Dehradun Best Hotels and Tourist Spots

This blog post is based on my research to help one of my friends who wanted a decent guide to Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand state in India. Actually, he is planning to visit the two holiest cities in the Himalayas namely Haridwar and Rishikesh. Both of them are situated in the same state in India and are the gateway to more pilgrimage places in the Himalayas such as

• Badrinath,
• Kedarnath,
• Gangotri,
• Yamunotri.

People on a holy trip to those 4 shrines usually land in Haridwar to proceed further. However, I found out that Dehradun is a better place to stay and start your journey up in the Garhwal mountain range. The hotels in Dehradun are located in scenic locations and are much luxurious than the hotels in Haridwar and Rishikesh.

In addition, once you complete your pilgrimage and come back to this hill station, you can unwind in several beautiful tourist spots in Dehradun and Mussoorie, the best hill station in Uttarakhand region.

After my research, when I compiled the list of hotels to stay and tourist spots to see in Dehradun, I thought I would use it for self when I decide to go on a trekking spree in Mussoorie.

During my research, I found out from various customer reviews that the low-end budget hotels in Dehradun or Haridwar are not suitable for the majority of the present tourists. We all want spacious rooms, impeccable bathrooms, clean sheets, hygienic food and courteous service. We will not compromise on these basic expectations. When that is the case, it is better to stay in at least mid-range hotels if not ultra-luxury resorts-right?

The following high-end and mid-range hotels  and fall in the price range of Rs. 5000 to 14,000 and Rs.2000 to 4500 respectively.

• Lemon Tree Hotel, Dehradun

As they say, “The defense rests”. I meant that image speaks for the hotel’s choice. You cannot get away from that bay window for hours.

It is a great hotel to stay in the heart of the city that is located on the convenient Rajpur Road. From this place, Mussoorie is less than an hour journey.

• Four Points By Sheraton, Dehradun

located in Rajpura Road. Full address: 152/4, Rajpur Road, Doon Vihar, Jakhan,Uttarakhand 248001

Phone: (91)(135) 660 3300

• Regenta LP Vilas, Dehradun

Yes, the hotel is located in an imposing building with great view of the Gharwal mountains and the woods in them.

Blue Pine Resort

All the rooms are located in such a way so that you get superb views of the Himalayan foothills and verdant valleys. The early morning views of the misty valleys can be mesmerizing.

River Stone Cottages, Dehradun

Address: Guniyal Gaon, Near Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, P.O. Sinola, Uttarakhand 248001 Phone: 084492 00022

That looks gorgeous; the cottages face a mountain stream, just a few feet away! OMG! Can anyone go for sightseeing in Dehradun once settled on a chaise on the verandah of RiverStone Cottages? What a great place to stay in!

For mid-range hotels in Dehradun, there are plenty of options. Most of the mid-range hotels and resorts  look beautiful on the outside. However, very few of them provide clean and spacious rooms with power backup and free wi-fi.

Here is a short list of highly recommended hotels in Dehradun with a price range of Rs.2000 to 5000

• Softel Plaza
  
• Saffron Leaf
• JSR Continental
  
• Hotel MJ Residency   The rooms rate starts from Rs.2600 only

• Hotel President   The rooms are spacious and comfortable furniture is strewn in.

I have finished with the staying options here. The food generally is very tasty, especially the vegetarian food. You only get to eat North Indian cuisine and some British-style breakfast.

Places to see in Dehradun

Dehradun, Uttarakhand’s capital can be reached from New Delhi by train or by car. The distance between the two cities is only 270 km. It is situated at a height of 1400 feet. It is the gateway to Mussoorie, a beautiful hill station which is only about 35 km away that can be covered in about an hour or so. The weather is mostly pleasant with frequent rains.

Lachhiwala

It is a lovely spot with several water bodies that makes it an ideal spot to spend your afternoon leisurely. The backdrop of dense forest allows you to explore a few walking trails in the jungle.

Sahasradhara waterfall

Sahasra means one thousand; the waterfall is said to have a thousand strands of water. There is a boating facility and trekking trails in the Gharwal mountains. There are a few ‘sulphured’ water springs and taking a bath in them is said to be medicinal.

Robber’s Cave

This is a must-visit place in Dehradun. The cave formed by a surrounding river is only 8 km from the heart of the city and is 600 meters long. It’s a very scenic place and is close to the Sahasradhara waterfall.

Watch this video of Robber’s cave.

At the end of the cave, you can watch a small waterfall too.

Some more tourist spots in Dehradun are:

• Shiva Mandir, Kothalgate known for distributing prasads of various types including halwa.
• Malsi deer park where you can see the Barasingha deer
• Lovers park is also known by MMDA park
• Maldevta Raod is a secluded place of natural beauty enhanced by the presence of River Song
• Santala Devi temple-walk on a steep mountain path to reach the temple situated on a cliff.
• George Everest peak in Mussoorie
• Doon Valley, Mussoorie –the most enchanting place to see here.
• Rajaji National Park is a wild animal reserve where, if lucky, you can spot tigers, leopards, and Himalayan ghorals while going on a safari in a jeep.

Dehradun and the hill station Mussoorie are two important tourist destinations in India. If you could afford to stay in an ultra-luxury hotel in this beautiful City, you will certainly enjoy your memorable stay.