Dehradun-base of the Garhwal hills. Review on Dehradun

Dehradun is the main city of the Doon valley.

It is now the capital of the newly created Uttaranchal state( carved out of Uttar Pradesh).

It is at the base of the hills from where one goes up to Mussourie and other hill places in Garhwal.

Dehradun was amongst those few places in India where those in service wanted to settle down after retirement, because of its good climate and healthy environment.

Being close to the hill station of Mussourie was an added advantage.

The place was chosen by the British to build some very good buildings and institutions.

On the road going to Dak Patthar, are situated the beautiful architectural specimens of Indian Forest Academy and Research Institute,amongst beautiful forests and scenery.

The Indian Military Academy is also on the same road.

The natural scenery on this road has been exceptionally good.

It needs some Act like in the U.S.A., to keep some scenes as it is for the future, without allowing any thing to change the natural scenery.

Dehradun has the river Yamuna nearby with the Yamuna Hydel project.

The Tihri Dam project is further up.

Sahastradhara is one nice picnic spot on the river near Dehradun. Here there are a large number of streams and waterfalls where people enjoy playing and taking a dip in the cool waters.

One can go to various places in the Garhwal and Himachal hills from Dehradun by contacting the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam offices in Dehradun and other places.

The city as such is not very clean with some narrow lanes and small markets,but modernisation is catching up.

It has some good residential schools e.g. the Doon School and others.

There are some tea gardens in and around Dehradun and at Herbertpur up the hills.

Industries too have come up e.g. carded wool tops, auto bulbs,cement etc.

With increasing urbanisation and commercialisation the famous ''Basmati'' rice fields are fast vanishing.

The famous ''litchi'' fruit orchards too are giving way to concrete houses and bungalows.

With the city becoming the capital of the Uttaranchal state, there will be increasing pressure on the available ''basmati''rice fields and fruit orchards.

We may soon lose the famed fragrant ''basmati'' rice of Dehradun, which now might come from the fields of other states.

I have not visited Dehradun since 1980--I wonder what it is like these days.