With the mercury in Haryana's Ambala climbing past 40 degrees Celsius, the scorching summer has changed the way people spend their days. A holiday no longer means simply staying home under a fan; for many it now means escaping with family to somewhere cool and green. That is exactly why large numbers of people from Ambala are currently heading to Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand.
The shift is visible right at the bus stand
This pull towards the hills, in search of relief from the heat, is plainly visible at the Ambala Cantt bus stand, where the number of passengers boarding Dehradun-bound buses keeps rising. Amid the harsh June sun, Dehradun's greenery, cool breeze and calm surroundings are drawing people in. Ever since schools broke for the holidays, families have been making Dehradun a top choice for spending a few days with their children in natural surroundings. From early morning the stand sees a steady flow of travellers, and several buses are leaving almost completely full.
Several buses a day, four of them Haryana Roadways
Speaking to TrendKia, Bahadur Singh, the stand incharge at Ambala Cantt bus stand, said several buses run daily from Ambala to Dehradun. Four of these belong to Haryana Roadways, while the rest are from various depots that ply this route regularly. Of those four Roadways buses, two are from the Ambala depot, while two belong to the Chandigarh and Kalka depots and make the up-and-down trip every day. Buses from other depots also operate on this route at their fixed times.
He explained that the first bus leaves Ambala Cantt at 3:30 AM, while the last bus departs for Dehradun at 3:30 PM. These buses reach Dehradun via the Yamunanagar bypass, Saharanpur, Chhutmalpur and Bihaaripur.
Fares and seating
According to Bahadur Singh, the fare for an ordinary Haryana Roadways bus from Ambala Cantt to Dehradun is around 230 rupees, with special concessions provided to senior citizens and children as per the rules. Each bus has roughly 52 seats, giving passengers a comfortable journey. Seats are also reserved for women so that they face no difficulty during travel.
Passengers do not need any advance booking for a ticket; the conductor issues it once they have boarded. Keeping the severe heat in mind, water is arranged on the buses as well. On the long journey, the buses halt for 10 to 15 minutes at major stoppages and also pause at roadside dhabas along the way for meals.
Ambala to Dehradun bus timings
Bahadur Singh said any traveller who needs the bus timings or other details can get the information from the enquiry counter at the Ambala Cantt bus stand. Buses from Ambala to Dehradun are available at 3:30 AM, 6:00 AM, 8:05 AM, 8:40 AM, 9:50 AM, 12:50 PM and 3:30 PM. Buses from Dehradun to Ambala are similarly run at regular intervals.
He added that this growing rush towards Dehradun in the summer shows that people no longer want to confine their holidays to the four walls of their home, preferring instead to spend time with family in natural, peaceful surroundings.
