Dehradun is the capital city of the Uttarakhand state (earlier called Uttaranchal) and also the headquarters of Dehradun District. It is located in the Doon valley. The district is surrounded by the Himalayas in the north, Sivalik Hills in the south, the river Ganga in the east, and the river Yamuna in the west. The water divide of Ganga and Yamuna passes through the city.

Neighbouring cities and towns are  Haridwar,  Rishikesh,  Roorkee,  Mussoorie and Saharanpur.

History
The town was founded in the early eighteenth century by 'Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji', the elder son of seventh Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Har Rai Ji, and the founder of the Udasin Sect of Ascetics, who was exiled came here in 1675, and first settled in village Dhamawala which even today hosts the annual 'Jhanda Fair' on the fifth day after Holi in his memory. Thus the name refers to his Dera or settlement in the valley, and marking this settlement is a Darbar called 'Shri Guru Ram Rai Darbar', built in 1699, and modeled on the tomb of Mughal Emperor Jehangir. In Skanda Purana, Dun is mentioned as a part of the region called Kedar Khand, the abode of Shiva. In ancient India during the Mahabharata  epic era, Dronacharya the great teacher of Kauravas and Pandavas lived here hence the name "Drona-nagri".

Climate:

Dehradun has a sub-tropical climate with cold winters, warm and crisp springs, hot summers and a strong monsoon. The mountains around Dehradun receive sustained snowfall in winter, but the temperature in the city hardly ever drops below freezing.Dehradun is prone to hail storms in winter.

Transport
The city transport system includes public buses, three wheelers and taxis.
The Railway station of dehradun is linked with major cities of the country such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Indore, Ujjain, Ahmedabad etc.

The city is served by the Jolly Grant Airport, 25 km east of the city.

Economy
The city has witnessed tremendous growth in the last 20 years. Because of its educational background and high international remittances, Dehradun enjoys a high per capita income, which in dollar terms hovers close to $1800 (national average $800). The city's transition into a large urban centre has been nothing less than phenomenal. Dehradun is in a middle of a commercial & IT boom, which is amplified by the establishment of Software Technology Parks of India and various SEZ (special economic zones) through out the city. Right from IT Parks to specifically built industrial belts have proved to be a heaven for industrialists of national and international repute.

Places of tourist's interest:
Nearby locations are:
FRI Bluiding & Museum
Budha Temple & Clementown Park
Malsi Deer Park,
Sahastradhara,
Tapkeshwar Shiv Temple,
Robber's Cave,
Lachhiwala,
Maldevta
Dat Kali Mata Mandir
Laxman Sidh Temple,
Rajaji National Park
Santhla Devi
MDDA Park
Gularghati
Located on Mussoorie-Dhanaulti Road is Himalayan Weavers which produces hand-woven shawls, stoles, scarves and throws using only natural dyes and wool, eri silk and pashmina. Their aim is to produce high quality handloom products, popularize the use of environmentally friendly natural dyes and provide a market for craft products made in the Himalayan region.

Chakrata is another nearby hill station, but it is a good 80 km away. Paonta Sahib is a pilgrimage place for Sikhs with a historic Gurudwara on the banks of the Yamuna. Other nearby religious places viz. Haridwar and Rishikesh are not far off.