Dehradun by road: a chauffeur-driven trip to the Doon valley

Dehradun by road: the numbers first

Many travellers see Dehradun only through a car window on the way to Mussoorie, Rishikesh or the Char Dham. That is a pity. The Doon valley is one of the most pleasant places in North India to spend a couple of days: wide, green, ringed by hills on every side, with a long history as a home for scholars, surveyors, soldiers and schoolchildren. The city grew around the institutions that chose it, from the Survey of India to the Forest Research Institute, the Indian Military Academy and some of the country's best-known boarding schools, and became the capital of Uttarakhand when the state was formed in 2000.

For drivers, Dehradun is also the natural hub for the whole of Garhwal. Mussoorie is 35 km up the hill, Rishikesh and Haridwar about an hour away, the Yamunotri road runs north through Barkot, and Jolly Grant airport connects the region with the rest of India. A chauffeur-driven car based here can serve a family for a week without ever repeating a road.

What to see in Dehradun

• Forest Research Institute (FRI). Founded in 1906, the FRI's main building is a vast red-brick colonial-era structure set in landscaped grounds, one of the most photographed buildings in Uttarakhand. Its museums on forestry, timber, pathology and entomology are fascinating. Check timings and entry charges on the Forest Research Institute website.
• Robber's Cave (Guchhupani). A narrow limestone gorge where a cold stream flows between high walls, then disappears and reappears. Wade in with the right footwear; it is a family favourite in summer.
• Sahastradhara. Sulphur springs and small cascades on the Baldi river about 15 km from the city, with bathing pools and a ropeway to the hilltop.
• Tapkeshwar Mahadev. A cave temple on a riverbank where water drips naturally onto the Shivling, especially busy on Mahashivratri.
• Mindrolling Monastery. In Clement Town, one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist centres in India, with a towering stupa, gardens and painted shrine halls.
• Paltan Bazaar and the Clock Tower. The old commercial heart, good for woollens, spices, Doon's basmati rice and the city's famous bakery rusks.
• Rajpur Road. Dehradun's café and restaurant strip on the road towards Mussoorie, lively in the evenings.
• Malsi Deer Park and Lachhiwala. Easy family outings: a small zoo and deer park near the Mussoorie road, and a forest picnic spot with pools on the Rishikesh side.
• The Indian Military Academy. You will pass its campus on the Chakrata road. The famous passing-out parades are held in June and December; public access is by invitation only.

The route from Delhi to Dehradun

Leaving Delhi

Take the Delhi–Meerut Expressway from the Akshardham side early in the morning; the run past Ghaziabad is quick before 7 am. The road continues north past Meerut through Khatauli and Muzaffarnagar, where the highway food courts are the standard breakfast halt. Several toll plazas on the route are billed at actual cost.

Two ways into the valley

• Via Roorkee and Haridwar or Bhagwanpur. The traditional route, joining Dehradun from the south-east through Doiwala. It passes close to the airport, which is useful if you are dropping someone off.
• Via Chhutmalpur, Mohand and the Asharodi ghat. A shorter crossing of the Shivalik hills through forest, entering the valley from the south. It is usually quieter than the Haridwar side, though the ghat has sharp bends.

The new Delhi–Dehradun expressway corridor, including an elevated section through the wildlife area near Mohand, is designed to shorten this trip considerably as it opens; your chauffeur will use whichever route is quickest on the day. Full fares for this road are on our Delhi to Dehradun taxi page.

Flying in: Jolly Grant airport lies about 25 km south-east of the city centre. We track every flight, wait at arrivals with a name board and allow 60 minutes of free waiting after international flights and 30 minutes after domestic ones, charging the hourly rate thereafter. See our Dehradun taxi service for airport and local packages.

Best time to visit Dehradun

• October to November: clear, fresh and comfortable, with the hills sharp against the sky. Diwali is celebrated widely.
• December to February: cool days and cold nights, occasionally foggy mornings, and snow visible on the Mussoorie ridge after winter storms. A good time for sightseeing.
• March and April: warm and pleasant, with litchi and mango orchards in blossom.
• May and June: hot in the afternoons. The Char Dham season begins and the city fills with pilgrims heading north.
• July to September: heavy monsoon rain. The valley is lush, but rivers such as the Song and Tons rise quickly, and roads to the hills can suffer landslides. Keep plans flexible.

