This Zoological Park is a home to species like Nilgai Deer, Sambar Deer, Two Horned Deer, peacocks, crocodiles, rabbits, lions, and many exotic birds and animals. This park is a popular picnic spot and looks beautiful with lush greenery around. There is a refreshment area where you can grab some quick snacks as well along with a play area for kids.
Forest Research Institute
Location: Chakrata Road, New Forest, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun
Timings: 9am to 5:30pm from Mondays to Fridays. This is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Entry Fee: Rs.20 per person
This Forest Research Institute (FRI) was established in 1906. The complex extends over an area of 2.000 acres. The Greek-Roman style of architecture of this Institute looks splendid. This is mainly an educational institute but is open for visitors as well. There are a total 6 museums inside that display research works on varied fields of forestry like The Museum of Forestry, The Museum of Social Forestry, The Museum of Timbra, The Museum of Entomology and The Museum of Wood Forest Products. This is an ideal place for nature lovers and a perfect place for a picnic. You can take a proper tour inside the museums or you can just enjoy sitting in the garden.
Fun Valley
Location: 28th Km Stone, Haridwar Road, Lal Tappar, Dehradun
Timings: Timings vary as per months. During April the time is 9am to 6pm. In May timings are 9am to 6:30pm. And in June the timings are 9am to 7pm.
Entry Fee: The entry fee here is according to height. Children below 3’ft will get a free entry. Anyone between 3’ft to 4.6’ft will have to pay Rs.700. Anyone above 4.6’ft will have to pay Rs.900.
The Fun Valley is an amusement and water Park in collaboration with the Essel World Mumbai. It is one of the newest destinations for tourists that have become very popular in a short span of time. This is like a perfect getaway that promises a lot of fun, exciting water rides, multi cuisine restaurants and even accommodation. Rides like go karting, roller coasters, bumping cars are very popular.
Also there are specific sections like kiddie pool, rain dance zone and wave pool. The safety standards here are very high and everything is made thinking about that. This is the biggest water park in North India. This park also has the largest wave pool and the longest water slide in India. There are almost 21 exciting rides that this place offers and it can be a perfect destination for the adventure lovers.
Lachhiwala
Location: Haridwar-Dehradun Road, Dehradun
Timings: 8am to 5pm. Mondays are closed.
Entry Fee: Rs. 60 for adults and Rs. 30 for children.
One of the famous tourist places to visit in Dehradun is Lachhiwala. This is also an ideal place for couples to visit in Dehradun. The beautiful Sal trees and the pools here are perfect to spend some amazing time. The pools here are outlets of the Suswa River. This place is best known for fun activities like boating, bird watching and hiking trails. The artificial pools here are a great source of fun for people visiting here who can enjoy swimming.
Shree Prakasheshwar Mahadev Mandir
Location: Mussoorie Road, Salan Gaon, Bhagwant Pur, Khala gaon, Dehradun
Timings: 8am to 9pm
Entry Fee: Entry is free.
Prakasheswar Shiv Mandir is one of the most popular holy places to visit in Dehradun. Amidst the hills and lush greenery this temple is a beautiful sight for the visitors. The Shivalinga here is made of Sphatik stone or Crystal. One of the main things that make this temple different from all other temples is that, no donation or offerings are accepted here. Shivaratri and Sawan month are the main festivals here when a mass feast or “Bhandara” is organized and everyone receives the Prasad. The temple is almost 1000 years old and beautifully decorated.
Guru Ram Rai Gurudwara
Location: Tilak Road, Jhanda Bazaar, Jhanda Mohalla, Dehradun
Timings: 5am to 9pm
Entry Fee: Entry is free
This is one of the most popular places to visit in Dehradun. It was made during the early 17th century and is the oldest Gurudwara in Dehradun. Baba Ram Rai, the eldest son of 7th Sikh Guru Har Rai founded this Gurudwara in 1676. This Gurudwara is made following the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It is said that because the funding of this Gurudwara was provided by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the Gurudwara retained its Mughal touch. The domes and murals give a distinct look to the Gurudwara. People from all religions and cultures visit this Gurudwara. This Gurudwara is attached to several charitable works. Also almost 1000 people are fed here everyday through the huge Langar organized daily.
Khalanga War Memorial
Location: Tibbanala Pani, Dehradun
Timings: 9am to 5pm
Entry Fee: Entry is free
Khalanga War Memorial built by the British in 1814 is a symbol of pride for Gorkhas. The British were highly impressed by the bravery of Gorkhas during the first Anglo Nepalese War, Nalapani. This monument was built to honor their enemy. This is one of a kind of monument in the country because it is probably one of the world’s first monuments that were built in memory of the opponent.
Shikhar Falls
Location: Kairwaan Gaon. Dumal Gaon, Uttarakhand
Timings: Open 24*7
Entry Fee: No entry fee
One of the attractive places to visit in Dehradun is the Sikhar Falls. The fall is only accessible after a strenuous hike of 1km. You can witness a lot of shallow pools, wild flowers, beautiful birds and butterflies during the span of this short trek. The Shikhar Falls is surrounded by mountains and the ambience is dreamy.
Rajaji National Park
Location: Motichur Range, Uttarakhand
Timings: 6am to 9am and 3pm to 6pm. The park remains open from 15th of November to 15th of June.
Entry Fee: Rs.150 for Indians and Rs.600 for foreigners.
Rajaji National park was established in 1983 and was named after the last Governor General of India C.Rajagopalachari. The area is huge, extending to almost 820sq km sprawling across three districts of Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal. Located at the foothills of Shivalik, this national park was formed after merging three different wildlife sanctuaries. This place is a home for various birds, animals and plants. This National park is also a tiger reserve and wild elephants are also found. You can see a variety of animals that includes Yellow-Billed Blue Magpie, White-Naped Woodpecker, Black-necked Stork, Great Hornbill, Scaly Thrush and more.
Paltan bazaar
Location: Paltan Bazaar, Dehradun
Timings: 10am to 10pm
Entry Fee: No entry fee.
Paltan Bazaar is the largest local market in Dehradun where you will get a taste of everything available in Dehradun ranging from shopping items to local food. This is undoubtedly also one of the busiest areas in Dehradun that is always bustling with crowds. The location is 1.5km from the Railway Station very close to the Clock Tower. The market got its name during British rule. The British at that time used to visit this market on their horses and they were called “Paltan” therefore the name is “Paltan Bazaar”. Woolen clothing material and Doon Basmati Rice are popular items here.
If not for anything else you must visit this place for the famous street food here like the Aloo Tikkis, Dahi Chaat, Pani Puri, Momos, and bakery items from the nearby bakery in Ghosi Galli. This is a one stop destination selling everything from clothing items to footwear, accessories, and handicrafts items. So if you are visiting Dehradun then do not forget to include this market in the list of must visit places in Dehradun and shop your heart out. You can also get a variety of items that you can buy as a memento or gift for the people back home.
Conclusion
Dehradun is one of the versatile travel destinations that offer a range of destinations from temples to waterfalls, to sanctuaries and markets. If you are planning a trip to Dehradun then this article will come in handy for you. Note down all the Dehradun tourist places mentioned in this article. These are all the best places to visit in Dehradun. You are definitely not going to return empty handed after visiting these breathtaking sites. Do make a list and let me know which of these places to visit in Dehradun are definitely making it to your travel bucket list.
