Geography of Dehradun

Dehradun, perhaps one of the best cities since British Rule, is located right in the middle of the beautiful Himalayas and the Shivalik Range. This capital city of Uttarakhand has a lot of offer for everyone. Whether you are looking for some quiet time with your family or adventurous sports with your friends, Dehradun has everything for everyone.


Located in the Doon Valley, Dehradun is surrounded by two of the most powerful rivers in India – Ganga from the east and Yamuna from the west. This city is popular for its scenic beauty, picturesque landscape and historic importance. Many people come here for quick weekend getaways and also to be away from the hectic humdrum of metropolitan city life. Blessed with temperate climate throughout the year, this city gets thousands of tourists streaming in every month.

Natural Boundaries of Dehradun

The Doon Valley consists of eight towns namely Dehradun, Herbertpur, Vikasnagar, Doiwala, Rishikesh, Sahaspur, Raiwala and Subash Nagar (Clement Town). Dehradun district is bounded by the Himalayas from the North, Shivaliks from the South, Ganga River from the East and Yamuna River from the West. The District is separated into two main parts namely the Dehradun City, which is bounded by the Himalayas and Shivalik Ranges from north and south respectively, and the Jaunsar Bavar that is located at the base of the mountains. North of Dehradun, the district shares the border with Uttarkashi District and in the east with Tehri and Pauri. In the West, Dehradun shares the border with Sirmaur District belonging to Himachal Pradesh and Yamuna River and from the South; Saharanpur District of Uttar Pradesh and Haridwar border the district.

Geographical Location

Located between latitudes 29 58’ N and 31 2’ N and Longitudes 77 34’ E and 78 18’ E, Dehradun has a population of 5,78,420 (according to Census 2011) and the district is divided into 6 taluks namely Dehradun, Chakrata, Vikasnagar, Kaalsi, Tjonee and Rishikesh that consists of 17 towns and 764 villages.

Topography of Dehradun

Voluble rivers, lush forests and captivating valleys are just few of the words to describe Dehradun. Situated at an altitude of 3350 meters, this city with its surrounding beauty can actually be described at heaven of earth. Dehradun is bounded by two of mightiest rivers of India from East and West – Ganga and Yamuna River, which are also Dehradun’s main water supply.


The region is surrounded with green forests, which is the same reason why there are many wildlife sanctuaries in the region. The district is also home to several animals and is especially known for elephants. Rajaji National Park is situated in Dehradun, which has the highest number of elephants in the country. Moreover, the entire city is decorated with lush green forests belonging to the Himalayas and the Shivalik Range.

Weather in Dehradun

Since it located at the foothills of Himalayas, Dehradun has temperate climate throughout the year and therefore, the city is hoarded with thousands of tourists from all parts of the world. Dehradun is also known as the ‘Rainy City of India’ as it receives the maximum rainfall in the entire country. In the year 2013, Dehradun received about 370 mm of rainfall in the month of June, which is the highest ever rainfall any city in India has ever received.

Summer in Dehradun

Summer is the best season to visit the city, as the Dehradun is neither too hot nor too cold during this time. Summer time in Dehradun start from the month of March and continues till the month of June and the weather remain quite medium the entire period. Maximum temperature reached 35 degree Celsius while the lowest temperature ever recorded in the city is around 12 degree Celsius.

Monsoon in Dehradun

Monsoon season in the city is usually between the months of June and September. Dehradun receives medium to high rainfall except in 2013 where it recorded highest ever rainfall – 370 mm. However, the city becomes really beautiful during this season with a lovely fragrance coming from the surrounding forests.

Winter in Dehradun

The maximum temperature during winter season in Dehradun has been recorded is 22 degree Celsius while the lowest is 17 degree Celsius. The winter months usually start from December to February. The regions near by Dehradun might receive snowfall.

Natural Resources in Dehradun

Surrounded by such dense green forests, Dehradun is well known for its natural resources. Dehradun is primarily famous for the production of Basmati Rice and Lychees, which grow in abundance throughout the district. Moreover, with Himalayas and Shivaliks in the North and South, Dehradun has plenty of natural resources in the form of forest, energy and soil. Also, with renowned institutions in the city like Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Forest Survey of India, National Hydrographic Office, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, the natural resources in Dehradun are being utilized carefully. Mineral deposits such as Magnesite, Limstone and Gypsum are also found here.

Dams and Canals in Dehradun

The Asan Barrage was built in 1967 and since then it has been one of the most famous dams in Doon Valley. Located at the border of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Asan Barrage is built where Asan River and Yamuna Canal meet and is approximately 28 kms from Dehradun. The Asan Barrage creates a reservoir called Dhalipur Lake, which is around 4 square km long and very popular in Uttarakhand for all kinds of water activities and bird watching.