13 REASONS WHY

THE CITY OF LOVE

13 REASONS WHY YOU WILL LOVE DEHRADUN

I was born and brought up in Dehradun so I have thousands of reasons to love this city but if you are a tourist or you are planning to shift in then these are the 13 reason why you will love the city.

1) Mountains

Picture courtesy: Siddhant kala

Dehradun is a beautiful valley in the foothills of the Himalayas. The valley lies in between the Himalayas and the Shivaliks. It is surrounded by the Shivalik Range and the Jaunsar bhavar on the sides. Two major hill stations near Dehradun are the Mussoorrie, the queen of hills and Nainital famous for the lakes. The beautiful view all around maintains the charm of the city. Dehradun is the gateway to the chota-char dham and char dham.
Dehradun looks amazing and completely different if you see it from the mussorie road.

2) Weather

Picture Courtesy: Siddhant kala

Something that one would never complain about is the weather. Being a valley the weather remains very pleasant in the summers and pretty cold during the winters. The city is also known as the Rainy city of India due to continuous and incessant rainfalls specially in monsoon. Rainfall can be witnessed anywhere and anytime. During the summers temperature reaches up-to 44 C but not just for few days during the peak summer and during the winters the temperature ranges between 1-20 Degree Centigrade.

3) Food 

You will never face any problem with food be it the vegetarian food or the non-vegetarian food. Dehradun is famous for its street food and some authentic regional food. The city is famous for the Basmati rice that is grown widely in the city. People in the city love to experiment with food and momos is one such item. You will find more than 10 types of momos in the city and more than 100 places to eat. One will find a wide range of fast-food in the city from the Indian fast food to the Chinese. You will fall in love with the food of the city.

4) Tourist place

Picture Courtesy: Siddhant kala

Even a month is not enough if you want to travel every place in Dehradun. There are a number of tourist spots in and around the city. To mention some like lachivala, shikhar falls,purukul,robbers cave,maldevta, sahastradhara, and many more. The religious places also known as chota char dham  Haridwar and Rishikesh are also nearby. One will never get bored of any place in the city especially during the summers. To beat the heat in the summers Dehradun is the best place as lots of rivers passes by and one can enjoy in the water and relax. Each place has its own story and speciality which will make you love the place.

picture courtesy: Siddhant kala

5) Mussoorie

Yes this is another reason to love Dehradun. The queen of hills mussoorie is just 35 kilometres away from Dehradun and is one of most favourite picnic and tourist spot. A lot of tourists and local people visit the place throughout the year. The serene beauty of the place cannot be described in mere words.A beautiful hill top called the George Everest is just 10 kilometers from mussoorie.

6) Education

Picture Courtney: Internet

The Dehradun city has a literacy rate of around 90% so one can determine the level of education in the city. The valley has some of the renowned schools of the country like The Doon School, Welham Boys, Welham Girls, CJM, St. Joseph's academy, Unison world school and lots more.
The city also has number of good private universities like University of Petroleum and Energy studies, Graphic Era University, Dehradun Institute of Technology etc. Dehardun is a perfect place to complete your education as it has all aspects to complete a students life.
"IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN".

7)Diversity

The people of the city are very welcoming and that is one reason why we are so diverse in our thoughts and beliefs. The state has the highest no of Brahmans in the country and alongside their are Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists etc. 82.5% people follow Hinduism, 11.25% Muslim population ,3.5% sikhs and a few of Jainism, Buddhism etc. Different religions and different beliefs but still we live in peace.  

8) Peace

This is a destination for the retired people. A lot people love to settle down in peace after their retirement and Dehradun is a one of the top priority for them. the people of the city are very soft spoken and chill. the weather and surroundings make the place better. So many different communities live together and one will rarely hear about any riots in the city. One can relax and enjoy their life doing nothing.

Picture Courtney: Internet

9) Government Offices


Dehradun has a number of government office's headquarters like Forest Research Institute, Wadia institute, IIP, ONGC, Indian Military Academy etc. IMA is the major officers training academy for the Indian Military.A bunch of dedicated Officers pass out every year. 

All the official paper work of the ONGC is done here.
FRI is the biggest forest research institute in the country.

10) Mythology

The history and the mythology of the city is great and unbelievable. It is said that the valley gave
Guru Dronacharya to Mahabharata.From lord Ram to the Pandavas everyone traveled through the city. The city was part of both Ramayana and Mahabharata and has seen a lot.