For district notices, traffic plans and local information, the Dehradun district administration is the official source.

Chauffeured services from RutzIndia.com in and from Dehradun

We run Dehradun bookings in three directions: into the city from Delhi and the airport, around the city on local packages, and out of the city to the hills. All vehicles are within four model years of manufacture.

• Delhi to Dehradun one way or round trip, including pickups from IGI airport and anywhere in NCR.
• Jolly Grant airport transfers to the city, Mussoorie, Rishikesh or Haridwar.
• Local hire on 4 hr / 40 km and 8 hr / 80 km packages for sightseeing, meetings and family visits.
• Hill trips from Dehradun to Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Chakrata and Kanatal; see our Mussoorie by road guide.
• Char Dham departures via Barkot for Yamunotri and onward; see our Char Dham yatra by car page and the Yamunotri by road guide.
• Weddings and school events with premium sedans, Mercedes E-Class cars and Tempo Travellers from our Dehradun Tempo Traveller fleet.

Local and airport fares include Dehradun's 0.97 city factor. A Delhi round trip over two days drives roughly 500 km, which matches the two-day minimum; longer stays are billed at 250 km per calendar day or actual distance if higher, plus Rs 1,500 per night for the driver. GST at 5% is added to all fares, and tolls, parking and any state entry charges are passed on at cost. Pay by card or UPI in the booker; corporate accounts and schools receive GST invoices.

Our cancellation policy keeps things fair: cancel more than 72 hours before pickup and there is no charge; within 72 hours a 10% fee applies, within 48 hours 50%, and within 24 hours or on a no-show the full fare.

Book a Dehradun cab

Dehradun in two or three days

Day 1: Delhi to Dehradun (about 250 km). An early departure, breakfast near Muzaffarnagar and arrival by lunchtime. Afternoon at the Forest Research Institute and its museums, evening on Rajpur Road.

Day 2: The valley's highlights (about 70 km). Robber's Cave in the morning, Tapkeshwar temple, lunch in town, then Mindrolling Monastery and Paltan Bazaar for shopping. Covered by an 8 hr / 80 km local package if you are staying on.

Day 3: Mussoorie or Rishikesh, then home. Either climb to Mussoorie for Landour and the Mall, or head to Rishikesh for the evening aarti, before driving back to Delhi. Billed as a three-day round trip on the 750 km minimum.

Easy side trips with the same car

Dehradun's position makes half-day and full-day excursions simple, and each one gives the valley trip a different flavour:

• Dhanaulti and Kanatal (about 60 to 80 km): deodar forests, eco-parks and cool air on the ridge beyond Mussoorie, with small resorts that suit a quiet overnight.
• Rishikesh and Neelkanth (about 45 km to Rishikesh): the evening aarti on the Ganga, cafés by Ram Jhula and, for the devout, the hill temple of Neelkanth Mahadev.
• Haridwar (about 55 km): Har Ki Pauri and the Mansa Devi ropeway, easily combined with a drop at Jolly Grant for an evening flight.
• Rajaji National Park: safaris on the forest zones near the city run in the open season, typically from mid-November to mid-June; book permits through the park's official channels.

Each of these fits within an 8 hr / 80 km package or a single outstation day, and your chauffeur will suggest the right order to avoid the worst traffic.

Practical tips for Dehradun

• Traffic: the city's main roads, especially around the Clock Tower, Paltan Bazaar and Rajpur Road, get congested at school and office hours. Your chauffeur will plan around 8 to 10 am and 5 to 8 pm.
• Parking: FRI, Mindrolling and Sahastradhara have parking areas; the old bazaar does not, so expect to be dropped and collected.
• Weather: summers are warm, winters surprisingly cold at night; the monsoon is long and heavy.
• Institution visits: FRI and some other campuses have fixed visiting hours and entry fees. Military areas are off limits to casual visitors; do not photograph them.
• Food to try: Doon's basmati, bakery rusks and buns, momos from the Tibetan settlements, and pahadi dishes such as kafuli and bhatt ki churkani in local restaurants.