History Of Dehradun

To experience a perfect holiday in the midst of natural serene and pleasing climate, do pay a visit with your family and friends to Dehradun, one of the most beautiful cities in India. Admired for its green environs, natural springs, mind-bending temples and pristine lakes, the city is no less than a paradise on earth. The magical charm and pristine beauty of the land is not only limited to its welcoming nature as the terrain is equally admired for its spectacular history and noted monuments, which speaks volumes about its imperial past. Being the favorite city of British Raj, it was during their reign that the prosperity of Dehradun reached great heights. Apart from the recorded history of the place, some of the mythological links associated with Dehradun helps you to unfold the grandeur and ancient past of the city. To explore more about the royal history of Dehradun, go through the article below.

Dehradun History

Mythological Links
The glorious history of Dehradun first finds its mention in the Indian mythological stories that recount the power of the place. According to one of the oldest scriptures, Skanda Purana, Dehradun was a part of 'Kedar Khand', the abode of Lord Shiva. Another belief states that Dronacharya, the great scholar and teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas of Mahabharata, lived in this place. Hence, this place was also known as 'Drona-nagri'. According to another belief, numerous Lords and famous personalities visited this place to seek peace and enlightment. As per Ramayana, Lord Rama and Lakshmana underwent atonement for themselves for killing Lanka King Ravana in this place. The later records of the city tells you that the founder of Sikh faith, Sri Guru Nanak sought shelter in the city of Dehradun during mid 1400s and it was he who named the camps as Dehra-camp and Doon-Valley.

Early Years In The History Of Dehradun
The name Dehradun is derived from two words 'Dera' and 'Dun', implying 'camp' and 'valley' respectively. The city was named as Dehradun as it is placed in the midst of beautiful Shivaliks and Himalayas. As per the historical records, the present day Dehradun came into existence in 1675 with the settlement of Guru Ram Rai, the son of seventh Sikh Guru Har Rai. With the passage of time, the place witnessed spectacular reign of Garhwal Kingdom who ruled this place for many years with only minor interruption from the Rohillas and the Rajputs during 1757-75. However, with the invasion of Gurkhas or Nepalese into the region, the Garhwals lost their power on Dehradun in 1803.

Nepali Acquisition
The beautiful land of Dehradun came under Nepal Kingdom in 1803. Under the reign of Nepali King Bal Bhadra Thapa, the city experienced a calm status. However, the dynasty couldn't last for long as the British were keen to acquire this region. With the Anglo-Nepalese War in 1814-16, the Nepali dynasty was forced to leave the country. Finally, with the treaty of Sugauli, the place came under the rule of British Raj.

British Raj
Popularly known as Dehra by British, the place witnessed a spectacular growth during British period. It was during this time that many development works took place. From the formation of municipality to introduction of railways to clean water supplies, Dehradun grew rapidly under the hands of English men.

History Of Tea Plantations In Dehradun
Tea plantation started by Britons in 1863 serves as the major source of income for the city. Many of the noted tea growing regions like Sirmour, Kargi and Banjarawala are now slowly turning into residential areas. However, some of the surviving tea estates of the city helps to maintain the identity of the place. The tea grown in this region is known for its unique taste and aroma and is in great demand globally. From this city, the tea is supplied to Delhi, Punjab, Jammu, Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan and even England.