Brief History of the District:
The district is named after the town Dehradun, which itself has two words Dehra and Dun or Doon. Dehra is derived from Dera which mean a temporary staying place and Doon means a valley. In the period of Aurangzeb, this area was a dense forest with dangerous wildlife. Ram Rai Guru of Udasi Sikh was ordered by Aurangzeb to camp there to retire in the wilderness of the Dun, He had pitched his tents at the place which is now in the Khurbura locality of the town. Ram Rai had also built a temple near Dhamawala . Around the two sites, grew up the town, popularly known as Dehra. The term Dun or Doon means, the lower plains in the foot of mountain range.
In early times the area covered by the district was included in Garhwal which according to the Skanda Purana was Kedarkhand, the abode of Kedara or Shiva. The district is associated with Ramayana and Mahabharata. Rishikesh and Tapovan are associated with Rama and Lakshmana. According to a legend, they came on the advice of the sage Vashishtha to do penance for killing Ravana, the Brahman king of Lanka. Among the pre-Aryan inhabitants of the region, the most important were those known by the name Asuras. The early Aryan settlers had to encounter these deadly foes at every step. After the fall of Yakshas, Nagas and Asuras (who were the earl y inhabitants of the region), the people who came were Kirats, Kunindas and Khasas. According to local tradition, the next ruler of the region was Raja Virat, whose capital was Bairatgarh or Bairatgarhi (above Kalsi in pargana Jaunsar Bhabhar) and who gave his daughter Uttara in marriage to the Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu. After Mahabharata, the Kauravas were exterminated and the Pandavas regained their supremacy over the area and Subahu’s descendants ruled here for some time as tributaries of the kings of Hastinapur. The people who eventually emerged as the dominant elements in this area were, however, the Khasas who presumed to have ruled over different parts of the region down to the time of Mauryas, in whose empire the region was included, the fact being supported by the presence of Ashoka’s rock edicts at Kalsi, near Haripur in pargana Jaunsar Bhabhar. In 635 AD the Chinese Pilgrim Hiuen Tsang visited the kingdom of Srughna, which may have included a part of the Doon.
At the beginning of the 12th century the bulk of the area covered by the present district of Dehradun formed part of the dominion of the Garhwal Raja and the tract of Jaunsar Bhabhar was under the sway of the raja of Sirmur or Nahan, now being in Himachal Pradesh. Beginning wit h Garhwal king Kanakpal, the area was ruled by many rulers, prominent among them being Bhaktipal, Vikrampal, Vichitrapal, Sonpal, Hanspal, and Ajai Pal who was succeeded by Kalyanpal and the later by Sunder Pal during 1398 A.D. Sunder Pal was succeeded by Hansdeo Pal and later by Vijai Pal and the next Raja was Sahajpal who lived about 1425 A.D. and whose successor was Balbhadra Pal. It was this Raja, also known as Balbhadra Sah and Bahadur Sah who is said to have changed dynastic cognomen from Pal to Sah. At the time of the reign of Kirti Shah in the year 1791 this area was attacked by Gorkhas. This region was again attacked by Gorakhas in 1803. On 20th October 1814, the Gorakhas were defeated by virtue of help from British army. As a reward Dehradun was handed over to British by the then ruler.
Several administrative changes took place in the district after its annexation to British Empire. In he year 1815, the tract comprising tahsil Dehradun was added to the district Saharanpur. In 1825, however, it was transferred to the Kumaon division. Till then, the pargana of Jaunsar Bhabhar was under the charge of British resident at Delhi. In 1828 Dehradun and Jaunsar Bhabhar were placed under the charge of a separate Deputy Commissioner and in 1929, the Dehradun district was transferred from Kumaon division to Meerut division. Since then Jaunsar Bhabhar also appears to have become integral part of Dehradun. In 1842 a resolution of government annexed the Dun to Saharanpur district and placed it in charge of an officer, subordinate to the collector and magistrate of that district with the designation of superintendent. But since 1871, it was being administered as a separate district. After 1951, Tehri Garhwal was carved out and the district was merged within the Meerut division till 1968, when it was transferred to the Garhwal division. Now Dehradun is declared as the capital of newly created state of Uttarakhand.
Physical Features :
Location and size :
The district is situated in the North-Western part of the state. The district lies between 29 degree 57’ and 31 degree 2’ north latitudes and 77 degree 35’ and 79 degree 20’ east longitudes. It is bounded in the east by Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal and Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh is in the west, Uttarkashi is also in the north while its southern boundary is formed by Hardwar and Saharanpur districts of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh respectively. In the western border Tons and Yamuna rivers demarcate its boundary with Himachal Pradesh. The district covers an area of 3088 sq km.
