Dehradun district

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This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Dehradun.
Dehradun district
देहरादून जिला
district
Dehradun Railway Station
Dehradun district
Location in Uttarakhand, India
Coordinates: 30°20′N 78°04′E / 30.33°N 78.06°E / 30.33; 78.06Coordinates: 30°20′N 78°04′E / 30.33°N 78.06°E / 30.33; 78.06
Country  India
State Uttarakhand
Division Garhwal
Headquarters Dehradun
Area
 • Total 300 km2 (100 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 1,698,560
 • Density 550/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Website dehradun.nic.in

Dehradun district ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a district of Uttarakhand state in northern India. The district headquarters is Dehradun, which has also served as the provisional capital of Uttaranchal since its founding in 2000. The district has 6 tehsils, 6 community development blocks, 17 towns and 764 inhabited villages, and 18 unpopulated villages. As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Uttarakhand (out of 13), after Haridwar.[1]

Dehradun is located 230 km from the national capital, Delhi. Apart from being rich in natural beauty, the town is also known to many famous educational institutions. Important national institutions like Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Survey of India, Indian Institute of Petroleum etc. are located here. In Dehradun, many educational institutions like Forest Research Institute, Rashtriya Indian Military College and Indian Military Academy are situated. It is a famous tourist destination. Specifically, Basmati rice, tea and litchi orchards increase its popularity and provide beauty to the city.

The region was seized as a war spoil from the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal as a consequence of the Gurkha War of 1814–16, and attached administratively to Saharanpur District to its immediate south, which was already in British hands. Dehradun district also includes the prominent towns of Rishikesh, Mussoorie, Landour and Chakrata. The district stretches from the Ganges river in the east to the Yamuna river in the west, and from the Terai and Shivaliks in the south and southeast to the Great Himalaya in the northwest.

History

The illustrious history of Dehradun includes various Puranic stories and cultures. It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Lord Rama, along with brother Lakshmana, came to the area after defeating Ravana, the Rakshasa king of Lanka. The area is also linked to Dronacharya, the guru of the Kauravas and Pandavas in the Mahabharata. The area of Rishikesh is mentioned in the Skanda Purana as having been given to rishis(sages) by Lord Vishnu after killing the asuras Madhu-Kaitabh and their companions who tormented the rishis. Ancient temples, statues and archaeological remains have been found at the sites in and around the area that are mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These remains have been dated to be approximately 2000 years old.

The location of the area, the ancient traditions and customs still followed here, folk songs coming down from generations, and their contemporaneous literature point to the fact that the area witnessed various events during the periods of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Pandavas held influence over the region after the battle of the Mahabharata and the area was ruled by the descendants of Subahu as administrators under the Kuru Kingdom at Hastinapur. The discovery of Ashokan edicts at Kalsi near Dehradun show that the area was quite prosperous. Huen Tsang also observed Kalsi as Sudhnagar in the 7th century AD. Archaeological remains from the time of Raja Rasaal have been found at Haripur near Kalsi. Local folk legends prevailed in Jaunsar Bawar has it that a glorious Hindwan dynasty reigned over Kalsi. Haunsa Hindwan, Buddha Hindwan etc. were valorous kings of this dynasty. People believe that after the decline of Hindwan dynasty their tamed chickens which were left unclaimed became wild and use to live in nearby forest even today. These chickens when cry are heard to be saying "Hindwan Katte goe" meaning "Where did the Hindwan go?"

The area was attacked by Mahmud Ghaznavi, Timur in 1368. Guru Ram Rai, the errant eldest son of the seventh Guru of the Sikhs- Guru Har Rai, established his ‘DERA'[Camp] in the Dun [Doon] Valley around 1676 and the town that grew around this 'DERA' has come to be known as ‘DEHRADUN'. He founded his own Udasi Panth [Sect] and received support from Auragnzeb.Rohilla chieftain Najeebuchhaula in 1757 and Ghulam Qadir in 1785. This kept the area in disarray till 1801. The British captured the area in 1816 and found the cities of Landour and Mussourie in 1827-28. The district was added to the Garhwal division in the 1970s. It was established as the capital of Uttarkhand after the establishment of the state as Uttaranchal in the year 2000.

