INSTITUTIONS
Some important institutions are located in Dehradun that provide research facilities and elaborate libraries with some of the best museums. A list of such institutions is given below :
Forest Research InstituteEstablished in 1906, the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun is one of the oldest institu tions of its kind and acclaimed the world over. The Institute’s history is virtually synonymous with the evolution and development of scientific forestry, not only in India, but over the entire sub-continent. Set in a lush green estate spread over 450 hactares, with the outer Himalaya forming its back drop, the institute’s main building is an impressive edifice, marrying Greco-Roman and Colonial styles of architecture, with a plinth area of 2.5 hactares. The Institute has a developed infrastructure of all equipped laboratories, library, herbarium, arboreta, printing press and experimental field areas for conducting forestry research, quite in keeping with the best of its kind anywhere in the world. It is 7 Kms from Clock Tower, on the Dehradun-Chakrata motorable road and is of the biggest forest based training institute in India. Most of the forest officers are a product of this institute. The F.R.I. with its majestic building also houses a Botanical Museum for the attraction of tourists.
Indian Military AcademyIndian Military Academy became functional from 01st October 1932. It is Situated 8 Kms on Dehradun-Chakrata road and 3 kms beyond F.R.I., Dehradun. It is a premier training institute for Army Officers. The academy has the following places of tourist interest:Museum, Library, War Memorial, Arms and ammunition, Shooting demonstration room, FRIMS Golf Course(18 holes).For more details visit :- www.indianarmy.nic.in/arimamain.htm
Wadia Institute of Himalyan GeologyThe Wadia Institute Of Himalyan Geology is an autonomous research Institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. The Institute was shifted to Dehradun from Delhi in 1976. It is named after the late Prof. D.N.Wadia (founder of the institute). It is situated at 33, General Mahadev Singh Road, 5 Kms uphill from the Clock Tower. The institute carries out research in Himalayan Geology and related fields. For more details visit :- http://www.himgeology.com/
The Zoological Survey Of IndiaFounded in 1916, the Zoological Survey of India, 5 kms away on Kaulagarh road, a department under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, is a premier National Institute exploring the faunal diversity of the country. It undertakes surveys in all the biogeographic zones to collect, identify, collate and inventories faunal diversity of our country. The museum of this institute has a variety of Himalayan faunal diversity.
Botanical Survey Of India
Central Soil and Water Conservation Research & Training InstituteCentral Soil and Water Conservation Reasearch and Training Institute was established in 1974 at 218, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun (Uttarakhand). The institute undertakes many programmes like Erosion control, Waste/degraded land development, Rain water management, Watershed management, Training in soil and water conservation and watershed management etc.
Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL)DEAL was founded in 1965 in Mussoorie (Uttarakhand); it was then known as the Himalayan Radio Propagation Unit. In 1968, the lab was shifted from Mussoorie to Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and in 1976 renamed as the Defense Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL). Since then, DEAL has expanded into a "major system laboratory" of the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defense.For more details visit :- www.drdo.org
Indian Institute of PetroleumIndian Institute of Petroleum is situated at Mohkampur, Dehradun. Its major activities involves developing processes and Products for petroleum refining and petrochemical industries, to provide technical services, to carry out R&D work, training of personnel in oil and petrochemical industries, assisting in formulation of standards for petroleum products.
Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE)The origin of IRDE goes back to 1939 when Inspectorate of Scientific Stores was established at Rawalpindi (Now in Pakistan). This underwent many organisational and site changes until it took the shape of Technical Development Establishment (Instruments and Electronics) covering both R&D and AHSP functions in the fields of instruments and electronics and was located at Dehradun. The Establishment, during the subsequent years, shed some of its R&D and AHSP responsibilities and came into existence, in its present form, in February 1960.Instrument Reasearch & Development Establisment (IRDE), Dehradun, is a institution devoted to research, design, development and technology transfer in the fields of sophisticated optical and electro-optical instrumentation of vital interest to the Defence Services Instruments Research & Development Establishment. For more details visit :- http://www.drdo.org/
National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH)National Institute Of Visually Handicapped (NIVH) is located in an area of about 43 acres on Mussoorie-Dehradun Highway. It is an autonomous body under the Ministry Of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government Of India. Institute is training centre for blind. It is also engaged in production of Braille literature, Aids and Appliances for Visually handicapped .For more details visit :- http://www.nivh.org/
Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd.In the year 1956, ONGC has established its Head Quarters in the famous Building, TelBhawan(Patiala House), at Dehradun. ONGC is the premier exploration and production company in India and accounts for 90% of the exploration effort, established reserves and production of oil and gas in the country. ONGC have built an organization with fiscal, technical and managerial strength to match any large oil company in the world. It is thus obvious that ONGC would continue to be a major force in the Indian oil industry in the foreseeable future.
Keshava Deva Malviya Institute of Petroleum ExplorationKDMIPE a unit of ONGC was first set up in 1962 as a research and training institute with assistance from United Nations Development Programme, it evolved into Institute of Petroleum Exploration in 1974. The Institute was christened as Keshava Deva Malviya Institiute of Petroleum Exploration in the year 1981 in memory of first Minister of Petroleum Shri Keshava Deva Malviya. KDMIPE caters to the research needs of ONGC’s operating regions in the field of Geosciences for hydrocarbon exploration/exploitation and development of alternative source of energy, besides undertaking large number of need based essential and research projects directed at testing new methodologies, technology upgradation, development of new and novel ideas, generation and updating of geoscientific data and computer applications.
Rastriya Indian Military College The Rastriya Indian Military College(RIMC) was inaugurated on 13th March 1922. The College is spread over an area of 138 acres in Dehradun Cantonment.The College is administered by the Union Ministry Of Defence through Directorate General of Military Training , Army Headquarters, New Delhi. The main purpose of the college is to train suitable candidates for admission to NDA.
Survey Of IndiaSurvey Of India, The National Survey and Mapping Organization of the country under the Department of Science & Technology, is the Oldest scientific department of the Government Of India. It was set up in 1767 .The Survey of India acts as adviser to the Government of India on all survey matters, viz Geodesy, Photogrammetry, Mapping & Map Reproduction. For more details visit :- http://www.surveyofindia.gov.in/
Wildlife Institute of IndiaWildlife Institute of India (WII) was setup at Chandrabani, Dehra Dun in 1982 with a mandate to train government and non-government personnel, carry out research, and advise on matters of conservation and management of wildlife resources. WII was accorded autonomy in April 1986.For more details visit :-www.wii.gov.in
Indian Institute of Remote SensingIndian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) was established at Dehradun in collaboration with the government of Netherland. It is under National Remote Sensing Agency, Department of Space, Govt. of India. It is one of the premier Training and Educational Institute set up for developing trained professionals in the field of Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics and GPS Technology for Natural Resources and Disaster Management. The main area of the function of the Institute is capacity building through technology transfer among user community, education at post graduation level in the application of Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics for Natural Resource Management and promote Research in Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics.For more details visit :-www.iirs-nrsa.gov.in
Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration
LBSNAA was set up in 1959 at Mussoorie for imparting training to members of All India Services and Central Services(Group A) through common Foundation Course and to provide professional training to the regular recruits to the Indian Administrative Service(IAS). The academy also conducts in service training courses for middle to senior ranking members of the Indian Administrative Srevice as well as for officers selected for or promoted to the Indian Administrative Service from various State Civil Services. Courses on training of trainers in decentralized planning, training methodology etc are also regularly conducted. In addition, workshops and seminars are conducted in specific subject areas.
