The Forest Research Institute (FRI) is India's oldest and best-known forestry institute, set in a green campus of about 450 hectares on Chakrata Road in Dehradun, about 7 km from the Clock Tower. For visitors, the star is its huge main building: a long red-brick structure with arches, columns and courtyards, styled in a mix of Greco-Roman and colonial design by the architect C. G. Blomfield and opened in 1929. It is now a national heritage site.
People come to walk the wide lawns, photograph the building, and see the six forestry museums inside, with giant tree sections, timber, insects and forest products. Many Hindi and South Indian films were shot here, including Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, Paan Singh Tomar and Student of the Year, so it often feels familiar even on a first visit.
A short history
FRI began as the Forest School of Dehradun in 1878 and became the Imperial Forest Research Institute in 1906, first at Chandbagh (where the Doon School is today). The present campus was taken up around 1923, and the main building was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Willingdon, in 1929. It was once listed in the Guinness Book as the largest purely brick building in the world. In 1991 FRI became a deemed university, and the campus also houses the academy that trains Indian Forest Service officers.
Why visit FRI
A grand heritage building
Long red-brick corridors, arches and courtyards that look straight out of a film set.
Six forestry museums
Giant tree sections, timber, insects, plant diseases and forest products, all under one roof.
Green lawns and old trees
Wide lawns and avenues of tall trees with the hills of Mussoorie behind them.
Main things to see at FRI
Main building and front lawn
Walk the arcades and courtyards and take the classic photo from the lawn in front of the building.
Timber Museum
Huge cross-sections of old trees, including a slice of a giant deodar, and samples of Indian woods.
Entomology and Pathology museums
Insects that live on trees and the diseases that harm them, shown in old glass cases.
Silviculture, Social Forestry and NWFP museums
How forests are grown and managed, and the products they give us, from resin to bamboo.
Distances from FRI
Timings and entry fees (from May 2026)
- Campus open roughly 9 am to 5:30 pm; museums roughly 9:30 am to 5 pm, ticket counter closes around 4:30 pm.
- Museums are often closed on Sundays and gazetted holidays; check before a weekend visit.
- Entry: ₹100 per Indian visitor, ₹1,000 per foreign visitor.
- Museums: ₹150 per Indian adult, ₹1,500 per foreign adult, ₹30 per school child and ₹50 per college student in groups.
- Parking: about ₹50 for two-wheelers, ₹100 for autos and ₹150 for cars and taxis.
Before you go
- Carry a photo ID for every adult.
- Stay on the visitor routes; offices, labs and the forest academy are not open to tourists.
- Photos for personal use are fine on the lawns; film shoots and professional shoots need permission from FRI.
- The campus is big; wear comfortable shoes and carry water.
- Combine it with Tapkeshwar Temple and Robber's Cave for a full day in Dehradun.
FRI Dehradun FAQs
What is the FRI Dehradun entry fee in 2026?
Since 25 May 2026, entry is ₹100 for Indian visitors and ₹1,000 for foreigners. The museums cost ₹150 extra for Indian adults. Parking is charged separately.
What are the FRI Dehradun timings?
The campus is open roughly from 9 am to 5:30 pm and the museums from 9:30 am to 5 pm. Museums are often closed on Sundays and holidays.
Is FRI Dehradun open now?
Yes. It was closed from January 2026 for security and repair work and reopened to tourists on 25 May 2026.
Which films were shot at FRI?
More than a dozen, including Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein, Krishna Cottage, Paan Singh Tomar, Student of the Year and Student of the Year 2.
How much time do I need at FRI?
One hour for the building and lawns, two to three hours if you also see all the museums.
