Forest Research Institute — Dehradun's brick landmark and forest museum
What it is
The Forest Research Institute, FRI for short, is on the Dehradun–Chakrata road, about 6 km and 10 minutes from the centre of Dehradun. It trains forest officers and does forestry research, and few institutions of its kind in India are older. It began in 1878 as the Forest School of Dehradun, became the Imperial Forest School in 1884 and was reestablished as an Imperial research institute in 1906.
Photos: DesiBoy101 (CC BY 4.0) · DesiBoy101 (CC BY 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
The building
The present campus was acquired around 1923, and the main building, designed in Greco-Roman style, was inaugurated in 1929. Wikipedia describes it as a combination of Greco-Roman and colonial styles on about 450 hectares, with the outer Himalaya as its backdrop. The building is a national heritage site, and a Guinness record once called it the biggest all-brick building anywhere.
The museum
The campus has a museum with six sections: pathology, social forestry, silviculture, timber, non-wood forest products and entomology. Wikipedia gives opening times and an entry fee, but they change, so confirm before you travel. Wikipedia also notes that many films have been shot on the campus.
Combine it with
The Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib is 10 minutes toward the centre, and Robber's Cave and Tapkeshwar are close. The one-day plan uses all four. See things to do in Dehradun.
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Questions people ask
What is the Forest Research Institute?
An institute for forestry research and training in Dehradun, older than most of its kind in India. It began as the Forest School of Dehradun in 1878, and its main building, in Greco-Roman style, was inaugurated in 1929. The campus also hosts the staff college that trains Indian Forest Service officers.
Can visitors go inside?
Yes, the campus has a museum with six sections: pathology, social forestry, silviculture, timber, non-wood forest products and entomology. Wikipedia gives opening hours and fees, but these change, so check before you go. It is about 6 km and 10 minutes from the city centre by road on our routing.
How big is the Forest Research Institute?
About 450 hectares by Wikipedia's figure, with the outer Himalaya as its backdrop. The main building has a plinth area of about 2.5 hectares and was once recorded by Guinness as the biggest all-brick building in the world, though we cannot verify that today.