11) History

The Chinese traveler Huen Tsang also traveled to the city.

The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who brought destruction everywhere in the world helped the Guru Ram Rai to built a Gurudwara that in itself says a lot about the city. The Gurudwara holds a fair yearly and sikhs from around the country come here. It holds historical importance.

12)Talented Youth

The youth of the city seem to be very focused towards their future. The city is full of talented people. Several people in different fields like acting, dancing, singing have made Dehradun proud. A number of people from dehradun are working in the industry which is a big deal because it is not easy to come up and make your name in such a big industry.

The city has produced brilliant actors, dancers, singers and lots of other talent.

13) Location

The location of the city is perfect. Just an hour away are three big tourist spots Mussoorie, Haridwar, Rishikesh. All the places are easily accessible via Dehradun. This is what makes Dehradun more important as only Dehradun has a airport which connects Dehradun to so many places and makes it convenient for the tourists and the local people too.

The author Siddhant kala is a student of media and communication at School Of Communication. Manipal University and a resident of Dehradun. Currently Siddhant is working as an intern at Liberal Arts Productions Dehradun. He is passionate about writing and photography.

Connect to the author:

Email: sid19kala21@gmail.com
Instagram: pahadipandit

8 Amazing Historical Facts About Dehradun.

11 Amazing Historical Facts About Dehradun.

Photo of the Doon Valley in 1850s.

Dehradun is not only a favorite tourist destination being full of landscaping beauty but also houses a diverse history starting right for the age of Ramayana thousands of years ago.

So in this article I'll take you to the significant historical events that the valley of Doon has witnessed,  even since it was a no-man's-land. And how it finds it's place in Indian history from  mythological time to the modern era of history and ever since. Here's a quick paraphrased timeline of the magnificent history of Dehradun.

1. Link to Dwapara.

After defeating Ravana in the epic war of Ramayana, Lord Ram is believed to visit the valley with Laxmana. There have been many evidences to support the above fact such as ancient temples and idols in the areas surrounding Dehradun. The local culture and literature provides the link of the place to the events of Ramayana in Dwapara yuga. And some more than 2000 year old relics and the ruins found in the place supports the fact archaeologically as well.

2. Dehradun has given Drona to Mahabharata.

All these idols and ruins similarly provides enough evidences that connects Dehradun to Treta yuga of Mahbharata. the Royal Guru of Hastinapur Dronacharya who taught archery to Kauravas and Pandavas is believed to be an inhabitant of this place. And after the 18 days war of Mahabharata, Pandavas had influence on this place keeping the Descendants of Subahu, (the Rakshasa of Ramayana) as the region's subsidiary ruler.

3. Places around Dehradun has a history too.

Likewise, Rishikesh is mentioned in the pages of history when Lord Vishnu answered the prayers of the saints, slaughtered the demons and handed the land to the saints.The adjoining place called Chakrata has its historical impression during the time of Mahabharata.

4. "Sudhnagar", as Dehradun and places around it, was way back then called.

In the seventh century this area was known as Sudhnagar and was described by the Chinese traveller Huen Tsang. Sudhnagar later came to be recognised as the name of Kaalsi. Edicts of Ashoka have been found in the region along the banks of river Yamuna in Kaalsi indicating the wealth and importance of the region in ancient India.

5. Then "Gurudwara", then "Dehra" and then finally "Dehradun".

Before the name of Dehradun was used, the place is shown on old maps as Gurudwara (a map by Webb, 1808) or Gooroodwara (a map by Gerard, 1818). Gerard's map names the place as "Dehra or Gooroodwara". Surrounding this original Sikh temple were many small villages that are now the names of parts of the modern city.Dehradun itself derives its name from the historical fact that Shri Ram Rai, the eldest son of the Seventh Sikh Guru Har Rai Ji, set up his "dera" (camp) in "dun" (valley) in 1676. This 'Dera' 'Dun' later on became Dehradun.

7. Destructive Aurangzeb's constructive co-operation to build the hill city.

The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was highly impressed by the miraculous powers of charismatic Ram Rai. He asked the contemporary Raja of Garhwal, Fateh Shah to extend all possible help to Shri Ram Rai. Initially a Gurudwara (temple) was built in Dhamawala.

8. The proof of Mughal-Sikh nexus from building the first dwelling to set up a whole city.

The construction of the present building of Darbar Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj was completed in 1707. There are portraits of gods, goddesses, saints, sages and religious stories on the walls. There are pictures of flowers and leaves, animals and birds, trees, similar faces with pointed noses and big eyes on the arches which are the symbol of the colour scheme of Kangra-Guler and Mughal art. High minarets and round pinnacles are the models of the Muslim architecture. The huge talab in the front measuring 230 x 80 feet had dried up for want of water over the years. 

NATURE PARK

Picture Courtesy: Siddhant kala

 THE DIVINE DIVE

Lachivala, Haridwar Road, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Just when you will feel that the you are out of the city and there is nothing left to see then you will come across another picnic spot in the valley.  Lachivala is one of the most popular picnic spot in the city.
 
It is in the out skirts of the city. Almost 22 kilometers away from the Dehradun city. It is now called NATURE PARK. It is a natural park. The river Suswa flows through the place. Small pools are made out of it where people can have a good time with family and friends.

It is a perfect family picnic spot in the middle of the forest with the River. There is a resort for the tourists to stay in but it is difficult to get rooms during the peak season because of the rush.

Picture courtesy: Siddhant kala

The lush green forest not only attracts a lot of tourists but also birds.It is also a good place for bird-watching as a lot of migratory birds can be seen. different and special species of birds are often found in the region.

A famous temple Lakshman Sidh is on the way and is visited by a large number of people. It is famous as it is the cremation site of the Saint Swami Lakshman Sidh.

The place is well connected by road.The local transport is very good even the roads to the Nature Park is beautiful, covered by trees on both the sides. The same road takes you out of the city towards the Dehradun airport , Rishikesh and Haridwar.

The peak of the summer season is the best time to visit the place but if you are a local or from near by place then take this as a warning *DO NOT VISIT THE PLACE ON WEEKENDS* . The fresh water looks like an invitation. It invites you to jump into it and feel its freshness.

Camera Specifications Used

• NIKON D 5300                                                              
• F-STOP: F/10
• EXPOSURE TIME: 1/200C
• ISO SPEED: ISO 100
• FOCAL LENGTH:18MM
• MAXIMUM APERTURE: 3.6
• WHITE BALANCE: AUTO
• NO FLASH
• EDITED VIA ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS6

The author Siddhant kala is a student of media and communication at School Of Communication. Manipal University and a resident of Dehradun. Currently Siddhant is working as an intern at Liberal Arts Productions Dehradun. He is passionate about writing and photography.

Connect to the author:

Email: sid19kala21@gmail.com
Instagram: pahadipandit

  

SHIKHAR FALLS

MOUNTAINS AND FALLS A PERFECT COMBINATION

Kairwan Village, Rajpur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Picture Courtesy: Siddhant kala

The place remains beautiful until it is explored but once it becomes a regular tourist spot then it looses its charm. Shikhar falls is one such place which is less explored and hence is still very beautiful place to visit.

The place is 13 kilometers away from the city in the lap of the nature.
The place has a waterfall of around 15-20fts. The flow of the fall is smooth and there is also a small natural pool around the waterfall which is sufficient for the people to enjoy. You will often find people cooking biriyani there.

The way to the waterfall is not a regular way. It a small trek of about 1 km. with small falls on the way and river flowing on one side and the mountains on the other. Not everyone can go up to the falls as it’s not easy and risky too.

The place is not only famous for the waterfall but also for the variety of birds and butterflies that are found in the region. It is not a seasonal fall. It remains almost same throughout the year. One can feel the nature’s freshness.

The best time to visit the place is during the summer season because the water of the fall is icy cold and with the sun hitting you hard with heat, you can enjoy the water.

There is way ahead of the waterfall also. There are multiple streams and small falls above.
People tend to jump from above with the fall which is fun but risky.

The area around the shikhar falls is a Tibetan area.
There are a lot of good places to sit and hang out near Shikhar falls. The most famous of all is the Marigold cafe and the Gupta Ji Restaurant. The foreigners and other tourists prefer the Marigold cafe but the local youth hangs out in the Gupta ji’s restaurant. The kulhad masala tea is their specialty. They also serve Maggie, chowmein, momo’s, pakoda’s etc.

