Diwali in Dehradun is as much about sharing mithai as it is about lighting up homes and meeting loved ones. With Dhanteras falling on November 6 and Diwali on Sunday, November 8, sweet shops across Rajpur Road and Paltan Bazaar are gearing up for the festive rush.
Whether you're looking for traditional mithai, Uttarakhand's much-loved bal mithai and singori, or something different for your gifting boxes, Doon has plenty of options. Here are five sweet shops and local favourites to add to your Diwali shopping list.
Anandam's history goes back more than 100 years, to 1901, when Lala Prahlad Swaroop Gupta arrived in Dehradun with his family and set up shop as "Prahlad Rewari Wale." It's the kind of place where the Diwali box has been the family tradition for generations.
Location: Multiple Outlets in Dehradun
A well-loved local sweet shop on Rajpur Road, Kumar Sweet Shop is known for traditional mithai and snacks. It's a convenient pick for a quick Diwali box, and it's popular with locals for both everyday treats and special occasions.
Location: Satguru Plaza, Rajpur Road, Doon Vihar, Jakhan
If you want sweets and savoury snacks in one stop, Bikanervala has several outlets on Rajpur Road. The Pacific Mall outlet is open from 8 AM to 11 PM, which helps with last-minute shopping.
Location: Multiple Outlets
No Diwali box in Dehradun feels complete without Uttarakhand's own sweets. Bal mithai is a chocolate-brown fudge made from khoya cooked in ghee until it turns golden brown and coated in white sugar balls. Singori is another khoya sweet, wrapped in a malu leaf. Both come from Almora in Kumaon, but they're widely sold in Dehradun, and bringing a box when visiting friends and neighbours is a local tradition. It's the one gift that tells people you're in Uttarakhand.
Location: Available at many sweet shops and bakeries across Dehradun.
For a gift that isn't a box of mithai, head to Ellora's, a Rajpur Road institution. Krishan Lal Gulati, an ex-army man displaced by Partition, opened it in 1953. It has been a Doon Valley favourite ever since, with a Mussoorie outlet on Mall Road. Regulars come for fresh rusks, cheese patties and the stick jaws that many leave with a bag of.
Location: 25, Rajpur Road
From century-old sweet shops on Rajpur Road to the unmistakable taste of Kumaon's bal mithai and singori, Dehradun has plenty to make Diwali sweeter. So, whether you're picking up a festive gift box, stocking up on family favourites or sharing a little Pahadi sweetness with friends, make sure these local stops are on your list. Happy Diwali, Doon!