FRI Dehradun: The best destination for Movie and Reel Lovers
If you’re a movie buff or content creator, FRI Dehradun is one of those places where your camera just doesn’t want to switch off.
On our Chakrata–Dehradun road trip, we thought we’d stop at FRI Dehradun for “a quick look.” Instead, we ended up turning the lawns into a reel studio and the corridors into a full cinematic playground. It’s not just another tourist spot; this campus has hosted Bollywood films, web series, and music videos and still manages to feel calm, green, and surprisingly welcoming.
This is your complete, best‑friend-style guide to FRI Dehradun—what it is, why filmmakers love it, and how you can plan your own movie‑style visit.
What Is FRI Dehradun, Really?
Let’s start with the basics before we jump into camera angles and movie trivia.
FRI Dehradun stands for Forest Research Institute, a premier forestry research and training institute under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education. It began as the Imperial Forest Research Institute in 1906 and moved to its current, much larger campus in the 1920s. The main building, styled in grand Greco‑Roman and colonial architecture by British architect C.G. Blomfield, was inaugurated in 1929 and is now recognized as a National Heritage structure.
The campus spreads over about 450 hectares, with the central brick building complex itself covering several acres surrounded by wide lawns and tree‑lined avenues. Inside, FRI Dehradun houses six themed museums on forestry topics like timber, social forestry, pathology, silviculture, non‑wood forest products, and entomology.
So yes, FRI Dehradun is a serious academic and research institution. But visually? It’s straight out of a big‑budget film set.
Why Movie Makers Love FRI Dehradun
If you’ve ever watched a Hindi movie and thought, “Yeh college itna fancy kahan hota hai?”—chances are, a few of those scenes were shot inside FRI Dehradun.
Indian news and vlog sources list FRI Dehradun as a favorite shooting location for Hindi cinema because of
- Its long, symmetrical corridors with tall columns
- Vast, perfectly manicured front lawns
- A main façade that looks like a cross between an old British university and a government palace
Over the years, more than half a dozen films and songs have been shot here, including:
- Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein
- Student of the Year and Student of the Year 2
- Paan Singh Tomar
- Bunty Aur Babli
- Krishna Cottage
- Dulhan Ek Raat Ki
- Lakshya
- Genius and Dear Daddy
and several Punjabi songs like “Sajjan Raaji,” “Mai Teri Ho Gayi,” and others, plus ads like a Bournvita commercial and series like Puncch Beat.
Walk through the arches of FRI Dehradun, and you’ll constantly get déjà vu moments—”Yeh toh SOTY wala corridor lag raha hai!” That’s the fun of visiting as a movie or reel lover: you’re not just sightseeing, you’re walking through scenes you’ve already watched on screen.
First Impressions: Arriving at FRI Dehradun
As you drive towards FRI Dehradun, the city noise slowly fades and long tree‑lined roads start to frame your view. Then the main building appears: a huge red‑brick structure with massive white columns, long wings stretching on both sides, and a central dome that dominates the skyline.
Even before you enter, FRI Dehradun gives you:
- A wide front lawn for that classic “walking towards the camera” shot
- Clean, symmetrical lines every content creator dreams of
- Enough open space to shoot without constantly bumping into people, especially on weekdays or early mornings
For us, it felt like entering a real‑life film set where nobody was shouting “pack‑up!”
FRI Dehradun Timings, Entry Fee and Permissions
If you want to plan your shoot and avoid last‑minute surprises, here’s the practical side of FRI Dehradun:
- Visitor timings: Most recent visitor guides list FRI as open to visitors from around 9:00 am to 5:30 pm every day.
- Museum timings: The museums follow similar hours but are often closed on Sundays and public holidays, so check this if you specifically want to see the exhibits.
- Entry fee (campus): Entry to the main campus grounds is generally free.
- Entry fee (museums): A small ticket—around ₹40 for Indian visitors and ₹200 for foreign nationals—allows you to enter the museums.
- Camera/photography fee: Some sources mention a separate, modest fee for cameras, especially if you’re doing extensive photography inside museums.
For casual reels, photos, and vlogs in the outdoor areas of FRI Dehradun, most visitors shoot freely, but if you’re planning a commercial shoot or using large equipment, you should always confirm permissions with the institute beforehand.
How to Reach FRI Dehradun
Another reason FRI Dehradun is popular with both locals and tourists: it’s a breeze to reach.
- Distance from city center: Around 7 km from Dehradun Railway Station and the main city areas.
- By air: Jolly Grant Airport is roughly 30–34 km away; taxis are easily available from the airport to FRI Dehradun.
- By rail: From Dehradun Railway Station, you can take an auto, cab, or local bus; it’s usually a 15–20 minute ride depending on traffic.
- By road: Autos, Vikram tempos, city buses, and app‑based taxis frequently run towards Chakrata Road, where FRI Dehradun is located.
If you’re on a road trip, you can simply add FRI Dehradun as your last or first stop while connecting Mussoorie, Rishikesh, or Chakrata.