The place is worth the time and everything you miss out for it.
If you are visiting Dehradun during the summers then must visit the place else your trip remains incomplete.

The author Siddhant kala is a student of media and communication at School Of Communication, Manipal University and  a resident of Dehradun. He is currently working as a intern at Liberal Arts Productions in Dehradun. Siddhant is passionate about writing and photography.

Connect with the Author:

Email: sid19kala21@gmail.com
Instagram: pahadipandit

Cabaret in Dehradun.

 Been A Step Ahead In Entertainment 

How much do you know about Cabaret and guess how it is Related to Dehradun.

Wikipedia says Cabaret is an artform featuring live music, song, dance, recitation, or drama for entertainment . It is mainly distinguished by the performance venue, which might be a pub, a restaurant or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, does not typically dance but usually sits at tables and enjoys the event. Performances are usually introduced by a master of ceremonies or MC. The entertainment, as done by an ensemble of actors and according to its European origins, is often (but not always) oriented towards adult audiences and of a clearly underground nature. In the United States striptease, burlesque, drag shows, or a solo vocalist with a pianist, as well as the venues which house such events, are often advertised as cabarets.

OK  so which city will come to your mind first when you will think of an old "western" form of art and entertainment being performed in, which is although considered to be very bold and something which is opposite to the Indian culture. So obviously, you’ll name some metropolises like Mumbai, Goa, and with a wild guess even Delhi, which are so-called a “little ahead” in being westernized than the other India cities. But this first world entertainment form of Cabaret was used to be performed in only three cities in India. One of the three cities was none but Dehradun, besides Delhi and Mumbai, which is rather believed to be too culturally acquired with the old Indian Tradition and customs. And the irony is all these regionally distinct cultures definitely does not have a place for this not-so-safe-for-kids act.

But the Cabaret was candidly used to be performed in the city of Dehradun in the first half of the twentieth century. At the time of world wars when the Indian Royals and European people (mostly Army men) who could not visit Europe for fun at those times and instead chose to party at the hills of Mussoorie. The Cabaret was used to be performed till 1960s after when Government of India intervened in the issue and banned the act. This entertain was prevalent in Delhi and specially Missouri as the hill town adds more beauty to the art-form contemporary to the jazz culture in Mumbai. Dehradun was the first city to invite cabaret in India. 

Although the tradition of hill-top partying in mid twentieth century was not only restricted to 
the live music, ball room dances and bold entertaining acts but also the auctioning of kisses, ranging from 5rs to 300rs (at the time of mid nineties), and the risque affairs were also common in the city. In fact there was a place called Scandal Point" in Massoorie about which the author/photographer Ganesh Saili describes for the "husbands who wanted to avoid their wives and wives who wanted to avoid their husbands" recalling the cabarets at The Savoy and Hakmans. Because of all this first world scenes, Mussoorie was well referred as the "pleasure capital of the Raj" and a "carefree station away from officialdom" where royals and soldiers could chill and get loose and even women had their share of fun.

LOVE FOR FOOD

NOT EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT IT

Food and places, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Dehradun is a lovely city. The weather is great, the girls are beautiful, the boys are smart so what else do we need?

YES, Food.

Here is how a foodie, living in Dehradun should plan his daily food routine considering these below mentioned places and its specialty.

Something to start with your day.

Every street has its own specialty. It’s very difficult to make the choices. To come to a conclusion was not easy, from tea to shakes, a variety of momos, burgers and lots more.
Being a pahadi it is hard to live without tea. (Only pahadi’s will get that)
There are hundreds of tea vendors in the city but not everyone has something missing.

To mention few best in the city:

1. If it is the morning tea then visit Ram Uncle, Tilak Road. The tea of the place tastes same every day and the Bun-Makkhan is the best in the city.
2. If it’s too late in the night then you might not get many options but Joshi ji opposite CMI Hospital.

And when you think of Breakfast the first thing that will come to your mind is the PARATHA’S so yes, we have a special place for that too.
PAHALWAN KE PARANTHE KHAE NAHI KYA?

1. Then you must go and eat at Pahalwan. It is a dabha kind of a place near DIT university which serves variety of parantha’s from a regular aloo parantha to special chicken parantha.
2. Another thing that you would not like to miss is the special KACHORI-JALEBI, ALOO-POORI at hanuman chowk and CHOLE KATLAMBE at sharanpur chowk. The crispiness of the kachori, the sweetness of jalebi, the mouth-watering smell of the Chole-Katlambe is what will make your breakfast complete.