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA)The Indian Forest College was instituted in 1938 to impart professional forestry training to newly recruited forest officers. It was started as a constituent of FRI and colleges and was renamed as Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in 1987.IGNFA) is located in the New Forest Campus 5km west of the city centre of Dehradun. The Academy is conducting training for the Indian Forest service (IFS) cadre.For more details visit :-www.envfor.nic.in/ignfa
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. The Council is the apex body in the national forestry research system to develop holistic forestry research through planning, promoting, conducting and coordinating research, education and extension on all aspects of forestry for ensuring scientific management of forest, tree improvement, forestry productivity through scientific and biotechnological research, bioremediation of degraded land, efficient utilization of forest produce, forest based value addition, conservation of biodiversity, effective agro forestry models for various agro ecological zones , policy research, environmental impact assessment and integrated pest management and disease. The Council has the following eight Institutes and three Centres situated under different agro ecological regions of the country:
1. Forest Research Institute, Dehradun
2. Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla
3. Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur
4. Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore
5. Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore
6. Arid Forest Research Institute, Jodhpur
7. Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat
8. Institute of Forest Productivity, Ranchi
9. Centre for Social Forestry and Eco-Rehabilitation, Allahabad
10. Centre for Resource Development, Chhindwara
11. Forest Research Centre, Hyderabad
For More details visit :- http://www.icfre.org/
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Dehradun History
History
Early history and the connection to Vedic Period
The great stupa at Og Min, Ogyen Mindroling Monastery in Dehra Dun
The earliest tangible evidence of the history of Dehradun dates back to 300 BC, as indicated by a rock inscription at Kalsi, discovered in 1860. This inscriptions located at the northern outskirts of the city are attributed to King Ashoka. In the inscription, there are 14 edicts carved on a rock and adjacent to these is the site where Raja Shilvarma of the Vrisheri dynasty made three horse sacrifices during his rule in the 3rd century BC. At the site, large inscribed bricks are arranged to form the shape of a bird with a fire altar in the middle.
It is also believed that in Vedic times, the Garhwal Mandal, of which Dehradun is a part, was known as the Kedar Khand. Legend has it that Guru Dronacharaya, a Brahmin teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharat , set up his ashram or 'dera' here. Eventually, the Dron Ashram came to be known as Dehradun. Therefore, it is also referred to as Dronpuri in history. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana undertook a penance in Dehradun for killing Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.[citation needed]
Katyuris of Garhwal
There is no evidence of any kind for quite a long period after that, and the next prominent rulers of the valley were the Katyuris of Garhwal. Next, this stronghold of the Katyuri dynasty, passed into the hands of the Sikhs and Mughals and later, the Gorkhas of Nepal ruled here for a long time, until the British took control of the region. For many centuries the region formed part of the Garhwal Kingdom with some interruption from the Rohillas of the adjoining plains of Rohilkhand.
Gorkhas and British Period
For about two decades till 1815 it was under the occupation of Nepal. In April 1815 Gorkhas were ousted from Garhwal region and Garhwal was annexed by the British. In that year the area now comprising the tehsil of Dehra Dun was added to the district Saharanpur. In 1825, however, it was transferred to the Kumaon Division. In 1828, Dehra Dun and Jaunsar Bhabar were placed under the charge of a separate Deputy Commissioner and in 1829, the Dehra Dun district was transferred from the Kumaon Division to the Meerut Division. In 1842, Dun was attached to Saharanpur district and placed under an officer subordinate to the Collector of the district, but since 1871 it has been administered as separate district. In 1968 the district was taken out from the Meerut Division and included in the Garhwal Division.
Following a war between the Nepal and the British, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816 that established the current boundaries of Nepal. Garhwal and Kumaon regions, including Dehradun were ceded to the British. While territories west of the Alaknanda were returned to the Garhwal Raja now established at Tehri, Eastern Garhwal (later British Garhwal) and Dehradun were retained under direct British control.
