LandsDowne
Landsdowne is a popular Hill station located at an altitude of 1700 meters and 260 Km from Delhi. Hill station is a perfect weekend destination to enjoy for the people who want to experience nature in its best form. It is a clean destination because of the presence of Cantonment and the Headquarter of Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army is stationed here. It is a very calm and beautiful hill station that is famous from the British Era and is surrounded by Oak and Blue Pine forest which adds more to its beauty.
π€π€ Why LandsDowne is famous
It is situated in Pauri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand. The name of the Hill station got its name from Viceroy of India Lord Landsdowne (1888-1894). It is the most visited destination because of the proximity to the capital of the nation. It is also famous for its meditation activities. Adventurous activities like Camping, Trekking, Boating, Bird watching, etc can be explored there.πΊπΊPlanning to Travel to LandsDowne
You can come to Landsdowne by using any convenient medium out of Road/Train/Flight depending on your convenience as it is well connected by all three means from Delhi and other major cities.
Road to LandsDowne
It is the most common medium of transport used by the people as It is about 41 km from Kotdwar and around 260 km from Delhi. It takes about 7-8 hours of journey to reach Landsdowne from Delhi via a bus, there are lots of Bus services of State Transport, and Private Volvo Buses are available between Delhi ISBT to Landsdowne. Regular bus services are also available from big cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur as well.
Alternatively, private cabs can be hired from both major cities, or the best option, if you can drive, is to have own vehicle and just drive till destination.
Train to LandsDowne
The nearest railhead (Broad Gauge) is at Kotdwar which is at just 41 km from Landsdowne. From Kotdwar you can easily catch Bus/Taxi to Hill station and reach within an hour or two. Two trains are running on a daily basis from Delhi to Kotdwar, and one 14041 departs at 0730 while 14044 departs at 2225 hrs daily from Delhi.
✈✈Flight to LandsDowne
Nearest Airport is Jolly Grant Airport situated at Dehradun at around 152 Km from Landsdowne. From Dehradun lots of Taxi and Bus services available to reach Landsdowne. The airport is well connected to Delhi and other major cities of the country by Air.
Best time to Visit LandsDowne:-
- The best time to spend your precious time is March to November which is Summer Season and charm of the station is precious in this season and will get a mesmerizing view of blossoms of flower at full swing. All activities like Rafting, Paragliding, Trekking, Camping is best enjoyed in this season.
- November to March which is Winter Season and it is very cold climate out there in Landsdowne in this season and must be avoided if you are planning to go with kids/ grandparents. Also, occasional snowfall makes the condition further troublesome if you are not acclimatized with the weather there properly in time. But for the adventure lovers and people who want to explore snow-covered peaks than it is the best time for them to visit.
- June to Mid September is the 'Monsoon time' which I suggest to be avoided as there are a lot of instances of Road Blockades en route to Landsdowne which can create traffic problems as well. Rivers get flooded which is another danger for spot sightseeing.
How much time required for LandsDowne:-
The time required to move in and around of Landsdowne is a minimum of 2-3 days as it has many popular and good spots in close proximity to the station which you must visit. Also, one day must be kept reserved for traveling or relaxing as well and also to cater for any unforeseen happening like a roadblock, traffic, etc.
➽➽ Places/things to do in LandsDowne:-
➤ Trekking & Camping.
If you are a lover of adventurous activities and want to avoid busy City hustle and Hotels than you must opt for Trekking and Camping there in Landsdowne. You can actually trek up to snow viewpoint and tiffin top whichever you may like. After trekking Camping can be explored at its best with the Bonfire and having your food in the open under the roof of the sky. If time permits, then please visit Pauri which is 82 km from town and then start trekking to Kandoliya temple which will give you awesome views of Himalayan peaks.➤ Wildlife & Birdwatching
Having a glimpse of the Tiger itself is amazing in it or not? then you must visit Kalagarh Tiger Reserve which is actually a northern part of Jim Corbett Park and is home to abundant varieties in terms of flora and fauna. Park is spread across 300 square kilometers and here you can enjoy your Jungle Safari and can get a chance to spot Tiger, Deers, etc. A nature walk in the forest gives you an epic opportunity to watch different types of birds and it is said that around 580 types of birds migrate every year to this location so a chance to spot different species lies here. September and October are ideal months to explore bird watching here.
➤ Boating
can be undertaken in Bhulla Lake which is very near to the town surrounded by forest. It is a man-made Lake which is maintained by the Indian Army so you can expect a clean and calm environment there at the lake. Lake is dedicated to the Martyrs of Garhwal Rifle and it is a perfect picnic spot for the family on a romantic trip to have Boating experience there. Lake remains open throughout the day from 0900 AM to 0600 PM except 1200-0300PM is closed for lunch.
Amusement park situated near the Lake is a popular attraction for kids which will definitely add colors to your journey. Lake can be well explored in the months of March to June and September to November as from June to September is Monsoon time.
