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| Heart of the City: Clock Tower |
About 247 km beyond the capital of our country lies a peaceful yet
magnificent valley Dehradun, which is the capital of Uttarakhand. Dehradun is made up of two words; “Dehra”
derived from the word ‘dera’, deriving from ‘griha’ and meaning home. “Doon” is
a term for the valley surrounded by Shivalik
and Himalayan ranges of mountain.
Dehradun has always been famous for its top notch education and
weather which is one of the best in the country. The greenery of this place intoxicates
and fills you with fresh air, flowing
straight from the forest.
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| The Trails |
Dehradun also has some historical significance that is
believed to be centuries old. In Skanda Purana, Dun is mentioned as a part of the region
called Kedar Khand, the abode of Shiva. Britishers have also left their imprints in the city, FRI
which is also known as (Forest Research Institute) was founded in 1878. Along
with the IMA (Indian Military Academy) established in 1932, which prepares
one of the finest army officers to the nation. Along with this, the city offers
many other things to the people, such as the beautiful scenic roads for bikers,
trekking routes for trekkers, cycling trails for cycling enthusiasts and
much more.
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| FRI (forest research institute) |
 Cafe Hi-Life At Old Rajpur |
Cafe culture is at its boom in the city as it is the best place to
hang out with family and friends. Right in the lap of nature, surrounded by an
awesome view of the mountains, you can witness nature’s shower and cool breeze
blowing right from the dense forests. It’s exhilarating!
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| Straight from The USA |
Here I met a girl from the U.S.A who has been in Doon from the last
few months and is learning Hindi out here at the language school. I asked her
that what she feels about the city. She said, “the simplicity of this place
along with the modern touch is just fascinating, here people are not so busy
with their appointments or worried by the thought of being on time. Here people
are friendly and have interest in also knowing the other person.” Taking the
conversation further, she revealed to me about her home town which is Ohio. It
is a safe place and she can roam around where ever she wants to, without asking
anybody or without any fear. The same feeling of safety, freedom and
independence is what she gets in Doon and this makes her feel like home. One of
her favorite visit has been to the Mindrolling Monastery and Landour because
it is green and peaceful.
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| Mindrolling Monastery |
I still remember when I was a child, my father
used to take me with him on his motor bike around the city, as well as the outskirts.
Now when I am grown up, I can feel the difference which has taken place in the
name of development. Many things have changed drastically over the period of
time. As we are growing with time and pace, I feel that we are neglecting the
environment, and thus itis becoming a major issue. The rate of development is
high in comparison to the environmental development. Steps taken in return are insufficient
to preserve the ecology. Dehradun is famous for its greenery and because of this
the place still retains its allure.
street view
The best thing which I
find about Dehradun is that it is a mix of urban and country side. When you
want to entertain yourself you can visit malls or gaming parlors, which is the
urban way. And when you are in search of peace and want to look deep
inside the nature, you many visit places which are in the vicinity of the city.
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| Doon from the hills |
Rajpur Road
I would like to end the
description of this beautiful City in few words.
This city has a charm, a beauty, a slow paced
glamour which carries you away in its own charming way.