During British rule, Dehradun used to be the summer base for the Viceroy's bodyguards. The British established: The Forest Research Institute in 1906; The Royal Indian Military College (Rashtriya Indian Military College) in 1922; and The Indian Military Academy in 1932. Dehradun also has a large number of distinguished people living in it.
World War II
During World War II, its facilities included an internment camp for Axis nationals. (Heinrich Harrer's escape from it launched his experiences in Tibet.)
Ram Raiyye Sikh Pilgrimage
According to the local legend, Dehra or 'camp' refers to Ram Rai, son of Guru Har Rai, the 7th Guru of the Sikhs. Ram Rai founded a Dera here in the old city close to the railway station, which is a pilgrimage centre for the "Ram Raiyye" Sikhs. Dehradun is also an important city for the Sikhs as one of the son of a Guru had taken refuge in Dehradun in the seventeenth century. At that time, the Sikhs had doubted the credentials of Shri Ram Rai and drove him out so that he had to set up his camp or dera in the city. Today, the city has the Ram Rai Durbar, a Dera named after him.
Dehradun is known as the gateway to the majestic Himalayas. The mountain range lies to the north of the city while the sacred Ganga and Yamuna rivers encircle it from the east and west. Ganga enters Dehradun from the east at Tapovan and flows south-west to reach Haridwar via Raiwala and Rishikesh. Yamuna flows from the west down towards the south. The other rivers of the area are Asan, Tons, Bindal and Rispana.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[1] Dehradun had a population of 447,808. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Dehradun has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81% and, female literacy is 72%. In Dehradun, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. The population has a diverse background and comprises Garwali, Punjabi, Kumauni, Western UP and Anglo-Indian communitites.
Climate
Dehradun has typical weather of a north Indian city: cold winters, hot summer, rainy monsoon season and a balmy spring. The winter ranges from November to February is cold, temperature touching freezing occasionally. The months of December and January are the coldest due to winter rains, coinciding with snow-fall in the nearby mountains ranges. Overall the winters are dry. The spring, lasting from March to April, are very pleasant. Almost overnight, with almost no warning, sometime in April spring leads to onset of summer months. Summer last from April-May to July, with fairly high temperatures (sometimes even higher than 40 °C). Monsoon months, ranging from July-September, are a welcome change after the hot summer as they bring the monsoon rains from Arabian Sea (south-west of Indian subcontinent). The monsoon months are extremely humid specially July and early August. A brief autumn, between September and October, leads to winter months. There are no special changes in the autumn season except for mild weather.
Most residents have noticed a change in the weather patterns in the last 2 decades, with the growth of city. As one resident narrates "The city had a wonderful climate till a few decades ago. In summer months, rain was common in the evenings, leading to cooling. Incessant tree logging has severely damaged the local ecosystem, that may be linked to change in the weather patterns and as a result summer have become hotter. Till few years ago, houses in Dehradun did not even need ceiling fans but the need for air-conditioners is felt to keep cool during summer months.". Warmer climate has become a severe issue for Dehradun and its wildlife population. Species found specifically in that region have now become in danger of being extinct; it has already suffered the loss of one of its more exotic species. The Salari cobra population, inhabiting the northern region of Dehradun, has been decreased considerably leading to concerns about extinction.
Government institutes and companies
The city is the headquarters/home of many government institutes and organizations:
Survey of India
Forest Research Institute (FRI)- estd 1906
Rashtriya Indian Military College , (RIMC)- estd 1922
Indian Military Academy IMA , estd 1932
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
Wildlife Institute of India
Indian Institute of Remote Sensing
Zoological Survey of India
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology
National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH)
Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP)
Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL)
Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE)
Keshava Deva Malviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration
Botanical Survey Of India
Central Soil and Water Conservation Research & Training Institute
Opto Electronics Factory (OLF) & Ordnance Factory (OFD)
NIIT National Institute of Information Techonlogies
Education
Dehradun has several Catholic missions with religious affiliations through establishment of high-schools. Some of high-schools are almost 100 years old but the population of Dehradun still has a very few Catholics. The region has The Doon School and Welham Girls' School, which are considered to be the best schools in India. Neighbouring Musoorie has the residential Woodstock School and St George's Academy , which has added to the location being seen as a hub for quality schools in North India. The city is well known for education standards in schools and is home to over 300 high schools including, which include:
Army School (located in Indian Military Academy)
Guru Nanak Academy.