Physiography :
District Dehradun is a part of western Kumaon Himalaya. Siwalik and Duns form the scheme of regional divisions. The entire district consists of montane and sub-montane tract. The montane tract covers the whole of Chakrata tahsil of the district and consists of a succession of mountains and gorges. The mountains are very rough with steep slopes. Below the montane tract, lies the sub-montane tract, which is the famous Dun valley bounded by Siwalik hills in the south and outer scarp of the Himalayas in the north. On the basis of geology, soils, topography, climate and natural vegetation, the district has been divided into the following five sub-micro regions.
Tons Basin :
The region covers the western half of the Chakrata tahsil. It is more wider in north-south direction than in the east-west. The area is known as ‘Jaunsar Bhabhar’. It is approximately 1000m high in southern part which gradually ascends to 2000m. height in north. Chir Dhar is the main ridge, situated in the northern part. The region is spread over an area of 300.23 sq km.
Yamuna Basin :
The region covers major part of Chakrata and small segment of Dehradun tahsil. The watershed line of Tons and Yamuna separates the region from Tons Basin in Chakrata tahsil whereas it extends parallel to Yamuna river in a narrow belt in Dehradun tahsil. Physiographically the region has hill characteristics but there is a large difference in the altitudes, as 500m. contour runs through the southern part whereas 2000m. traverses in the northern zone. The main peaks in the region are Bhuchkoti and Dwar (2563m.), Meghar (2153m.), Kanawa (2079m.). There are small ridges separating the catchments area of the streams. The ridges have great impact on the climate, agriculture and other economic activities. Forest coverage is not very extensive. This region is spread over an area of 511.25 sq km. There are three towns namely Chakrata Cantt., Vikasnagar and Harbertpur which fall under the region.
Mussoorie Hills :
The region is situated in the north of Dun valley along the district boundary. It is south-western part of the lower Himalayas. Topography of the region is dissected due to denudation by the agents of erosion. These hills have steep slopes towards south. The network of contours varies between 1200m and 1800 meters in this region. The northern part is higher but this height decreases towards south. The main peaks are Mangra Top Tibba (2612m.), Dhanaulti (2510m.), Banog (2264 m.), Mussoories Gun Hill (2142m.), Bhadra (2110m.), Satli (1976m.) etc. Kalimati hills are relatively lower and situated in the southern part. The main rocks found are quartz, slate and limestone. This region is spread over an area of 456.95 sq km.
Dun Valley :
The region is situated between the lesser Himalaya and the Siwalik which is prominently known as ‘Duns’. It is flat floored valley in the western part of the Himalaya which is 25 km. wide and 75 km. long. The height varies from 300 to 900 meters from the mean sea level. There is a narrow chain of highland tracts in the centre which traverse in north-south direction and separate the drainage system from west to east. Soil erosion along the rivulets in the eastern part is an important physical feature. Much of the area of this valley is under reserved forests having dense mixed trees predominantly the sal (Shorea robusta) trees. The region is spread over an area of 1409.88 sq km.
Siwalik :
The region is situated in the southern part along the district boundary. It has a narrow shape which extends in the east-west direction. There is a chain of continuous hills known as Siwalik range. Average height of the region is 600 meters from the mean sea level. The height decrease towards west. The main peaks are Doiwala (899m.), Tundawala (834m.), Sunargarh (728m.) etc. This region is completely covered with reserved forests. It is spread over an area of 409.69 sq km. The region is composed of Pleistocene and Miocene. Sedimentary deposits, High base status oils (Udalfs) are spread over the region.
Drainage :
The drainage system of the district comprises two distinct tracts, the montane, which includes Chakrata and Kalsi tahsil and submontane, which includes Dehradun and Rishikesh tahsil. The Montane tract is in shape roughly an oval with its major axis lying north and south. Tons and Yamuna are the main river of this tract, the ridge separates the drainage area of the Tons that of Yamuna. The ravines are deep and sudden in their descent. The sub-montane tract is an irregular parallelogram in shape with its longer axis lying almost due north west and south east. To the south they present a steep face scarred by frequent precipices. On the north a long gentle declivity slopes inwards and forms a longitudinal shallow valley terminated by the outer range of Himalayas. The drainage of the valley is born by two rivers Ganga, flowing towards east and Yamuna, to west. The drainage fall is, therefore not so abrupt as in similar formations where it is carried steeply through a break in the Siwalik direct to the plains. The surface of Dun undergoes constant changes. A multitude of torrents pours down from the Himalayan hills during rainy season. They carry with them an immense volume of water with the result the stream beds widen until they carry a very long space.
