With a pleasant climate throughout the year, Dehradun makes for a very popular tourist destination in the country. With some amazing tourist places to explore, the city also has a fair share of notable religious destination. Let’s take a look at some of the famous ones.
Popular among people looking to go on a religious tour, these spots in the capital of Uttarakhand is a sure go if you’re too seeking mental solace. If you’re coming from the national capital, taking a Delhi to Dehradun taxi or even driving down your own seems like a good idea, as the city is about 5-6 hours from Delhi. There are several fantastic religious destinations to explore in Dehradun, even if you’re planning to impress your grandmother or grandfather. Let’s take a look at some of the famous ones.
Tapkeshwar Temple – The Tapkeshwar Temple was established in honor of Lord Shiva and is located in the Garhi Cantonment Area, a little over 5 km from Dehradun city. The temple’s name actually means ‘Dripping Shiva’, which is due to the fact that there’s spring water continuously dripping from the rooftop over the Shivling. Another story behind the name suggests that upon seeing Guru Dronacharya unable to feed his son, Ashwathama, Lord Shiva made milk pour from the temple ceilings for the baby. The temple stands out at a major centre of devotion amongst Shiva-Bhakts and you can easily see thousands of devotees thronging the temples site during festivals like Shivratri.
Laxman Siddh Temple – This famous temple is surrounded amidst the picturesque locations of the city outskirts and located about 12 kms from the main town. According to the locals, the temple is situated right at the spot where Lord Laxamana supposedly regretted for killing Ravana. One of the major attractions of this place is the annual Laxman Siddh Fair, which is visited by thousands of devotees every year. Visitors can only reach this temple by foot.
Mindrolling Monastery – If Buddhism enchants your mind and soul, then visiting the Mindrolling Monastery would surely be worth it. Mindrolling, which in Tibetan dialect means a ‘Place of Perfect Emancipation’ was established the Tibetan ruler Rigzin Tendak Lingpa in the 17th century. The monastery is considered to be one of the important centre of learning for the Buddhist in the northern part of the country. The monastery is also known for housing the largest Viharas in teh country. There’s also a 185 feet tall stupa which reflects world peace.
Chandrabani Temple – The Chandrabani Temple is situated about 12 kms from the city of Dehradun, surrounded by the green valleys and snow capped mountains of the Shivalik range. According to the local legends, the temps was once the home the great sage Gautam where he meditated for several years. As a result of which the temple is also known as Gautam Kund, attracting hordes of devotees to take a dip in the holy waters of this kund.
Ram Rai Gurudwara – Another fascinating piece of Dehradun tourism, the Ram Rai Gurudwara was constructed in the 17th century. The gurudwara is considered is one of the oldest religious place of worship for the Sikhs in the region. The gurudwara is the seat of Guru Ram Rai and is famous for its intricately designed walls depicting subjects from the famous epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana.