Dehradun City Guide

India

Dehradun City Guide

Uttarakhand

Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, is nestled in the Doon Valley at the Himalayas' foothills. Known for its pleasant climate and educational institutions, it offers a relaxed pace compared to larger cities. Ideal for travelers and remote workers, it combines urban amenities with nature access.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Good
7

Enjoy Garhwali dishes like Kafuli and Phaanu. There are also many cafes and international restaurants.

Local Dishes:
Kafuli, Phaanu, Bal Mithai
International Cuisine:
Chinese, Italian, North Indian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Limited
5

Dehradun's nightlife leans towards relaxed evenings at cafes or pubs with live music.

Coffee Culture
Good
6

Developing coffee scene with emerging specialty cafes.

💰
Tipping
Not Required

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory; usually 5-10% at restaurants.

Top Attractions
Forest Research Institute
Historical
Explore the stunning architecture and vast lawns.
Robber's Cave
Nature
A mysterious yet beautiful gorge.
Tapkeshwar Temple
Religious
Visit this ancient and revered temple.
Mindrolling Monastery
Cultural
A serene place with beautiful architecture.
Sahastradhara
Nature
Natural waterfall and picnic spot.
SIM Cards

SIM cards from Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea are available in the city. Registration needs an ID and passport photo.

Available at:
Jio Store
Airtel Store
Vodafone Idea Store
Recommended Apps
Ola/Uber(Transport)
Zomato/Swiggy(Food Delivery)
Google Maps(Navigation)
Paytm/Google Pay/PhonePe(Digital Payments)
MakeMyTrip/Goibibo(Travel Booking)
IRCTC Rail Connect(Transport)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Good
6

Main roads are kept clean; alleys less so. Regular waste pickup but limited recycling.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Limited 24/7 services, mainly a few pharmacies and convenience stores.

Groceries
Reliance Fresh
Easyday
Vishal Mega Mart

International products are stocked at large supermarkets. Fresh produce markets are also plentiful.

Cashless Payments
Cash preferred

Card acceptance is common in larger businesses, but cash is often needed for small shops and markets.

ATMs

ATMs from major banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, and Axis are everywhere. Check with your bank for fees on international cards.

Schools
Local only

Top schools like The Doon School and Welham Boys' offer quality education.

Available Schools:
The Doon School
Welham Boys' School
Welham Girls' School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
6
Available Spaces:
The Hive Co-working Space
Offers a practical work environment with required amenities.
Workie Co-working Space
Comfortable spaces for professionals.
Co-labs Dehradun
A relaxed space for working and networking.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
Cafe De Piccolo
Charming spot, good for work and coffee.
The Old Monk Cafe
Cozy place with reliable Wi-Fi.
Alternatives:
District Library
Quiet with good reading spaces.
Hotel Lobbies
Large hotels offer space with Wi-Fi.
Digital Nomad Community
Limited
4

Dehradun is seeing a growing nomad scene with a few cafes and co-working spaces.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Good
7

Parks like Malsi Deer Park offer refreshing green areas.

Running
Good
6

Popular in open parks and quieter roads; beware of air quality in winter.

Gyms
Available

Gyms include global chains and local spots for various fitness needs.

Available Gyms:
Anytime Fitness
Gold's Gym
Local Fitness Centers
Tennis
Limited
5

Various clubs offer tennis courts; padel is less common.

Padel
Poor
0

Padel courts are not widely available.

Yoga
Excellent
8

Numerous centers offer yoga and meditation, influenced by nearby Rishikesh.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Dojo availability includes Karate and Taekwondo with English-speaking options.

Skiing
Good
6

Ski in Auli, about 6-7 hours away. Good snow December to March.

Water Sports
Poor
0

Water sports like rafting are nearby in Rishikesh.

Surfing
Poor
0

No surfing spots as Dehradun is landlocked.

Diving
Poor
0

No diving due to Dehradun's landlocked location.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Good
7

Hospitals like Max Healthcare and Synergy offer good care, often with English-speaking staff.

Hospitals:
Max Healthcare
Synergy Institute of Medical Sciences
Pharmacies:
Apollo Pharmacy
Medplus
24Seven Pharmacy
Tap Water Safety
Not recommended

Tap water isn't recommended for consumption. Use bottled or filtered water.

Common Scams
Taxi overcharging, Fake guides

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Good
7

Malsi Deer Park and Robber's Cave offer family-friendly fun. Supermarkets stock baby supplies.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Limited
5

Conservative attitude overall, but urban tolerance is growing.

Pet Friendly
Good
6

Pet accommodations are limited but growing. Few parks allow pets.

Communities
Dehradun Community (Online)
Expats in Dehradun (Online)
Dehradun Foodies (Food)

Quick Facts

Population
578,420
Power Reliability
Good
7/10

Power is generally stable, though short outages happen, especially in summer or monsoon.

Mountains
Available

Situated at the foothills of the Himalayas, ideal for trekking and nature experiences.

Languages
Hindi(90%)
English(40%)
Emergency
112
Police
102
Ambulance
101
Fire

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
0
🏔️
Earthquake
High Risk
7

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Smoke/haze
November, December, January
Winter haze due to crop burning and inversions.
Extreme heat
April, May, June
Temperatures can soar during pre-monsoon months.
Monsoon
July, August, September
Heavy rains bring local flooding and landslides nearby.

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