The main rivers are Ganga, Asan, Suswa, Song, Yamuna & Tons. Ganga touches the district at Rishikesh about 16 km lower, it receives the waters of River Song and Suswa. It leaves the district near Hardwar after forming the boundary between Dehradun and Garhwal. Yamuna river rises in the Uttarkashi district and enters the district at a point in ‘Khat Bandar’, about 20 km due east of Deoband, there receiving the small stream called the Riknar Gad. A few km lower down it receives another similar stream the Khutru Gad, and is joined by the Amlawa, a stream which rises at the southern base of Deoband mountain. About 3 km further to the west on Chakrata Road, it also receives the waters of western Ton’s. Tons river is the chief affluent of the Yamuna in the district. It forms the boundary between the district and the district of Sirmur (in Himachal Pradesh). At Kalsi, it joins and merges into the smaller but more illustrious Yamuna.
Climate :
The temperature of different of the district area in the district depends very largely on the elevation. In general, the climate is temperate. There are mainly four seasons viz. the period from about the mid of November to February is colder and termed as winter season followed by summer season till nearby the end of June. The monsoon or rainy season is from July to approximately third week of September while successive this period, till the middle of November, is the post monsoon or transition season. During the year 2009 the maximum temperature recorded was 41.3 degree C while the minimum temperature was 3.7 degree C.
Winds are generally light during the winter season, passing western disturbances affect the weather over the district, causing occasional thunder-storms and sometimes accompanied with hail. Thunder-storms occur during the summer and monsoon seasons also. Fog occurs occasionally during the cold season. In the winter the higher peaks are under snow. The actual annual rainfall recorded was 1624.7 mm in the year 2009. Generally valleys are warm during summer as against being intensely cold during winter and snow falls at low altitude of 4000 feet.
Natural Economic Resources :
Forestry :
The district is endowed with rich forests chiefly stocked with Sal. Total area under forests in the district is 203659 hectares which is 55.8 per cent of the total reported area of the district. The flora of the district includes a vast range varying from tropical to alpine species owing to the variation in altitude. Sal (Shorea robusta)is the main timber species. Other species found in the forests are Chir, Deodar (Himalayan Cedar, Cedrus deodara), Shisum (Dolbergia sissoo), Sagwan (the teak tree, Tectona granlia), Banj, Burans, Khair (Acacia Catechu), Poru, Fai and Ringal (Himalayan bamboo, Arundinaria falcata). In the hilly forest ranges numerous medicinal forest herbs are found, in addition to the species of trees which are of economic and industrial importance and useful for construction work as well as a source of revenue. Besides supplying fuel, fodder, bamboos and medicinal herbs, they also yield a variety of products like honey, lac, gum, resin, catechu, wax, horns and hides. Malshan fibers and leaves, kanak champa leaves, harra bahera and aonla, rohini seeds and kamlela powder are also extracted from the forest. The industries with forestry, situated at Dehradun are Forest Research Institute, Indian Forest College and Northern Forest Ranges College. These institutions were established here about the year 1880.
Minerals and Mining :
Mineral deposits of limestone (including marble), dolomite, phosphate and gypsum (Used to make plaster of Paris) are found in the district. Limestone occurs more or less at the boundary of upper Kraals and red shades. Gypsum occurs as ventricular masses of varying sizes running along the bedding direction of dolomites and appear to be a replacement of upper krol dolomites.
Soil :
District Dehradun may be divided into two geographical divisions. First division consists of tahsils Dehradun, Rishikesh and Vikas Nagar, which is more developed. Second division, which is mostly hilly tract falls under Tyuni, Kalsi and Chakrata tehsil. Major portion of the forest is plain, where water is found between 50 and 350 feet below the surface. In the latter, being hilly tract, hauz (reservoirs) and tanks are constructed for use of surface water. Broadly there are three kinds of soils found in the district. In the eastern part clay is found. In the areas surrounding Dehradun city good quality loam is found. In the western part light loam is found. In the hilly tract, especially in Chakrata tahsil stony loam is prevalent. In the local terminology in the Chakrata tahsil, the kinds of soils are further divided into three types, naming them ‘Kyari’ (or irrigated), ‘Ukari’ (or un-irrigated) and ‘Khil’ which is considered to be good soil. It appears that people in the hills generally do not discriminate between soils on the basis of their composition as in the plains. Agriculture in the Dun valley is carried on the same way as in the plains, but in the hill areas it requires hard labour and skill. On the slopes of hills and the sides of ravines, the fields have to be cut in steps, one above another and are called terraces. Terraced fields form the backbone of hill cultivation.