What to See Inside
Even if you’re visiting mainly for reels and photos, take time to actually explore. FRI Dehradun is a perfect example of how heritage, education, and aesthetics can live together on one campus.
1. The Iconic Main Building and Corridors
The main building of FRI Dehradun is a huge Greco‑Roman-style structure with a central dome, long wings, and endless colonnades.
As a movie or reel lover, you’ll want to:
- Walk the long front lawn and shoot slow‑motion entry shots
- Use the central arch and pillars for dramatic framing
- Play with light and shadow in the side corridors, especially in golden hour
These are exactly the spaces that Bollywood loves. They can transform from “elite college campus” to “army training institute” to “government building” with a simple change of costume and camera angle.
2. The Six Forestry Museums
If you’re curious by nature, the museums inside FRI Dehradun are worth at least one lap. The institute runs six main sections:
- Social Forestry Museum
- Timber Museum
- Silviculture Museum
- Non‑Wood Forest Products (NWFP) Museum
- Entomology Museum
- Pathology Museum
They showcase everything from different wood species and forest products to insects, diseases, and conservation efforts. For students of botany, Ayurveda, forestry, or environmental science, FRI Dehradun is often described as a treasure trove.
Even if you’re “just” a creator, these exhibits can inspire storytelling—imagine a reel about how long certain trees take to grow versus how quickly we consume them.
3. Botanical Garden and Lawns
The lawns and gardens around FRI Dehradun are not just background decoration. There’s a botanical garden with various trees and plants, plus wide open spaces that locals use for morning walks and casual picnics.
For creators, it means:
- Natural b‑roll shots
- Plenty of clean backgrounds
- Space to experiment with transitions and creative movements without feeling rushed
FRI Dehradun for Movie Lovers: Spot the Scenes
Here’s the fun part. If you’re a fan of Bollywood, FRI Dehradun becomes a live treasure hunt.
Sources list a long lineup of films and shows shot here, such as
- Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein—romantic college vibes and iconic corridors
- Student of the Year and Student of the Year 2 – grand campus shots and outdoor scenes
- Paan Singh Tomar – parts of training and institutional visuals
- Bunty Aur Babli, Krishna Cottage, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki, Lakshya, Genius, Dear Daddy, Nanban, and more.
If you rewatch these movies before your trip, you’ll immediately recognize several angles once you’re inside FRI Dehradun. Make it a game: stand where your favorite scene was shot, recreate a frame, then put a split screen in your reel with the movie still on one side and you on the other.
FRI Dehradun for Reel Creators: Ideas You Can Steal
For reel and short‑form video lovers, FRI Dehradun is basically a content buffet. Here are some easy ideas to play with:
- Classic walk‑in transition: Start from the parking, cut to the main gate, then reveal the full building with a quick spin or zoom‑out.
- “Movie Location vs. Reality” reel: Show a shot or poster from a film, then match it with the exact spot at FRI.
- Outfit transitions in corridors: Use the long hallways for quick outfit changes or “before/after” transitions.
- POV shots: First‑person walk through the arches with trending audio—these do really well on Instagram for aesthetic locations.
- Golden hour “running through campus” shot: Use the long lawns for those dreamy, slightly filmy slow‑motion runs.
Because the building and lawns are so symmetrical, even beginner creators come away with surprisingly polished visuals from FRI Dehradun.
Best Time to Visit
To truly enjoy FRI Dehradun—and shoot comfortably—timing matters.
- Season: The weather in Dehradun is most pleasant from October to March, when the air is clear and not too hot.
- Time of day:
- Early mornings give you soft light, fewer crowds, and a calm vibe for wide shots.
- Late afternoons to golden hour are perfect for warm, cinematic frames of the building and lawns.
- Avoid heavy monsoon days (rain can limit outdoor shooting) and peak midday sun if you’re sensitive to heat.
If you’re planning a dedicated photography or reel session here, aim to arrive at opening time or around 3–4 pm so you can catch the best light.
About FRI on eUttaranchal, Entry Timings & Fees
How Much Time Do You Need at FRI Dehradun?
For a quick visit, 60–90 minutes is enough to:
- Walk the front lawns
- Take basic photos around the main façade
- Peek into a museum or two
But if you really want to soak in FRI, plan:
- 3–4 hours to explore all six museums,
- shoot multiple reel concepts,
- sit on the grass with chai,
- and just enjoy the campus, like a local.
Many visitors say it’s one of those places where you keep finding new angles and frames, so more time usually feels well-spent.
Etiquette: Respect the Campus
Remember, FRI Dehradun is first a working academic and research institute, then a movie location and tourist spot. A few simple courtesies go a long way:
- Keep volume down inside museums and near academic blocks.
- Don’t step on flower beds or restricted lawns just for “the shot.”
- Ask permission before doing large‑scale shoots or using drones; rules can change, and security staff are just doing their job.
- Carry your trash back out with you; the charm of FRI is its clean, open look.
The nicer we are as visitors, the longer places like this stay accessible for films, reels, and casual travelers.
