ANJALI YADAV/Dehradun
On a typical weekend evening along Rajpur Road, the change is noticeable. Cafes stay open longer, music spills onto the streets and parking stretches deep into residential lanes. For many in Dehradun, the city’s growing nightlife marks a new chapter. For others, it signals the fading of an older, quieter rhythm that the city was once known for.
Doonites in areas like Rajpur Road, Ballupur and Dharampur say that the shift has been gradual but unmistakable over the past few years. The rise of pubs, late-night cafes and live music venues is reshaping how the city spends its evenings.
Geeta Chauhan, who has lived in Dehradun for decades, said that the transformation is visible in everyday life now. “Earlier, the city would wind down early and the nights were calm. Now the traffic, noise and chaos last much later into the night than before. Development is needed, but the change feels too fast sometimes,” she said.
“Devbhoomi is losing its charm. If this were all limited to certain areas, like we earlier associated Rajpur Road for such activities, it would have been fine, but I don’t like the overall change,” Chauhan added.
Mamta Singh, whose family lives near the Sahastradhara Crossing, said, “The pubs and the rising nightlife are also the reason behind the rising crime rate.If you look at the major accidents that have taken place lately, including the ONGC Chowk case, all happened due to late-night drinking and rash driving. Police should implement hefty fines on these,” she said.
Younger residents, however, see the shift differently.
Muskan Bisht said that the city finally offers spaces where young people can spend time without having to travel to cities like Delhi or Gurugram. “There are more places to go out with friends now. Earlier the options were limited. It makes the city feel more active and connected,” she said, adding that rising prices at some venues still make frequent outings difficult for students. Professionals returning to the city are also shaping the trend. Utpal Tiwari, who moved back to Dehradun after working in Delhi for three years, said that the change reflects the expectations of people coming home after years outside Uttarakhand. “People are used to a certain lifestyle. On weekends in Delhi, I would frequently go to Hauz Khas or Majnu Ka Tila, but that culture was lacking here until a few years ago. I am happy that we have those things here now as well. I know many people, including my parents, aren’t happy about it, but that’s life. We all need to change with time,” he said. Pub owner Amit Goel said that weekend crowds have grown steadily in recent years. According to him, many customers now seek live music, DJs and themed evenings, something that was rare in the city a decade ago.
Still, elderly residents and other concerned citizens say that the conversation is not just about entertainment. Parking pressure, late-night noise and traffic inside residential pockets remain causes for concern.