Land and Land use pattern :
The district is composed of mixed kind of land. In the hilly area it is undulating while in tarai it tends to south-east. Land use pattern of district Dehradun is different from other districts of the division. According to the statistics as reported in Statistical Magazine in the year 2008-09 the total reported area of the district was 364830 hectares, out of which, net area sown was 46247 hectares, occupying 12.7 per cent of the total reported area and 55.8 per cent area of the district is covered under forests. Rest 31.5 per cent land use accounts cultivable waste of 44870 hectares, barren and uncultivable lands of 3975 hectares, present fallow of 5770 hectares, other fallow of 8092 hectares, orchards of 14596 hectares and land use other than agriculture of 22868 hectares.
Tenancy :
After the enforcement of the Kumaon and Uttarakhand Zamindari Abolition and Land Reforms Act, 1960, the old land tenures were abolished. This Act replaced the multiplicity of tenures existing in the region by three types: the bhumidhar, sirdar and asami. The intermediaries became bhumidhars in respect of groves held by them. Those who were hissedars (shareholders) and khaikars became bhumidhars in respect of lands in their actual possession. A sirdar has a permanent and heritable interest in his land holdings but can use his land only for agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry, although he can acquire bhumidhari rights under the provisions of the Act. An asami’s right is heritable but not transferable or permanent and he can be ejected from his holdings.
Agriculture and Crop Pattern :
As per 2001 Census 25.8 per cent people are engaged as cultivator or agricultural labour in the district. Throughout the district there are two harvests – the kharif (autumn crop harvested after the rainy season), sown in June or a little earlier in the hills and reaped in September and October and the rabi (winter crop), sown in October – November and reaped in March in the plains and in April and May in the hills. The chief crops grown in the district are rice, pulses, barley, wheat, maize and mustard. Many kinds of rice are grown in this district, Dehradun is famous for Basmati rice. Sugarcane is sown around Dehradun. The chief crops of the Kharif are rice, mandua, jhangora and sonk with the pulses, urd and kulath. Another important crop is tur (or arhar of the plains). Paddy is one of the most important food crops in the district. It requires good quantity of rainfall or suitable irrigation facilities and fertile land. Maize is also sown in some areas. Sugarcane is an important cash crop. Wheat is the principal crop of Rabi and is grown in almost all parts of the district. It is normally sown alone. The dried stalks of the wheat plants make good fodder for cattle. Barley is another important Rabi staple. Gram, peas and mustard are also grown in the district. Vegetables and fruits form an important proportion of Zaid crops. To augment the output of crops, agriculture department is providing improved seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. to the farmers and time to time training programmes are held to provide knowledge to the farmers regarding improved techniques and new agricultural implements being introduced. Efforts are also being made to increase fertility of the soil by taking necessary steps to prevent soil erosion.
As per Sankhikiya Patrika in the year 2008-09, the area under wheat was 20700 hectares, paddy 11498 hectares, maize 10659 hectares other cereals 83134 hectares, pulses 1706 hectares, sugarcane 4966 hectares, potatoes 949 hectares and oil seed 710 hectares. Distribution of fertilizer in the above period was 1428 m ton Nitrogen, 614 Phosphorus, and 86 m ton Potash through different outlets in the district. The production of main crops during the above period was wheat 19.04 q. per hectares, maize 15.89, paddy 20.74, pulses 6.78, sugar cane 64.14, potato 174.95, oil seeds 5.04 q. per hectare in the district.
Irrigation :
The main sources of irrigation in the district are canals, tube wells, masonry wells, hauz (reservoirs), hill gulls and pumpsets. Only 41.9 per cent of the net area sown is irrigated. Largest area of 12337 hectare is irrigated through canals which constitutes 63.6 per cent of the total irrigated area, followed by 3792 hectares (19.6 per cent) irrigated through hauz, diggi, wells and other sources. A very small area i.e. 3253 hectares (16.8%) of the total irrigated area is irrigated through tube wells and other wells. According to the statistics available for 20089-09, the district had 882 km. long canal network, 118 government and 266 private tube wells, 30 masonry wells, 632 pump sets, 1697 hauzes, 2948 km. long gulls and 168 high drums.