For the afternoon delicacies.

After a tiring first half, maybe because of boring lectures or hard time at office one needs a proper tasty and filling lunch. US DA DHABA is my first choice. US DA DHABA is right behind the district court. It is a pure-vegetarian Dhaba but the food you get is amazing. The plate starts from Rs.50 and most expensive plate is Rs.120. They serve naan, kulche, missi roti’s, dal makhana, rajma, chole,paneer and KHEER. The place is a perfect place for lunch.

Some other places where you can enjoy your lunch:

1. Gagar, Kargi Chowk.
2. Doon Darbar, Inamullah Building.
3. Chillies, Nehru Colony.

For a good evening snack.

There are lot of places that will make your evening. The speciality of the city is the fast food and MOMO’S are love. You will find momo’s in every street of the city with different shapes and different tastes. You can find a number of varieties of momo’s as people love to experiment with momo’s. Types of Momo’s Veg Momo’s, Chicken Momo’s, Mutton Momo’s, Paneer Momo’s, Cheese Momo’s, Afgani Momo’s, Achari Momo’s, Tandoori Momo’s, Fried Momo’s etc.

  Best places to enjoy Momo's in the city:

1. Lala Ji Ki Angeethi, Chakrota Road, Near Bindal Pul.
2. Raj Fast Food Corner, Jogivala.
3. Bobby , Patelnagar.
4. Siliguri, Clement Town.
5. Shagun Fast Foods, Suri Chowk, Race Course.
6. K C soup bar. Jakhan, Rajpur.

Another speciality of Dehradun is BUN-TIKKI. It is yet another delicious thing also known as the Indian Burger. The tikki is made up of potato and again the taste varies to place to place.

Best places to enjoy Tikki/ Bun-Tikki in the city are:

1. Gupta ji, Patelnagar. 
2. Thakur ji, Nehru Colony.
3. Dwarka chowk vale, EC Road.
4. Ahuja, Near Rispana Pul.

Spring Rolls(Dry/gravy), Manchurian(Dry/gravy),Veg kababs, chicken lolipop, Paani-Puri, Chats, Burgers are some other delicious food items that one should try.

Best places to drink special things in the city:

1.  Grand Juice Corner: (DO TRY CHIKU-OREO), Karanpur.
2.  Fresh Juice Corner, Paltan Bazaar.

If it’s Dinner time when you get on with your beast-mode.

The best place to have dinner is your own home. But if you want to spend some quality time with your family then you may visit:

1.  Doon Darbar, Inamullah Building.
2.  Black Pepper, Astley Hall
3.  Kumar Vegeterian, Rajpur Road.
4.  Bawarchi, ISBT.

Bon Appetit!


The Author Siddhant kala is a student of Media and Communication at School of Communication, Manipal University and a resident of Dehradun. Currently Siddhant is working as a intern at Liberal Arts Productions, Dehradun. He is passionate about writing and photography.

Connect with the author:

Email: sid19kala21@gmail.com
Instagram: pahadipandit

The Beatles Dehradun Connecition.

Beatles Love For Doon

John Lenon (middle) and Paul McCartney with their guitars on and Ringo Starr watching them tune it up in ashram.
PC. thebeatlesinindia.com

Little did Doonites would have imagined, that the worlds biggest Rockstars of all time will tribute a song to their city. All these big and small things about Dehradun is what makes the city a one of its kind.

When one of the most influential group in the world of rock music were too tired of handling the fame and attention of the western media, guess where they decided to visit for mental peace and serenity. India. And that was the first time the western world realized the spiritual powers India holds within itself.

The quartet not only visited India but also composed a humming soulful song dedicated to the city of Dehradun which they visited more than twice in the spring of 1968 while their stay in Rishikesh. The serene mountains on the foothills of Himalaya’s not only fetched them tranquility but also enhanced their creativity by many folds and they ended up composing several songs some of which were even added to their famous “white album”.

The quartet visited India to learn about the art of Transcendental Meditation in order to find inner peace and boost up their creativity, under the guidance of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his ashram in Rishikesh, which is now popularly known as the "Beatles ashram". The ‘fab fours’ were much impressed with the beautiful roads beside the mountains and lace especially the culture of the inhabitants. All this mesmerizing experience of Dehradun made them sing an ode to the beautiful city.

