A GUIDE TO DEHRADUN

The faint traces of my childhood linger silently in every room of my grandmother’s house. Every trip back is like peaking into a box full of memories—some bittersweet and some plain silly. 

I’d obviously sound biased when I say my favourite travel destination is Dehradun, it being my second home. The maze-like lanes, the sound of hawkers at ghanta ghar, the lazy afternoons spent rocking back and forth on a chair in the verandah and the sweet nostalgic love of my grandmother—all these are a testament to my attraction to this city. 

We started off early morning at around 5, the earliest we have left ever. And a 5 ½ hour sleepy drive later we were in Dehradun, ready to kick off the weekend! Trains are usually the best mode of transport for those going to the city, however for those who cannot find tickets last moment (or those who love the roads), driving is a great alternative since the roads are pretty decent and relatively empty if you leave early morning.

There isn’t a lot to do in the city. Most of our days were spent lazing around reading a book or concocting something new to eat. As per the recommendation of the mighty internet and inputs from my lovely grandmother we spent a rather relaxed and beautiful evening at a restaurant called Orchard. Sitting on an open balcony and overlooking the lush green valley is exactly what this place offers. Don’t expect too much from the food, since I think the place is famous more for its views than the food. 

Our second (or third?) day there saw us heading up the winding road and into the tourist hub of Mussorie. And when I say winding, I really do mean winding. Offering stunning views of the green Doon Valley and the distant white-capped Himalayan peaks, Mussoorie is about 34 km from Dehradun. You can walk up and down the famous Mall road, stop by at street shops and haggle for junk jewellery and touristy hats. There are multiple cafes that line the road, some old-school snack joints and some kitschy and fun like Chick chocolate. I personally did not go to this one but the ambience was thoroughly intoxicating and inviting. 

Next, we headed up (or decided to head up) to the highest point in Mussorie, called Lal Tibba. Beware. The road is awfully winding and I was forever gripping the seat, my heart ready to jump out of my body. We stopped for snacks at a shop called Char Dukaan and after a plate of waffles and maggi decided that this was it. We were officially through with heart-stopping adventures.

Next time, i’ll make sure I am prepared for the drive up and down.

On a good day, you can also visit The Mindrolling Monastery and get lost in the silence.

More adventures await as I visit Dehradun again.
Till next time!