Brightlands School
Brooklyn School
Cambrian Hall
Carman Residential and Day School (Carman School)
Children's Academy
Colonel Brown Cambridge School
Convent of Jesus and Mary High School
DAV Public School
Doon Blossoms
Doon Cambridge
The Doon School
Hillgrange Prepatory School
Karuna Vihar, a school for children with special needs [lrmf.org]
Kendriya Vidyalaya IMA
Kendriya Vidyalaya OFD
Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC
Kendriya Vidyalaya New Forest
Kendriya Vidyalaya Hbk
Marshalls School
Hope Town Girls' School
High-Ka-Shain High School now known as The Heritage School built in 1953
Phool Chand Nari Shilp Girls Inter College
Raja Rammohan Roy Academy (now known as Cambridge School)
Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC)
Riverdale High School
St. Thomas' College
Scholars Home
Sunrise Academy, Raipur Road, Dehra Dun
St. Mary's Convent School Alumni
Shri Guru Ram Rai Public School
St. Joseph's Academy St. Joseph's Academy Alumini Blog
Welham Boys' School
Welham Girls' School
The Army Public School
Neshville Day School, Neshville Road, Dehradun
There are also several colleges (some affiliated with the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garwhal University):
DAV
Dayanand Brijendra Swaroop (DBS) Postgraduate College
Dayanand Women's Training (DWT) Postgraduate College
Graphic Era Institute of Technology, Dehradun
Dehradun Institute of Technology, Dehradun
Narayan Swami Hospital and Dental College, Dehradun
Sri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Technology & Science, Dehradun
University of Petroleum for Energy Studies, Bidholi, Dehradun
Mahadevi Kanya Pathshala or MKP.
Culture
The posh city of Dehradun is bustling. It is the state capital and is also the home of many government institutions. The center of city's activities is the popular landmark known as the Clock-Tower (Ghanta-ghar), which is a tall structures with 6 non-functioning clocks; many efforts in the last 20 years to revive the clocks have been unsuccessful. The numerous high schools of the city attract students from all over the country. During the day it is common to see students (dressed in various high-school uniforms) to be moving around the city. Even though city transportation is now taken care of by blue striped city buses crisscrossing the city, another popular site are the omnipresent blue three wheel vehicles (known as "Vikrams"). These vehicles provide the most common and cheapest form of public transport, however, these vehicles have also been cited as the chief cause of increased levels of noise and air pollution in the city.
Economy
The city has witnessed tremendous growth in the last 20 years. Because of its educational background and high international remittances, Dehradun enjoys a high per capita income, which in dollar terms hovers close to $1800 (national average $800). The city's transition into a large urban cetre has been nothing less than phenomenal. Dehradun is in a middle of a commercial boom which is amplified by the establishment of various SEZ (special economic zones)through out the city. Right from IT parks to specifically built industrial belts have proved to be a haven for industrialists of national and international repute. Combined with excise benefits companies are finding prospective establishment in the city (like other parts of Uttranchal) very attractive. With the construction of Delhi-Dehradun four lane highway now on full swing, the primary bottle neck endangering the city's growth (the Delhi-Dehradun two lane highway) has been solved. More economic development is expected at a much wider scale.
