Dehradun travel guide
Capital city
Dehradun is the capital city of Uttarakhand, nestled in the Doon Valley between the Himalayas and Shivalik ranges, known for educational institutions, caves, waterfalls, monasteries, forest parks, and its role as a gateway to Mussoorie, Haridwar, and Himalayan pilgrimage destinations.
Best time to visit Dehradun
Oct–Mar is the best time, with dry sunny days. Apr–Jun is hot, and Jul–Aug is very wet and best avoided, especially for hill drives to Mussoorie.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | good | 7–20 °C | 45 mm | low | Cool, sunny days; cold nights and mornings |
| February | best | 9–22 °C | 60 mm | low | Mild and mostly dry; good for city sights and Mussoorie |
| March | best | 13–27 °C | 45 mm | medium | Warm days, cool nights; clear weather |
| April | good | 17–32 °C | 35 mm | medium | Hot afternoons; mornings and evenings are fine |
| May | mixed | 21–35 °C | 50 mm | medium | Hot and dry; most visitors head up to the hills |
| June | mixed | 23–34 °C | 230 mm | medium | Hot and sticky; monsoon arrives late in the month |
| July | avoid | 24–31 °C | 620 mm | low | Very heavy rain; streams swell and hill roads slip |
| August | avoid | 23–30 °C | 710 mm | low | Wettest month; landslides possible on the Mussoorie road |
| September | mixed | 21–30 °C | 310 mm | low | Showers ease; humid; hill roads can still be disrupted |
| October | best | 16–29 °C | 40 mm | medium | Clear, dry and warm; pleasant for sightseeing |
| November | best | 11–26 °C | 5 mm | medium | Dry, sunny and cool; comfortable all day |
| December | best | 8–22 °C | 15 mm | medium | Cool and dry; chilly mornings and evenings |
How many days to spend in Dehradun
Two days cover Robber's Cave, Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Mindrolling Monastery and the Forest Research Institute; a third adds a day trip to Mussoorie.
How to reach Dehradun
- By air: Dehradun/Jolly Grant (DED) — 23 km, about 30–55 min by road. Flights to Delhi and several other cities
- By train: Dehradun (DDN) — 1 km, about 5–15 min by road. In the city centre
- By road: From Delhi — 230 km, about 4–5.5 h. The usual road route into Dehradun
Getting around
Autos, shared vans and taxis cover the city. Hire a cab for Robber's Cave, Sahastradhara and the Forest Research Institute, which are spread out.
Things to do in Dehradun
- Ganga Arti Ghat Rishikesh — Aarti (1 h · Free entry)
- Har Ki Pauri — Ghat (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Ganga Aarti Sthal, Haridwar — Aarti (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Yamunotri — Temple (4 h · Free entry)
- Triveni Ghat — Ghat (1 h · Free entry)
- Rafting Camping In Shivpuri Rishikesh — Rafting (4 h · Paid entry)
- Kempty Fall Road — Falls
- Maa Mansa Devi Temple, niranjani akhada, Haridwar — Temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Mall Road — Market
- Lakshman Jhula — Bridge
- Mahadev Mandir — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Gun Hill, Mussoorie — Hill (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Shri Maa Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar — Temple (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Parmarth Niketan Ashram — Ashram (1.5 h · Free entry)
- The Beatles Ashram — Ashram (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Kunjapuri Temple — Temple (2 h · Free entry)
- Kaudiyala Rafting Start Point — Rafting (4 h · Paid entry)
- Lal tibba — Peak (2 h)
- Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar — Temple (45 min · Free entry)
- Ganga Ghat — Ghats (1 h · Free entry)
- Haridwar market — Market (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Peak View Hotel — View
- Chopta — Meadow
- GUCCHUPANI ROBBERS CAVE — Cave (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Ram Jhula — Bridge
- Rajaji Tiger Reserve — Wildlife (4 h · ₹150)
- Patna Waterfall — Falls (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Aastha Path Rishikesh — Path (1 h · Free entry)
- Camels Back Road — Walk
- Atal Udhyan Mussoorie — Garden (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Jharipani Waterfall — Falls (2 h)
- Benog Wildlife Sanctuary — Wildlife (3 h · Paid entry)
- Chardukan Mussoorie — Cafes (1 h · Free entry)
- Bharat Mata Temple, Haridwar — Mandir (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Shree Daksheshwar Mahadev - Daksh Prajapati Temple — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Jungle Safari Rajaji National Park — Safari (4 h · ₹1,800 per person (5-hour tour))
- Forest Research Institute — Museum
- Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir — Temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Indira Market Dehradun — Market (1.5 h · Free entry)
- TerraMD India — Temple
- Vashishtha Gufa Ashram — Cave (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Mussoorie Lake — Lake (1.5 h · ₹30)
- Clouds End View Point — Forest (1.5 h)
- Bhatta falls — Falls (1.5 h)
- Nag Tibba — Trek (10 h)
- Adventure Park Mussoorie with Paragliding, Zip Line, Camping, Nature Walk, Wildlife safari , Bungee Jump, Forest Bath — Adventure (4 h · Paid entry)
- Yagyashala, Shantikunj Haridwar — Ashram (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Saptrishi Ashram, Haridwar — Ashram (1 h · Free entry)
- Saptarishi Ghat — Ghat (1 h · Free entry)
- Vaishno Devi Temple (Mata Lal devi Ji) — Temple (45 min · Free entry)
- Sonprayag — Prayag
- Uttarkashi - Gangotri Road — View
- Sahastradhara — Falls
- Mindrolling Monastery — Monastery (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Lachhiwala Range — Picnic
- Clock Tower — Tower
- Tibetan Buddhist Temple — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Shri Bilvkeshwar Mahadev Temple Niranjani Akhada — Temple (45 min · Free entry)
- Yog Niketan Ashram — Ashram
- Pawan dham — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Ganga Beach — Riverbank (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Barkot — Town
- Dehradun Zoo — Park (2 h · Paid entry)
- Landour Bakehouse — Market (45 min · Free entry)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Dehradun?
Oct–Mar is the best time, with dry sunny days. Apr–Jun is hot, and Jul–Aug is very wet and best avoided, especially for hill drives to Mussoorie.
How many days are enough for Dehradun?
2–3 days. Two days cover Robber's Cave, Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Mindrolling Monastery and the Forest Research Institute; a third adds a day trip to Mussoorie.
How do I reach Dehradun?
By air: Dehradun/Jolly Grant (DED) — 23 km, about 30–55 min by road. Flights to Delhi and several other cities. By train: Dehradun (DDN) — 1 km, about 5–15 min by road. In the city centre. By road: From Delhi — 230 km, about 4–5.5 h. The usual road route into Dehradun.
What are the top things to do in Dehradun?
Ganga Arti Ghat Rishikesh, Har Ki Pauri, Ganga Aarti Sthal, Haridwar, Yamunotri, Triveni Ghat, Rafting Camping In Shivpuri Rishikesh.
Plan your Dehradun trip
Open Guide My Holiday to turn these places into a routed, day-by-day itinerary and book a cab that follows it.
Get it on Google Play · Download on the App Store
Guide checked on 2026-10-06.