➤ Photography
if you are in love with your camera then Landsdowne is a perfect spot for you to live with your love. It has the stunning beauty of nature and picturesque landscapes with Himalayan peaks which will give you to capture life time frames.
➤ Tiffin Top
which is also known as Tip N Top locally is as the name suggests, a hilltop and it is the highest point in the hill station. Located at a height of 1700 meters and at a distance of just 1.5 Km from the city center makes it a perfect spot to have breathtaking views of City from the top and also forest ranges can be seen from here. Top must be walked by foot if you can as mesmerizing beauty en route will thrill you and remain forever in your memory. Stay at Top in the night is very famous among newly married couples as it gives you scenic beauty added up with a calm atmosphere under a clear sky. Definitely, it is a place where you can spend your time with silence and romance fuelled by cold climate prevailing at night time.
➤ Bhim Pakora
It is a place known for its religious value and also for its beauty and located at a distance of just 2 Km from the city center. It is to be visited by foot (Trekking) only as the path leading to the Bhim Pakora is a rough patch and no such facility of transport is available to it. Here you can easily spot two stones balanced one above other and it is requested not to push those. You can visit it anytime in the year provided you must carry sufficient fruits and food with you because no arrangements will be there for having food. There are no entry fees to visit the place but the help of any guide or spotter should not be expected there.
➤ Kanvashram
Kanvashram is famous for its religious importance as per Hindu mythology. It is an Ashram Situated on the river Malini and surrounded by forest and hillocks. The accommodation facility is also provided by Ashram staff. It is believed that Shakuntala, stepdaughter of Sage Kanavan gives birth to Bharat here in this Ashram.
➤ The war museum
It is a defense museum located near the parade ground in the city. It is named after Victoria cross holder Darwan Sigh Negi. it is housing a collection of Uniforms, Arms, and Ammunition of Garhwal soldiers with rarest photographs of Generals and also contains a certification of origin of Garhwal Rifle here. You can visit the museum from 9 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to 6 PM in Summer, and 8 AM to 12 PM and 3 PM to 5.30 PM in Winter with an Entry fee of Rs 50 per person.
➤ Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple
It is located on a hilltop at an altitude of 2092 meters and at a distance of 38 Km from the city. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and to reach the temple you have to hire taxi up to village Gundalkhet followed by trekking of just 1 Km will land you in the temple premises. The Festival of Mahashivratri is well organized and popular among locals here. Temple has a Dharamshala where accommodation facility can be availed.
➤ St. John Church
The Church was made in 1936 and is located at the mall road itself in the city center. Beautiful surroundings and a great example of architecture make it a must-visit location for tourists.
➤ Marketing:-
The market remains open from 9AM to 8PM mostly and mainly Mall Road and its nearby area is the option for Marketing and also u can visit the Alaknanda market where you can shop for small items of silk, brass, etc. Shop just opposite to Garhwal Rifle camp is Javed"s shop where you can find leather items after bargaining. In Mall Road lots of Restaurants also available.it will take around 3 to 4 hours to explore the market on foot.
π‘π‘ Where to reside in LandsDowne
In the city, you can find a number of Hotels/Guesthouses and can select based on your comfort level. (Must try to reside in Homestay if possible at some distance from city). Good hotels from Five star to deluxe hotels are easily available. But surely you can check on any of the apps out of OYO/MAKEMYTRIP/TRIPADVISOR and many more.
ππ Services Available in LandsDowne :
- Mobile network YES of most of the operators
- Bank/ATM YES
- Hospital YES
- Pharmacy/Medicals YES
- Restaurants YES
- Bars YES Liquor shop is also available
- Automobile/Vehicle Repair YES
- Courier facility YES
- Massage & Spa plus Saloons. YES
- Police Station YES
Finally, its time to eat something in LandsDowne:-
- There are lots of cafes and Restaurants available in Landsdowne like Tipsy, Mithaas, etc where you enjoy your Food at any time. North Indian and Chinese foods can be easily traced to restaurants here.
- ππPlanning a long trip then you can follow-
Delhi - Nainital - Landsdowne - Pauri- Dev Prayag - Rishikesh- Haridwar-Delhi
ππNearby locations to LandsDowne to enjoy:-
- Delhi 260 Km
- Nainital 245 Km
- Rishikesh 100 Km
- Haridwar 120 Km
- Devprayag 75 Km
- Mussorie 170 Km
ππWorth to mention (please note):-
- Don't throw Plastic and spoil the beauty of Hill station
- Please left this beauty for our next generation to enjoy as well
- Carry sufficient Cash in hand which will save you from some situations where no card facility exists (although maximum hotels have card facility)
- Try to taste local foods wherever you go
- Be polite with serving staff
- If time and your permit, please help locals to collect garbage thrown over there by visitors like us so that we can think to plan the same destination again.
ππAt the end don't forget
- To take your Camera + addition batteries + memory cards to allow you to capture memorable moments forever without any glitches.
- Wherever need please hire local guides
- Try to enjoy the time there and don't just keep clicking images unnecessary.
@ Image credit goes to --- Google
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