Tourism
Nearby locations are
Malsi Deer Park,
Dat Wali Mata Mandir
Sahastradhara,
Tapkeshwar Shiv Temple,
Laxman Sidh Temple,
Robber's Cave,
Lachhiwala,
Santhla Devi etc. surround this beautiful city, Nearby locations are the hill stations of Mussoorie Landour just 36 km away. There is a 16 km (easy) trekking route from Dehradun to Mussoorie. Dhanaulti is a lovely hill station beyond Mussoorie Chakrata is another nearby hill station, but it is a good 80 km away. Paonta Sahib is a pilgrimage place for Sikhs with a historic Gurudwara on the banks of the Yamuna. Other nearby religious places are Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Photos
Dehradun, India
Dehradun Night View from Midway Mussorie.
Early history and the connection to Vedic Period
The great stupa at Og Min, Ogyen Mindroling Monastery in Dehra Dun
The earliest tangible evidence of the history of Dehradun dates back to 300 BC, as indicated by a rock inscription at Kalsi, discovered in 1860. This inscriptions located at the northern outskirts of the city are attributed to King Ashoka. In the inscription, there are 14 edicts carved on a rock and adjacent to these is the site where Raja Shilvarma of the Vrisheri dynasty made three horse sacrifices during his rule in the 3rd century BC. At the site, large inscribed bricks are arranged to form the shape of a bird with a fire altar in the middle.
It is also believed that in Vedic times, the Garhwal Mandal, of which Dehradun is a part, was known as the Kedar Khand. Legend has it that Guru Dronacharaya, a Brahmin teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas in Mahabharat , set up his ashram or 'dera' here. Eventually, the Dron Ashram came to be known as Dehradun. Therefore, it is also referred to as Dronpuri in history. According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana undertook a penance in Dehradun for killing Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.[citation needed]
Katyuris of Garhwal
There is no evidence of any kind for quite a long period after that, and the next prominent rulers of the valley were the Katyuris of Garhwal. Next, this stronghold of the Katyuri dynasty, passed into the hands of the Sikhs and Mughals and later, the Gorkhas of Nepal ruled here for a long time, until the British took control of the region. For many centuries the region formed part of the Garhwal Kingdom with some interruption from the Rohillas of the adjoining plains of Rohilkhand.
Gorkhas and British Period
For about two decades till 1815 it was under the occupation of Nepal. In April 1815 Gorkhas were ousted from Garhwal region and Garhwal was annexed by the British. In that year the area now comprising the tehsil of Dehra Dun was added to the district Saharanpur. In 1825, however, it was transferred to the Kumaon Division. In 1828, Dehra Dun and Jaunsar Bhabar were placed under the charge of a separate Deputy Commissioner and in 1829, the Dehra Dun district was transferred from the Kumaon Division to the Meerut Division. In 1842, Dun was attached to Saharanpur district and placed under an officer subordinate to the Collector of the district, but since 1871 it has been administered as separate district. In 1968 the district was taken out from the Meerut Division and included in the Garhwal Division.
Following a war between the Nepal and the British, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed in 1816 that established the current boundaries of Nepal. Garhwal and Kumaon regions, including Dehradun were ceded to the British. While territories west of the Alaknanda were returned to the Garhwal Raja now established at Tehri, Eastern Garhwal (later British Garhwal) and Dehradun were retained under direct British control.
During British rule, Dehradun used to be the summer base for the Viceroy's bodyguards. The British established: The Forest Research Institute in 1906; The Royal Indian Military College (Rashtriya Indian Military College) in 1922; and The Indian Military Academy in 1932. Dehradun also has a large number of distinguished people living in it.
World War II
During World War II, its facilities included an internment camp for Axis nationals. (Heinrich Harrer's escape from it launched his experiences in Tibet.)
Ram Raiyye Sikh Pilgrimage
According to the local legend, Dehra or 'camp' refers to Ram Rai, son of Guru Har Rai, the 7th Guru of the Sikhs. Ram Rai founded a Dera here in the old city close to the railway station, which is a pilgrimage centre for the "Ram Raiyye" Sikhs. Dehradun is also an important city for the Sikhs as one of the son of a Guru had taken refuge in Dehradun in the seventeenth century. At that time, the Sikhs had doubted the credentials of Shri Ram Rai and drove him out so that he had to set up his camp or dera in the city. Today, the city has the Ram Rai Durbar, a Dera named after him.