Animal husbandry :
Domestic animals are of great importance in Jaunsar Bhabhar where people generally lead an agricultural or pastoral life. Attempts are being made in the district to improve the quality of the local breeds, specifically of cows and buffaloes, by natural and artificial methods of insemination. Cows and buffaloes are the main sources of milk while male cattle are used for ploughing the fields, some being selected for breeding purposes also. The hill cattle generally differ from those of the plains in build, particularly in size, sheep and goats are also reared in great number, both for meat and wool. Pigs are also reared for their bristles and meat.
Livestock census of 2003 revealed that the district had 449903 cattle, among them bovine population was 187908, buffaloes 71685 sheep 22176, goats 116672, horses and ponies 2571, pigs 7272 and other animals 41618. Poultry birds numbered 359300 and others 331. Improvement of breed of the cattle is an integral part of the activities of animal husbandry department of the district. To meet the pedigree of bulls, there is one artificial insemination centre with 65 sub centers. Beside these, there are 31 veterinary dispensaries, 43 animal development centers, one animal breeding centre, 2 sheep development centers, one pig development centre, one piggery unit and 2 poultry farms. The district is not sufficiently self reliant in milk production. To fulfill the requirement milk is imported from Saharanpur district. For improvement in the milk production 355 milk co-operative societies are functioning in the district. Through these milk societies, improved fodder is provided, animals are vaccinated and womenfolk are trained in dairy farming. There is only a government dairy farm at Kalsi with capacity of 20 thousand liters.
Fisheries :
The rivers of the district swarm with fish, the chief being the mahaseer. Other kinds of fish are trout, saul, chal, giri, rohu, kalabans, pathali, bam, dola and sua. For the improvement of fishery, a fish development authority has been established in the district. There is one fishing farm which has a capacity of 2 lakh fingerlings per annum. More ever, fisherman are being trained and fingerlings are being provided.
Industry :
Booming economy of any area depends largely on establishment of industries. District Dehradun is lagging in this respect. Among large scale industries there has been one big factory mainly Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. India at Rishikesh, which is not functioning. For the development of industries the District Industries Office is functioning, where entrepreneurs are provided information, training, economic assistance etc. under single window. Under Factory Act, 1948, 418 factories are registered. Under medium and small scale industries, main items manufactured are sugar, textiles, medicines, woolen garments, bakery products, chocolate, khandsari, tea, malt, timber goods, steel furniture, liquor, ayurvedic medicines, rosin and turpentine, leather products, musical instruments, miniature bulbs, medical instruments, agricultural implements, utensils, and metal goods. Under village and cottage industries, items manufactured are spinning and weaving of wool, handloom cloth, durries, oil, jiggery, apiary products, pottery products, brick and leather goods. Dehradun district has four prominent industrial area namely Central Hope Town (Selakui) area, Patel Nagar area, Mohebbey wala area and Laltappar area. There is one of the largest Pharma city located at Selakui and I.T park at Sahastradhara road. Dehradun is a big centre of sericulture. It is the largest producer of silkworm cocoons in the state. About 25 mulberry farms have been established in the district to enable the silkworm reapers to grow silkworm cocoons. They are provided silkworm seeds. The silkworms develop into cocoons, which provide the basic raw material for the production of silk. There is a Government Central Silk Farm at Premnagar in Dehradun tahsil.
Trade and commerce :
The trade of the district has always followed two main channels: one, between the valleys and the plains and the other, between the valley and the hills. The valley area exports to plains principally timber, bamboo, lime, charcoal, catechu, fine rice (basmati), potatoes, and tea, and importing hardware of all sorts, cotton cloth, blankets, salt, sugar, food grains, dried fruits, and spices. The plain area exports coarse blankets (lohi), rice, ginger, turmeric, red pepper, walnuts, apricots, honey, timber and potatoes to the valley. Lime is the chief export of the district. Dehradun, Rishikesh and Vikasnagar are the main trade centers of the district. Dehradun is an important market for rice which is in great demand in the distant markets of Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. Ayurvedic medicines are exported to big centre of country.
Transport :
Transport and communication are the basic infrastructure needed for the development of an area. Till 2008-09, the district had 3339 km. long road network. Dehradun is well connected by road as well as rail transport with rest of the country. It is connected by rail route with Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Allahabad, Indore, Ujjain, Kathgodam and Amritsar. It is 254 km. away from Delhi by road. Dehradun and Rishikesh are the terminal railway stations in the district. There are 1766.53 km roads are managed by P.W.D. 784 km, roads by local government and remaining 788.47 km roads are managed by other departments.In the district Dehradun is also connected by air network. Jauligrant airport is about 25 km from Dehradun.
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