Demographics

As of 2011 Indian census provisional figures, the Dehradun district has a population of 16,98,560 the second highest in Uttarakhand after Haridwar (19,27,029). The Decadal growth rate has jumped up from 25% (1991–2001) to 32.48% (2001–2011). This is the third highest in Uttarakhand after Haridwar (33.16%) and Udham Singh Nagar (33.40%). The district has a gender ratio of 902 as against a state average of 963. This has however improved from 887 in the 2001 census. The population density is 550, again the 3rd highest after Haridwar(817) and Udham Singh Nagar (648). The state average is 189. The literacy rate is the highest in the state at 85.24% (90.32 for males, 79.61 for females)[2]

According to the 2011 census Dehradun district has a population of 1,698,560,[1] roughly equal to the nation of Guinea-Bissau[3] or the US state of Idaho.[4] This gives it a ranking of 290th in India (out of a total of 640).[1] The district has a population density of 550 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,400 /sq mi).[1] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 32.48%.[1] Dehradun has a sex ratio of 902 females for every 1000 males,[1] and a literacy rate of 85.24%.[1]

Transport

Dehradun
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
47
 
19
5
 
 
55
 
22
9
 
 
52
 
26
13
 
 
21
 
32
17
 
 
54
 
35
20
 
 
230
 
34
22
 
 
631
 
30
22
 
 
627
 
30
22
 
 
261
 
30
20
 
 
32
 
28
13
 
 
11
 
24
10
 
 
3
 
21
6
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate of Dehradun District

There are five railway stations in Dehradun:

  • Raiwala(first railway station)
  • Rishikesh(gateway of garhwals)
  • Doiwala(gorkha fighter shaheed Durga Malla's motherland)
  • Harrawala(corner forest)
  • Dehradun(capital of Uttrakhand)

Airport

  • Jolly grant airport (in middle of three major cities haridwar, rishikesh, dehradun)

Roadway transports

  • uttrakhand parivahan(govt. transport)
  • car private distant transport
  • tempo/autorikshaw local transport

Tourist place

  • haridwar
  • rishikesh
  • dehradun

Languages

  • Hindi
  • Urdu
  • garhwali
  • kumauni
  • Punjabi
  • gorkhali
  • English

Culture

Dehradun district is a part of Garhwal region, therefore local culture is dominant in the district. Apart from Garhwali, other languages spoken in the region are Hindi and English. People from different religions stay together in harmony and peace. Owing to improved education system, proper transport and good communication system, development of this region has gained appreciable pace. Dehradun is home for many prominent schools in the country. Blue buses are the main way of transport in the city.

Economy

Dehradun has made remarkable progress in the last 20 years. Per Capita Income here is $1800 which is much higher than the national average of $800.[citation needed]

Education

Universities

Colleges

  • Beehive College of advance studies, Selakui,Dehradun
  • Dehradun Institute of Technology
  • Uttaranchal Institute of Technology
  • Dolphin institute of bio-medical and natural sciences
  • Law College Dehradun
  • D.A.V.(P.G.) college, Dehradun
  • Institute of Management Studies, Dehradun
  • DBIT, Dehradun
  • Doon Business School
  • Uttaranchal Institute of Management
  • DBS College
  • MKP College
  • ITM College
  • TULA'S INSTITUTE

Schools

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30. 
  2. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals and data products - Census 2011 : Uttarakhand". Census of India. Retrieved 2011-05-30. 
  3. ↑ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 2011-10-01. "Guinea-Bissau 1,596,677 July 2011 est." 
  4. ↑ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-30. "Idaho 1,567,582" 

External links

 Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh Uttarkashi district
Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh Tehri Garhwal district
   Dehradun district  
Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh Haridwar district Pauri Garhwal district
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dehradun district.
Cities and towns in Dehradun district
Dehradun
Cities and towns
in other districts
  • Almora
  • Bageshwar
  • Chamoli
  • Champawat
  • Haridwar
  • Nainital
  • Pauri Garhwal
  • Pithoragarh
  • Rudraprayag
  • Tehri Garhwal
  • Udham Singh Nagar
  • Uttarkashi
Government
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Divisions
Districts
Major cities

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