Dehradun is known as the gateway to the majestic Himalayas. The mountain range lies to the north of the city while the sacred Ganga and Yamuna rivers encircle it from the east and west. Ganga enters Dehradun from the east at Tapovan and flows south-west to reach Haridwar via Raiwala and Rishikesh. Yamuna flows from the west down towards the south. The other rivers of the area are Asan, Tons, Bindal and Rispana.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[1] Dehradun had a population of 447,808. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Dehradun has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81% and, female literacy is 72%. In Dehradun, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. The population has a diverse background and comprises Garwali, Punjabi, Kumauni, Western UP and Anglo-Indian communitites.
Climate
Dehradun has typical weather of a north Indian city: cold winters, hot summer, rainy monsoon season and a balmy spring. The winter ranges from November to February is cold, temperature touching freezing occasionally. The months of December and January are the coldest due to winter rains, coinciding with snow-fall in the nearby mountains ranges. Overall the winters are dry. The spring, lasting from March to April, are very pleasant. Almost overnight, with almost no warning, sometime in April spring leads to onset of summer months. Summer last from April-May to July, with fairly high temperatures (sometimes even higher than 40 °C). Monsoon months, ranging from July-September, are a welcome change after the hot summer as they bring the monsoon rains from Arabian Sea (south-west of Indian subcontinent). The monsoon months are extremely humid specially July and early August. A brief autumn, between September and October, leads to winter months. There are no special changes in the autumn season except for mild weather.
Most residents have noticed a change in the weather patterns in the last 2 decades, with the growth of city. As one resident narrates "The city had a wonderful climate till a few decades ago. In summer months, rain was common in the evenings, leading to cooling. Incessant tree logging has severely damaged the local ecosystem, that may be linked to change in the weather patterns and as a result summer have become hotter. Till few years ago, houses in Dehradun did not even need ceiling fans but the need for air-conditioners is felt to keep cool during summer months.". Warmer climate has become a severe issue for Dehradun and its wildlife population. Species found specifically in that region have now become in danger of being extinct; it has already suffered the loss of one of its more exotic species. The Salari cobra population, inhabiting the northern region of Dehradun, has been decreased considerably leading to concerns about extinction.
Government institutes and companies
The city is the headquarters/home of many government institutes and organizations:
Survey of India
Forest Research Institute (FRI)- estd 1906
Rashtriya Indian Military College , (RIMC)- estd 1922
Indian Military Academy IMA , estd 1932
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited
Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE)
Wildlife Institute of India
Indian Institute of Remote Sensing
Zoological Survey of India
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology
National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH)
Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP)
Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL)
Instrument Research and Development Establishment (IRDE)
Keshava Deva Malviya Institute of Petroleum Exploration
Botanical Survey Of India
Central Soil and Water Conservation Research & Training Institute
Opto Electronics Factory (OLF) & Ordnance Factory (OFD)
NIIT National Institute of Information Techonlogies
Education
Dehradun has several Catholic missions with religious affiliations through establishment of high-schools. Some of high-schools are almost 100 years old but the population of Dehradun still has a very few Catholics. The region has The Doon School and Welham Girls' School, which are considered to be the best schools in India. Neighbouring Musoorie has the residential Woodstock School and St George's Academy , which has added to the location being seen as a hub for quality schools in North India. The city is well known for education standards in schools and is home to over 300 high schools including, which include:
Army School (located in Indian Military Academy)
Guru Nanak Academy.
