New drafts would stay at the camp for up to several weeks carrying out route marches and close order drill to get used to the hotter climate.
[7] During the Second World War the camp also boasted cinemas, swimming pools, amusement parks and restaurants for the troops.
[1][3] The term is a contraction of the original form "Doolally tap", where the latter part is derived from "tapa" ("fever" in Hindustani and "heat" or "torment" in Sanskrit).
The camp was often full by the end of summer with soldiers awaiting troop ships; new arrivals in this period often had to sleep on the floor owing to a lack of beds and suffered from sand flea bites.
Men were allowed to spend time in the nearby city of Nasik which offered numerous gin bars and brothels; as such venereal disease was common.
Malaria, which can affect the brain, was also common in the Deolali area and remained a major issue for the British Army right through the Second World War despite the development of anti-malarial drugs.
Despite its reputation the Deolali area actually has a milder climate than nearby Mumbai or Pune, though it was known to be incredibly dusty in the period leading up to the monsoon.