My 24 year old son has decided to accept an internship for 5 months in Dehradun( northern India).Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts on Dehradun? He plans on leaving in the next month and I am concerned about the monsooon season over there even at that altitude.Some of my questions are: what city in the US would it be similar to or is it more like Mumbai or Delhi? His father and I think that he is nuts so would appreciate any imput if you know anything.Thanks!

no city in india is in anyway similar to a US city....

did you mean size, etc??

I was thinking of its size and intrastructure. Also, in terms of its people and culture is it more like Delhi,Mumbai or Calcutta but on a smaller scale. AND would you go especially during monsoon season? Thanks so much!

Dehradun is in the Himalayan foothills and is a region of great natural beauty. The climate, too, is nicer and cooler than the rest of India. No it is nothing like Mumbai or Delhi. It is much smaller, both in size and population. As rhkkmk has said, there is no rough equivalent even of any city in the US to a city in India.

Would you go for 5 months?

I have not been to Derhadun, but I know that it is not too far north of Delhi. It is primarily known as a place for Sikh pilgrimages, and its proximity to the Himalaya the town of Mussorie, and to the holy town of Rishikesh on the Ganges. I don’t think there are even a million people in the city, so it is quite small by Indian standards (and even by US standards or European standards for cities, i.e. London and Paris have populations of 7 and 9 million respectively; Mumbai has like 19 million people).

I personally don’t think he is nuts at all, and think this will be a great experience for him. I travel to India about once a month for business and it is one of my favourite places in the world, and certainly one of the friendliest, safest, has the best food (personal opinion) and a fantastic mix of cultures and religions. He will not come back the same person. I would not worry about his personal safety nor the monsoon. North India is not Calcutta in terms of the amount of rain nor the flooding it experiences. The monsoon will break in about mid-June or late July.

I would agree that there is not city in India that is remotely like any US city. In many ways this is good, for example you won’t have to worry about crime. In others, he may find that the electricity may go off from time to time every day in his apartment, and he may not have any phone service (other than a mobile phone, which he should get as soon as he arrives). He probably won’t have a phone line for a PC unless he is in a hotel, but he will find cybercafés all over the place and mobile phone coverage is generally better than in the US. As I don’t believe there are a lot of westerners in Dehradun, he won’t find a lot of Western foods or convenience products, but for 5 months and at that age, I believe he can survive; and Indian food is marvelous. He will learn to love Hindi and Punjabi films....

I would be glad to say that I hope Dehradun is not like Mumbai, which is hugely crowded and has awful traffic and is quite polluted. Delhi is a great town in parts, mostly New Delhi, but would be a challenge to live in as well, IMO. As Dehradun is much smaller in population and is not a growth centre like Mumbai, it should be much more laid-back, and its elevation will give it a much more pleasant climate. You should consider going to visit at the end of October, just when the weather is starting to become very pleasant indeed.

I would make sure all his immunizations are up to date, including Hep a and B (may be too late to start, but a gamma gobulin injection may help), Tetanus and polio I don't take malaria meds at all (I live in Hong Kong and travel all over SE Asia), not sure if he wants to start the process. Go to the cdc website for info. Also look at weatherbase.com for rainfall and temp info.

I've been to Dehradun a long time ago. Its a small city located in the Doon valley about 200 kms north of Delhi. The weather is much cooler than the rest of India because of the higher altitude. I wouldn't worry about the monsoons. It definitely is not like Mumbai and Delhi, which are much larger, crowded cities. I, also, don't think he's nuts to go there for five months. It will be a definitely be an excellent experience for him and like Cicerone said, he won't come back the same person.

Yep - I've been to Dehradun.

Eight years ago - as a tourist - just passing through. Needing to get from Himachal Pradesh to Calcutta.

It features on the IR network and so that is why I was there.

It's an OK sort of place. Like so many other small Indian towns I passed through. It is NOT in any way similar to any place in the US. I can't imagine how you think it could be.

My hat is off to your son. Good for him!! If it rains, it rains. He will handle it. I guess he isn't expecting a McDonalds on every corner.

Thanks for the replies everyone! Just a quick note-my son went to college in another country and also did two semesters of study abroad in Europe in two different locations so he definitely thinks outside of the box for an American kid. He has always loved Indian food;does love Hindi movies,etc.so I think that he will adjust in that respect?
I quess part of my problem is that he is leaving a great paying job here in the states to do "volunteer finance work" in that region before he decides on grad school.His father and I concerns about his health more than anything. We have friends who have had several friends who have gone to India for extended periods and have come home with interesting parasites that sometimes needed surgery.
Any other tips or info-thanks!

Perhaps you shouldn't worry so much, as mothers are prone to do, because all you can do is take the necessary precautions as everyone has said. Also realize that if your son doesnt like his job, regardless of how well-paying it is, then he should be finding something he does enjoy because life is far too short.

Duty- I told you about my DDs trip earlier, but I just saw this and remember that she liked Dehradun (not just because her name is similar to the city!).

She just started a new job this morning or I'd call and her opinion on Dehradun. I'll have to wait till she gets home this evening.

Thanks Icuy for any information. He just got the first of SEVEN shots this past weekend so the ball is rolling........

Well, with that many shots, he should be invincible!

My daughter said she liked Dehradun. the were actually living for a couple of weeks outside the city on a seed farm. She said it is a very pretty area and the people and weather werd both nice.

She thought it would be a good spot to spend a long internship.

Thanks for the tips-I feel better? After him getting the first of his "rabies and Japanese Encephilitis"(sp?) shots, I got nervous..........

yea, that rabies shot was kind of thought provoking...

And we've called the other the Japanese Elephant shot, ever sind DD couldn't remember the real name one day!

Hi...I grew up in Dehra Dun. It was beautiful back then (in the 70s) but has changed radically since. The monsoon season just deluges the whole city with endless rain...I mean endless rain. Tell him to take anti malraia meds if he is nervous. Otherwise, Dehra Dun is absolutely beautiful and there are plenty of nice places nearby...Rishikesh, Haridwar. The five months will fly by in no time, but the experience of DDun will remain forever. I went to a boarding school there and I have the fondest memories! Good Luck!

I am an American. I am not sure what you mean about thinking "outside the box" as many americans travel (We get that stigma from Europeans but I have met tons of Europeans that have never traveled abroad). I made it for 2.5 months backpacking and it was fine. If anything the north is much better for health as you don't have the heat and humidity of south india. Doctors are great in India but the facilities are not like what we are used to. He will be fine. Just tell him to avoid the ice. I managed to only get sick once my whole trip and ate with the locals and ate street food all the time. Tell your son to enjoy.

Congrats on your 2.5 months backpacking.

You say you've met tons of Europeans who have never travelled abroad.

But I bet there are tons and tons and tons of Americans who couldn't find a major European capital on a map.

Would you care to supply statistics on the number of Americans who have travelled overseas? That would be interesting.

Personally I have backpacked for a bit more than 2.5 months and have met far fewer Americans than I have Danes, Swedes, Irish, Kiwis, Ozzies, Germans, French, Dutch, Japanese, etc. etc.

Could you offer an explanation for that?

Hey don't hijack my thread!!!!!!

Well said dutyfree! When does your son leave? It is a fantastic oportunity for him. An experience he will never forget and will really grow from.
J