The song was never released to many decades and was just mentioned in the documentary called The Beatles Anthology, till recently when it got released on Youtube. The musical treat to the lovers of Dehradun was recorded in the famous Trident Studios, London in march 1969 when all four of them sat together remembering the scenic Indian city and the good old days beneath the Himalayas. The lyrics of the song goes something like this : 

“Dehra Dehra Dun, Dehra Dun Dun 

  Dehra Dehra Dun Dehra Dun Dun...

  Many roads can take you there 

  Many different ways 

  One direction takes you weeks 

  Another takes you days

  Many people on the roads 

  Looking at the sights

  Many others with their troubles

  Looking for their rights

  See them move along the roads

  In search of a life divine 

  Beggars in a gold mine…

  Dehra Dehra Dun, Dehra Dun Dun. ”

The link of the Youtube video is below:

Although it was mostly a group effort but the "Dehradun Song" is said to be sung and composed by George Harrison, the guitarist one of  the quartet. While in India he was spellbound with the art of transcendental meditation and many other customs of Hinduism. He latter became a disciple of Lord Krishna composing Hare Krishna Chanting Mantra in Trident studios after associating with Swami Praphupada, the founder of International Society of Krishna Consciousness widely known as ISKCON. 

Picture of George Harrison in Radha Krishna Temple

PURUKUL

RIVER HIDES IN THE MOUNTAINS 

Purukul Gaon, Rajpur, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Picture courtesy: Siddhant kala

It is a place which is known to very few people in the city. The place is very close to Robbers cave (Guchupani).
Purukul got popular firstly among st the youngsters where they could go, hide and drink, make chicken and enjoy. But slowly the villagers started having a problem with outsiders coming to the place as the place was no picnic spot.

The river flowing through the village is the Tons river which is the largest tributary of the river Yamuna. The water of the river is used for drinking and that is the reason the place is not meant for the tourists or for picnic.

But the students make their way out somehow. The police did a regular patrolling and the villagers also got into fights a number of times with the people visiting the place. They even started to take the entry fee/parking fee which was not legal.

At present there is a board which says that this river water is used for drinking and not meant for picnic or washing clothes. Still a few people go against the law.

Abhimanyu Cricket Academy is one of the best Cricket academy in the city is nearby. Many great cricketers have visited the academy.
Kasiga International a renowned boarding school is also in Purukul.

Purukul is famous for the Purukul Youth Development Society. They support underprivileged children with poor financial background. They provide them with free education and guide them towards a better future. They won the India NGO Awards 2016 for running a successful fund raising in the year 2016.

River Stone Cottage is a Bar/Restaurant in the purukul village. The place as a great ambience with the view of the flowing river on the side.
The place was changed a lot after the Kedarnath tragedy of 2016 but people have not stopped visiting the place.

Camera Specifications Used:

• NIKON D 5300
• F-STOP: F/7.1
• EXPOSURE TIME: 1/125 SEC
• ISO SPEED: ISO 100
• FOCAL LENGTH: 20 MM
• MAXIMUM APERTURE: 3.7
• WHITE BALANCE: AUTO
• NO FLASH
• EDITED VIA ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS6

The author siddhant kala is a student of media and communication at School Of Communication, Manipal University and a resident of Dehradun. Currently Siddhant is working as an intern at Liberal Arts Productions Dehradun. He is passionate about writing and photography. This photo was taken when he reached the place and the rain had just got over.

Connect to the author:

Email: sid19kala21@gmail.com
Instagram: pahadipandit

SAHASTRADHARA

A VALLEY, A RIVER AND THE MOUNTAINS

Sahastradhara, Rajpur, Dehradun, Uttrakhand.

Picture Courtesy: Siddhant kala 

We Bunked schools and tuition to explore the city. And while exploring we came across another heavenly place in the city just few kilometers away from the rush. Trying to hide itself in the blanket of nature from the world.

The beauty of nature cannot be defined. The name Sahastradhara means “Thousand-fold springs". 14 kilometers away from the city this is one of the best picnic spot in the Doon Valley. River Baldi flows through the place. There are number of waterfalls and caves at the bank of the river.