Brightlands School
Brooklyn School
Cambrian Hall
Carman Residential and Day School (Carman School)
Children's Academy
Colonel Brown Cambridge School
Convent of Jesus and Mary High School
DAV Public School
Doon Blossoms
Doon Cambridge
The Doon School
Hillgrange Prepatory School
Karuna Vihar, a school for children with special needs [lrmf.org]
Kendriya Vidyalaya IMA
Kendriya Vidyalaya OFD
Kendriya Vidyalaya ONGC
Kendriya Vidyalaya New Forest
Kendriya Vidyalaya Hbk
Marshalls School
Hope Town Girls' School
High-Ka-Shain High School now known as The Heritage School built in 1953
Phool Chand Nari Shilp Girls Inter College
Raja Rammohan Roy Academy (now known as Cambridge School)
Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC)
Riverdale High School
St. Thomas' College
Scholars Home
Sunrise Academy, Raipur Road, Dehra Dun
St. Mary's Convent School Alumni
Shri Guru Ram Rai Public School
St. Joseph's Academy St. Joseph's Academy Alumini Blog
Welham Boys' School
Welham Girls' School
The Army Public School
Neshville Day School, Neshville Road, Dehradun
There are also several colleges (some affiliated with the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garwhal University):
DAV
Dayanand Brijendra Swaroop (DBS) Postgraduate College
Dayanand Women's Training (DWT) Postgraduate College
Graphic Era Institute of Technology, Dehradun
Dehradun Institute of Technology, Dehradun
Narayan Swami Hospital and Dental College, Dehradun
Sri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Technology & Science, Dehradun
University of Petroleum for Energy Studies, Bidholi, Dehradun
Mahadevi Kanya Pathshala or MKP.
Culture
The posh city of Dehradun is bustling. It is the state capital and is also the home of many government institutions. The center of city's activities is the popular landmark known as the Clock-Tower (Ghanta-ghar), which is a tall structures with 6 non-functioning clocks; many efforts in the last 20 years to revive the clocks have been unsuccessful. The numerous high schools of the city attract students from all over the country. During the day it is common to see students (dressed in various high-school uniforms) to be moving around the city. Even though city transportation is now taken care of by blue striped city buses crisscrossing the city, another popular site are the omnipresent blue three wheel vehicles (known as "Vikrams"). These vehicles provide the most common and cheapest form of public transport, however, these vehicles have also been cited as the chief cause of increased levels of noise and air pollution in the city.
Economy
The city has witnessed tremendous growth in the last 20 years. Because of its educational background and high international remittances, Dehradun enjoys a high per capita income, which in dollar terms hovers close to $1800 (national average $800). The city's transition into a large urban cetre has been nothing less than phenomenal. Dehradun is in a middle of a commercial boom which is amplified by the establishment of various SEZ (special economic zones)through out the city. Right from IT parks to specifically built industrial belts have proved to be a haven for industrialists of national and international repute. Combined with excise benefits companies are finding prospective establishment in the city (like other parts of Uttranchal) very attractive. With the construction of Delhi-Dehradun four lane highway now on full swing, the primary bottle neck endangering the city's growth (the Delhi-Dehradun two lane highway) has been solved. More economic development is expected at a much wider scale.
Tourism
Nearby locations are
Malsi Deer Park,
Dat Wali Mata Mandir
Sahastradhara,
Tapkeshwar Shiv Temple,
Laxman Sidh Temple,
Robber's Cave,
Lachhiwala,
Santhla Devi etc. surround this beautiful city, Nearby locations are the hill stations of Mussoorie Landour just 36 km away. There is a 16 km (easy) trekking route from Dehradun to Mussoorie. Dhanaulti is a lovely hill station beyond Mussoorie Chakrata is another nearby hill station, but it is a good 80 km away. Paonta Sahib is a pilgrimage place for Sikhs with a historic Gurudwara on the banks of the Yamuna. Other nearby religious places are Haridwar and Rishikesh.
Photos
Dehradun, India
Dehradun Night View from Midway Mussorie.
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