The Best Hotels to Book in Dehradun, India

A gleaming modern stopover, set among patches of greenery on the southern outskirts of Dehradun, Seyfert Sarovar Premiere promises a calm night’s sleep after a busy day exploring museums and temples. Being away from the cramped centre means plenty of space to spread out your things; big, bright rooms with dignified decor and smart wooden floors come with large bathrooms with walk-in showers or tubs. Another perk is the house restaurant, which whips up impressive Northwest Frontier cuisine.

The Dehradun Ramada edges into the northern suburbs, handy for Himalaya-spotting day trips to Mussoorie or spiritual detours to the Sikh town of Paonta Sahib. The hotel itself is a tidy, stone-faced tower, mixing a business-friendly outlook with quirks such as a bar in the swimming pool and a brewpub under a glass canopy on the roof. Bright, angular rooms have a Nordic simplicity, with big, white beds, designer floor lamps and lots of comforting natural wood.

North of downtown and extremely convenient for the Mussoorie Road and a string of waterfalls and beauty spots in the hills, Four Points stakes out its own space in the suburbs, with a baffle of trees to remind you that you’re close to those emerald hills. Rooms are positively cavernous, with big windows that let in foothills views, and the bathrooms get increasingly lavish as you move up through the classes. The rooftop terrace restaurant will lift you above the city.

The mall setting might be a surprise, but the Dehradun Lemon Tree is a stylish stay, with a terrace restaurant looking over a sea of trees. It’s a good primer before you head to Mussoorie on the road that passes in front of the hotel. The focus here is on a restful night’s sleep, which means good sound insulation and blackout curtains in every room. The decor is calm and understated, adding to the relaxing mood, and the best rooms have valley views.

Part of a cluster of comfy hotels in the northern ‘burbs, Hotel Skyring makes the most of an elevated position with great views over the city rooftops towards the hills. Spotlessly clean rooms have a certain chalet quality, with lots of wood panelling and swatches of red or blue adding a splash of colour. It’s an easy-going overnight stop on the way towards Mussoorie, and there’s an unpretentious restaurant (and upscale eateries nearby at nearby hotels and malls).

Edging towards the centre, Lemarq compensates for an urban setting with good service and a contemporary design aesthetic that leans more towards Europe than India. Rooms are full of tasteful shades of grey, with striking herringbone floors, and the two-tone, Wedgwood-style frontage hides perks such as a big spa bath for guests and a rooftop terrace with soaring city views.

In a leafy neighbourhood north of the centre, Hotel Boulevard puts its wares proudly on display through a futuristic glass frontage. There’s a rooftop terrace garden and restaurant sheltered by canopies and a branch of the hip traditional clothing store Fabindia. Follow corridors lined with curving bookshelves to large, inviting bedrooms with light and dark wood themes and a guest library with a sofa overlooking the city.

In the calmer, greener part of Dehradun, Hotel Madhuban is a peaceful stop for trips north into the Himalayan foothills. The 2.5ha (6-acre) grounds put the city hustle at arm’s length, and rooms span a wild range of styles, from classic Indian hotel rooms to heritage-inspired suites and plush, purple Imperial rooms. There’s a solid world-food restaurant, an outdoor tandoor barbecue and a 1920s-inspired cocktail bar.

There is, indeed, a hint of Greek portico about the frontage of this striking hotel on the way north towards Mussoorie and a hint of English Regency about the rooms inside. Upbeat rooms come with wooden floors, paintings of trees in super-saturated colours and striped fabrics that bring to mind the aprons worn by Tibetan women (who you’ll often see around Mussoorie). Take a wander around the lobby level to view giant prints of landmark pieces of architecture.