Sahastradhara has number of water pools where water drips from limestone stalactites thus making the water rich in sulfur. The place is also known as sulfur springs which has its own medicinal benefits. The water of the region is fit for vegetation and the terrace farming is majorly adopted.

There is a water park just above the flowing river named Joy Land. It is a small water park with very few swings and some water slides but it still attracts a lot of tourists. The place also has a very old Shiva temple along with the caves of Guru Dronacharya.
Another thing that catches the eye of the tourist is the rope way which is the way to the temple and the Sahatradhara park. It provides a beautiful view of Sahastradhara.

The place has number of food joints where one can have good time with friends and family.
The best time to visit the place is during the summer season from April-July. Anytime of the day is suitable to visit the place.

If you are a localite then avoid the place on the weekends.  In the peak season and on weekends it’s very difficult to reach the place because of the traffic as people from nearby states visit the place in large numbers and it’s difficult to find any car of the local number plate.

Camera Specifications Used:

• NIKON D 5300
• F-STOP: F/4.5
• EXPOSURE TIME: 1/1600 SEC
• ISO SPEED: ISO 200
• FOCAL LENGTH: 18 MM
• MAXIMUM APERTURE: 3.6
• NO FLASH
• EDITED VIA ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS6

The author Siddhant kala is a student of media and communication at School of Communication, Manipal University and a resident of Dehradun. Currently Siddhant is working as an intern at Liberal Arts Production as a content writer. He is passionate about writing and also photography.

Connect with the author:

E mail: sid19kala21@gmail.com
Instagram: pahadipandit

MALDEVTA

SUN SETS IN PARADISE

A Natural beauty, Maldevta, Raipur, Dehradun, Uttrakhand.

Picture Courtesy:  Siddhant kala

Maldevta is a beautiful place in the Doon valley. It is another picnic spot where friends, family, groups enjoy the calmness of the surroundings and enjoy the beauty of the nature. River song flows through Maldevta. Being covered by mountains on the sides the water of the river song feels as fresh as a daisy and the water is icy.

Maldevta is far from the city around 10-12 kilometers away. It is the way to Tehri district of Garhwal. The road to Maldevta is very beautiful and almost perfect. On the way to Maldevta is the famous Sports college, pump house and also the shooting range.

It is just few kilometers from Raipur. Raipur has major offices of Ordinance Factory Dehradun and Opto Electronic Factory. Pyrites, Phosphates and chemicals Limited(PPCL) was shut down in the early 2000’s but the name is still famous because of a hidden water fall. The water fall has a height of around 30 fts. and the place is very beautiful. To reach the waterfall is not easy and neither it is safe.

The village where PPCL is known as Thano and it is said that the forest region around the village has wild boars, wild bears which makes the place a little unsafe. This is the reason not many people know about the place nor many visit it. The place has witnessed quite a few accidents’ where people have paid through losing their lives.

There are lots of hidden places on the banks of the river which attract a lot of tourists. Maldevta farms is a farm where tourist camp on the river bank. The food at the place is delicious and nutritious too. The place has professionals to take care of the campaigners.

The best time to visit the place is during the peak of the summer season i.e. April to July. The hot sun and the cold icy water of the song river with a hot cup of tea is I guess the best combination for the summers. It is a must visit place for the tourist coming down to Dehradun else the trip will remain incomplete.

Camera Specifications Used:

• NIKON D 5300
• F-STOP: F/22
• EXPOSURE TIME: 1/100 SEC
• ISO SPEED: ISO 100
• FOCAL LENGTH: 18 MM
• MAXIMUM APERTURE: 3.6
• WHITE BALANCE: AUTO
• NO FLASH
• EDITED VIA ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS 6

The author Siddhant kala is a student of media and communication at School Of Communication, Manipal University and a resident of Dehradun. Currently Siddhant is working as an intern at Liberal Arts Productions Dehradun. He is passionate about writing and photography. This photo was taken while he was returning back from Maldevta after a wonderful day with his friends.

Connect to the author:

Email: sid19kala21@gmail.com
Instagram: pahadipandit

Buddha Temple, Dehradoon and Truths About Lord Buddha's Life.

 A Spiritual Escape To Buddhism

103ft statue of Lord Buddha in Buddha temple, Dehradun. PC. The Dehratdun Project

Buddha Temple, Dehradun: A  Buddhist temple built to protect and promote the Tibetan culture, enlightening people to the teachings of Lord Buddha and his life.

