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Dehradun also sometimes spelled Dehra Doon, is the provisional capital city of the Uttarakhand state in India, and the headquarters of Dehradun district. It is located in the Doon valley, 250 kilometres north of Indias capital New Delhi and the Delhi metropolitan area. The district is surrounded by theHimalayas in the north, Sivalik Hills in the south, the river Ganges in the east, and the river Yamuna in the west. The water divide of Ganges and Yamuna passes through the city. It is also located on the northwestern side of the fertile Gangetic plains of India. Before the creation of Uttarakhand on November 9, 2000, Dehradun was a part of Uttar Pradesh. Its name is derived from the words Dera meaning a camp and Dun, meaning a river valley. Dehra is also a reference to the Gurudwara of Ram Rai, the son of Guru Har Rai. The origins of the city can be traced back to a rock inscription, which states its existence in 300 BC. Dehradun is an important centre of education in North India and has many famous residential schools, the Doon School being the most famous of all. One of the best research institutes is the Forest Research Institute, which houses six museums, showcasing a variety of botanical species and animal life.
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