Dehradun /ˌdɛrəˈduːn/ is the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand in the northern part of India. Located in the Garhwal region, it is 236 km north of India's capital New Delhi and is one of the "Counter Magnets" of the National Capital Region being developed as an alternative centre of growth to help ease the migration and population explosion in the Delhi metropolitan area. Dehradun is in the Doon Valley on the foothills of the Himalayas nestled between two of India's mightiest rivers — the Ganges on the east and the Yamuna on the west. The city is famous for its picturesque landscape and slightly milder climate and provides a gateway to the surrounding region. It is well connected and in proximity to popular Himalayan tourist destinations such as Mussoorie, Nainital and Auli and the Hindu holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh along with the Himalayan pilgrimage circuit of Char Dham.Dehradun is renowned for its natural resources, publishing services and particularly for its prestigious educational institutions. It is one of the highest rain receiving areas of North India. It hosts some of India's best schools and training institutions of national importance such as the Indian Military Academy. It is home to national foundations such as the Ordnance Factory Dehradun and Opto Electronics Factory of the Ordnance Factories Board and the Defence Electronics Application Laboratory and Instruments Research and Development Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation which manufactures products for the Indian Armed Forces. Other institutions include the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Survey of India, Wadia Institute Of Himalyan Geology, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Wildlife Institute of India and the Forest Research Institute.The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun is locally known as Nagar Nigam Dehradun. Other urban entities involved in civic services and city governance and management include Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority, Special Area Development Authority, Jal Sansthan, and Jal Nigam among others.