So when you visit a giftedly scenic city called Dehradun for the very first time and one thing you just can’t overlook, other than the beautiful mountains and the place’s own distinctive culture, is the strong hold of Tibetan Buddhists in the city and its tourist attractions which makes the city’s culture more diverse and magnificent. 

Buddha Temple in Clement Town is one big proof of the aforementioned fact. A Tibetan Monastery’s look-alike temple was said to be built to protect and promote the Tibetan Culture in the city. The temple has a 103 feet high statue of Lord Buddha which is built in the honour of Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibetan People. Being a best place which provides a peaceful as well as spiritual ambiance in the city, it gets the highest number of foot falls every day compared to city’s other tourist attractions.

A one of the most fascinating thing about the temple is its wall paintings which beautifully shows the life events of Buddha. Hence compels a person to wonder more about Buddha’s life and his teachings.

So let us know some of the amazing facts about Lord Buddha that we generally aren’t aware of.

How Lord Buddha was conceived.

So any idea how Buddha “is believed” to be conceived? Legend says, some ten months before the birth of Buddha, the queen of Shakya, Maya (Buddha’s mother) saw a dream in which a white elephant with six tusks entered her from right side. This is the part where the fine line between myth and reality blurs a little in Buddha’s Life which suggests him being other-worldly and divine.

The white elephant with six tusks. Photo : Golden Statue of Puxian

Lumbini was not his hometown. 

When Queen Maya became pregnant, she had to leave Kapilavastu for her father’s place to give birth as a mandatory Shakya tradition. However she could not complete the journey in time and gave birth to Lord Buddha on the way under a sal tree in Lumbini which is today believed to be the birth place of Buddha in present day Nepal.

Photo : Queen Mayadevi Temple in Lumbini, Birthplace of Lord Buddha

According to the prophecy, Lord Buddha was either destined to be a great ruler or a sage.

Just after the birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha), Asita, a renowned astrologer of that time, visited Buddha’s father, King Sudhodana making a prophecy that Gautama would either become a powerful king or world’s most influential ascetic, if he happens to see the world outside the palace.

Asita shown prophesying infant Buddha's life, painted by Solias Mendis

Buddha after visually encountering some harsh truths of human life decided to abandon his royal life to go on a spiritual quest.

And when the king heard the prophecy, he made all the arrangements so that Buddha doesn’t leave the palace walls and made sure he did not for years. But his destiny had some other plans and he came out to witness a series of encounters of truth called “four sights” which finally compelled him to go on a spiritual quest abandoning royalty and materialism at the mere age of 29. After which he found his enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, passed his wisdom to his followers in Sarnath and finally died in Kushinagar.

Picture  describing the "four sights". PC. Blogger

All the teachings and the information we presently know about Buddha was never jotted down for 400 years of his death and was passed through oral tradition.

Till 400 years after Buddha’s death, people did not have anything written about his life events or his teachings. All the information were first summarized and then memorized by his followers and passed to each generation followed through oral tradition. The first text about Buddha was appeared in the Edicts of Ashoka.

 Oral culture in India. PC. martripblog

Was Buddha elder or younger to Mahavira?

Because of the oral tradition of passing information, historians and the scholars have never been accurate to the facts about Buddha’s life. Buddhist tradition believes he lived from 563 BCE to 483 BCE and hence was elder to his contemporary ascetic, and founder of Jainism, Mahavira. But while some major group of present world historians believe he was born approximately between 411 BCE to 400 BCE which suggest he was younger to Mahavira. So who was the elder one? Go ahead and read both of them and compare their wisdom. You’ll eventually get to know. However result can be subjective to person to person.

Photos of Lord Buddha (left) and Mahavira. PC. Quara

Was Lord Buddha raised in India or in present day Nepal before his enlightenment?

The other most debated thing about Buddha’s life is where exactly he grew up. Buddhist tradition says he lived in Kapilavastu for the first 29 years of his life but, the exact site of the ancient Kapilavastu is not known. Either it was Piprahwa in present day Uttar Pradesh which ensures his upbringing in India or, some 20 kms away, it was Tilaurakot in present-day Nepal. So the debates goes on as who will take the credit of Buddha’s baby-sitting.

PC. Livewallpaper