Robber's Cave (Guchhupani) — a stream through a gorge near Dehradun
Robber's Cave, locally Guchhupani: a 600 m river cave in a narrow gorge about 8 km from Dehradun, with the road time, the last walk and the legend.
Uttarakhand⛰ 435 m2 itineraries
Dehradun
Dehradun, Uttarakhand's winter capital in the Doon valley: Robber's Cave, Tapkeshwar, the Guru Ram Rai Darbar, the forest institute and the road to Mussoorie.
Itineraries you can copy
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One day in Dehradun — the darbar, the forest institute and Robber's Cave
Day plan · First visit · Temples & heritage
A one-day Dehradun plan: the Guru Ram Rai Darbar, the Forest Research Institute, Tapkeshwar cave temple and Robber's Cave, with road times. Free to copy.
Best Feb–Mar · Oct–Nov
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Two days — Dehradun's monastery and institute, then up to Mussoorie
1 night · 2 days · First visit · Multi-hub · starts in Dehradun
A two-day plan: the Mindrolling Monastery, Forest Research Institute and Guru Ram Rai Darbar in Dehradun, then Gun Hill and Landour in Mussoorie. Free to copy.
Best Mar–Apr · Oct–Nov
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Dehradun is the winter capital of Uttarakhand and the headquarters of Dehradun district, in the Doon valley, with the Shivalik hills on its southern side and the Himalayan foothills on its northern one. Wikipedia gives its elevation as 435 m. For most travellers it is the gate to the hills: Mussoorie is 21 km and about 39 minutes away on our routing, Rishikesh 40 km and 45 minutes, and Haridwar 50 km and 48 minutes. But the city has places of its own, and a day is enough for the best of them.
Tradition says the name comes from the camp (dera) that Baba Ram Rai, a son of the seventh Sikh Guru, set up in the Doon valley in the 17th century. His Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib still stands in the old town, and its Jhanda Mela is held every March. Beyond the centre, Robber's Cave is a stream running through a narrow gorge about 8 km out, Tapkeshwar is a cave temple to Shiva, and the Forest Research Institute, founded in 1878, is known for its British-era buildings. The Mindrolling Monastery near Clement Town is a Tibetan Buddhist centre with a 190-foot stupa.
Getting here is easy: Delhi is about 217 km, and routing says about 2.5 hours with the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, which Wikipedia says opened in 2025. Jolly Grant airport is about 31 km and 40 minutes away by road, and Dehradun railway station, in use since 1899, is near the centre. Summers are hot, the monsoon is heavy, and winters are cool; read when to visit. Start with the one-day plan, the two days with Mussoorie, things to do in Dehradun and how to reach Dehradun.
Photos: Kuldeepburjbhalaike (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Daniel Romanson (CC0) · DesiBoy101 (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Places worth the drive
Forest Research Institute — Dehradun's brick landmark and forest museum
The Forest Research Institute in Dehradun: founded in 1878, a Greco-Roman brick landmark opened in 1929 with six museum sections, 10 minutes from the centre.
Tapkeshwar Temple — the cave temple of Shiva in Dehradun
Tapkeshwar Temple in Dehradun: a Shiva shrine built over a natural cave with a dripping linga, linked to Drona, with the Mahashivratri fair and road times.
Mindrolling Monastery — the Tibetan Buddhist centre near Clement Town
The Mindrolling Monastery near Clement Town, Dehradun: a Nyingma centre re-established in 1965, with a 190-foot stupa opened in 2002 and a big college.
Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib — the 17th-century darbar behind Dehradun's name
The Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib in Dehradun: founded by Baba Ram Rai, a Mughal-style darbar with old murals, the origin of the city's name, and the Jhanda Mela.
On the map
Open the Dehradun map →The places a Dehradun day reaches, with the road time from town. Each opens on the map with its plans and pages beside it.
Before you go
All articles →Things to do in Dehradun — temples, a gorge, a monastery and Mussoorie
Things to do in Dehradun: the Guru Ram Rai Darbar, Tapkeshwar cave temple, Robber's Cave, the Forest Research Institute, a Tibetan monastery and Mussoorie.
How to reach Dehradun — by road, rail and air, with measured distances
How to reach Dehradun from Delhi, Chandigarh, Haridwar and Rishikesh by road, with measured times, the railway station, Jolly Grant airport and the ISBT.
Best time to visit Dehradun — heat, monsoon and cool winters
When to visit Dehradun: hot from March to June, a heavy monsoon from June to September, cool winters from December to February, and what each means.
Nearby destinations
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Questions people ask
How far is Dehradun from Delhi?
About 217 km by road, and routing says about 147 minutes with the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, which Wikipedia says opened in 2025. That is a free-flow figure, so allow for traffic and tolls. Chandigarh is about 164 km and 157 minutes, and Haridwar about 50 km and 48 minutes.
What is there to see in Dehradun?
The Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib in the old town, the Forest Research Institute with its British-era buildings, Tapkeshwar cave temple, Robber's Cave (Guchhupani) in its narrow gorge, and the Mindrolling Monastery with its large stupa. Mussoorie, Rishikesh and Haridwar are day trips from the city.
How many days do you need in Dehradun?
One day covers the main sights in town; two days let you add Mussoorie or the Tibetan monastery near Clement Town. Most visitors treat Dehradun as a stop on the way to the hills, so a night here before Mussoorie or Rishikesh is common. Our one-day and two-day plans are free to copy.
Photographs by Wikimedia Commons contributors (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-SA), resized; each picture is credited on its own page.