Dehradun , also known as Dehra Doon, is the capital and the most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and is governed by the Dehradun Municipal Corporation, with the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly holding its winter sessions in the city as its winter capital.Part of the Garhwal region, and housing the headquarters of its Divisional Commissioner. Dehradun is one of the "Counter Magnets" of the National Capital Region (NCR) being developed as an alternative center of growth to help ease the migration and population explosion in the Delhi metropolitan area and to establish a smart city in the Himalayas.It is the third largest city in the Himalayas after Kathmandu and Srinagar.

Dehradun is located in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas nestled between Song river, a tributary of Ganga on the east and the Asan river, a tributary of Yamuna on the west. The city is noted for its picturesque landscape and slightly milder climate and provides a gateway to the surrounding region.

Dehradun is a notable academic and research hub and is home to the Indian Military Academy, Forest Research Institute, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, the Doon School, Welham Boys School, Welham Girls School, Brightlands School, Rashtriya Indian Military College, Uttarakhand Ayurveda University, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology and the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing. It is the headquarters of the Surveyor-General of India. According to the combined survey based on health, infrastructure, economy, education, and crime, conducted by Dainik Jagran and KPMG, Dehradun is one of India's safest cities.Dehradun is also known for its Basmati rice and bakery products.

But the main attraction of dehradun is its natural beauty, clean environment, friendly crowd and most importantly the scenic views .

Following are some of undeniably beautiful places of dehradun

1.Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir

Tapkeshwar Temple, also known as Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple, is a temple in Dehradun dedicated to Shiva. The temple is on the bank of the Tons River, built on top of a natural cave, which holds the temple's main shivalinga. This temple has great religious importance as people from far places as well as locals come and pray to lord shiva.

2.Forest Research Institute(FRI)

The Forest Research Institute is a Natural Resource Service training institute of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and is an institution in the field of forestry research in India for Indian Forest Service cadres and all State Forest Service cadres. It is located at Dehradun in Uttarakhand, and is among the oldest institutions of its kind. In 1991, it was declared a deemed university by the University Grants Commission.
The museum is open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily. There is an entry fee of ₹40 per person and a nominal entry fee for vehicles.
This place has also been very popular as a dozen of movies have been shot here like Student of the year , Paan Singh Tomar,and many more..

3.Buddha Temple

The Buddha Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Clement Town, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. It is known for its tall Buddha statue and stupa, as well as its architecture and wall paintings. The temple is also known as the Mindrolling Monastery, which was established in 1965 by Khochhen Rinpoche.
Another major attraction of buddha temple lies at its fourth floor. Reach out through steep wooden ladder, open circled viewing platform provides amazing 360-degree view of doon valley. And another main attraction in the temple complex is 103 feet tall statue of Lord Buddha And is dedicated to the spiritual guru of tibetan people, Dalai Lama.

4.Paltan Bazaar

The largest local market in Dehradun offers you a variety of shopping items and a taste of the local cuisine in one area. It is one of the most congested and busiest parts of Dehradun. From local businesses to small shop vendors, eateries to restaurants, there is much you can do right here.
It is located close to the Clock tower and is around 1.5 kms from the railway station.
You can shop for almost anything and everything here, from clothing, accessories, footwear, literature, handicrafts, and gift goods. The market is well known for its woollen clothing and the famous Doon Basmati rice.
The small and narrow Ghosi Galli has some amazing bakeries, such as Sunrise Bakers, who have been here for decades and continue to soothe the palate of every passer-by.

5.Dehradun ZOO

Formerly known as Malsi Deer Park, the Dehradun Zoo is one of the famous tourist places of Dehradun. It is built on the objectives of ex-situ conservation of wild animals, biodiversity conservation, to develop as an education centre and a Rescue centre for wild animals. Idyllically situated in the serene surroundings of the city, the Dehradun Zoo is one of the best places to visit on the way to Mussoorie. This zoo is developed as a mini-zoological park and offers a resplendent view of the ethereal natural beauty enveloping the area.

6.Robber's cave

Guchhupani or Robber's Cave is known for its unusual cold springs which goes underground at some of the places inside the caves. One can enter the cold water with folding pants and witness small and large waterfall. Experiencing beautiful natural rift or caves with legs in freezing water is amazing and romantic as well.
Named by the British, Robbers Cave is well known locally as 'Gucchu Pani'. It was believed that Robbers used to take hide in Guccupani afterr robbery.

7.Shikhar Fall

Out of many sightseeing places in Dehradun, Shikhar Falls is one such tourist attraction that invites you to be in the lap of Mother Nature for some time. It’s the most frequently visited waterfall in the city that offers a calm, relaxing, and peaceful atmosphere for everyone looking to get away from the overcrowded areas. Visitors from different corners of the nation love heading to this place at least once on their Dehradun tour due to its pristine, scenic beauty that is hard to see anywhere else. From hearing the different sounds of the birds chirping in the background to spotting a range of butterflies to witnessing the rich vegetation and abundance of lush greenery, there is so much to see for people of all age groups. Not only this but this waterfall is also known for drawing the attention of shutterbugs in large numbers as well. To reach the Shikhar Waterfall, you need to trek for at least 1 km on the rugged terrains. While hiking, you might get a chance to see several small and large falls along with a few vendors selling snacks and other delicious items for refreshment.

8.Raja ji National Parkesq

More than 500 Elephants, 12 Tigers, 250 Panthers and good prey base including Spotted Deer, Sambhar, Wild Boar, Barking deer, Goral Two kinds of Bears Himalayan Black and Sloth, and over 400 bird species makes Rajaji National Park a perfect wild life and bird watching destination. .co.in is to popularize this bio diversity rich park located in the eco-tonal zone formed due to merger of Shivalik and Himalayan mountain ranges. The Rajaji National Park is bisected by the river Ganges and also fed by numerous Wild Brook s forming its life line.

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