Dehradun Beach

Dehradun Beach is the kind of absurdity that shows how far the tourism board will go to sell a riverbank as a seaside escape, and it works only if you arrive with low expectations and a sturdy pair of flip‑flops. The 3 km arc of pale sand – actually a stretch of the river‑front at Rajpur – is lined with rickety palm‑and‑tin shacks selling masala‑spiced ice‑cream and “fresh” coconut water that tastes more like syrup. The best time to go is early summer, late May to early June, when the Himalayan breezes are still tolerable and the beach‑crowd consists mostly of overnight backpackers who have been told this is “the only beach in Uttarakhand”. Grab a seat under the faded blue awning of the Shakti Shack at the north‑end, order the aloo‑tikki with a side of chai, and watch the sun set over the river’s meander – the view is decent, but the real draw is the novelty of taking a selfie with a plastic palm. Skip the overpriced camel‑ride simulators in the centre; they’re a tourist‑aimed gimmick that stalls traffic and adds nothing beyond a photo‑op. Stay at the modest Riverside Guesthouse on Chakrata Road; it’s within walking distance and offers clean sheets, which is a rarity here. Two hours at most will give you the Instagram‑worthy shots without wasting the day on the empty promenade.

• Go early; crowds peak by 11am
• Local guides charge ₹500 — worth it for the stories