Dehradun has malls, but that's not really where the city shops. The good stuff is in the old bazaars, the seasonal markets and small shops that have served the same families for two or three generations. Your mother probably bought your school sweater from one of them.
Here's where to go and what's worth bringing home.
Paltan Bazaar
Paltan Bazaar starts at the Clock Tower and runs down from there. It's the oldest and busiest market in the city, and it has a bit of everything: clothes, shoes, woollens, spices, dry fruits, basmati rice and household stuff. Expect narrow lanes, crowds and a lot of noise.
What to buy: woollens in winter, spices, Doon basmati.
Local tip · park outside and walk in, and keep your bag in front of you when it gets crowded.
Right next to it, Moti Bazaar has wholesale-style shops, book depots and some of the city's most famous street food. Plan a food break into any Paltan Bazaar trip. Our street food guide tells you where.
Indira Market
A short walk from the Clock Tower near Darshan Lal Chowk. This is where you go for everyday clothes, footwear and accessories at reasonable prices.
What to buy: casual clothes, bags, shoes.
Local tip · polite bargaining is normal here.
Tibetan Market, Parade Ground
Opposite the Parade Ground, rows of stalls sell winter jackets, woollens, caps, bags and shoes. It's at its best in the colder months, when fresh winter stock comes in.
What to buy: jackets, sweaters, caps and gloves.
Local tip · go early in the season, around October and November, while there's still plenty to choose from.
Woollen shops
Dehradun has a long history of woollen shops, especially in and around Paltan Bazaar. Urvashi Wool House and Bareilly Wool Bhandar have been around for years, and Himalayan Weavers in Old Rajpur focuses on handloom.
What to buy: shawls, sweaters, handloom pieces.
Pahadi stores and local produce
More and more shops in the city now sell produce from the Uttarakhand hills: pulses like gahat and rajma, pahadi salt, honey, millets like mandua, and handicrafts. You'll find pahadi stores around Ballupur and Doon University Road, and organic shops around Bangali Kothi.
What to buy: honey, rajma, millet flour, pahadi salt, handicrafts.
Bookshops
Dehradun reads a lot, probably because of all the schools. The English Book Depot near the Clock Tower is one of the city's best-known bookshops, and Moti Bazaar has several book depots. If you want a mall bookstore, Crossword is in Unison Mall.
Malls
For branded stores and cinemas, the malls on Rajpur Road and elsewhere cover the basics. Handy on a rainy day, but nobody comes to Dehradun for them.
What to bring home from Dehradun
- A box of rusks or cheese straws from an old bakery (see our bakeries guide).
- Doon basmati rice.
- Pahadi honey and rajma.
- A woollen shawl or a handloom stole.
- A book from one of the old bookshops.
How to bargain without being awkward about it
Ask the price first, then offer a little less, with a smile. Nobody expects you to accept the first number.
Bargaining is normal in Paltan Bazaar, Indira Market and the Tibetan Market. It isn't done in branded shops or malls.
Buying two or three things from the same shop gives you more room to negotiate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous market in Dehradun?
Paltan Bazaar, starting at the Clock Tower.
What is Dehradun famous for buying?
Basmati rice, rusks and bakery items, woollens and pahadi products.
Where can I buy winter clothes in Dehradun?
The woollen shops in Paltan Bazaar and the Tibetan Market near the Parade Ground.
Find more on Doon Dekho
Browse Explore → Shopping to see every market and shop in this guide with directions.