It is about the time when Shera had not entered our lives. But we were happy with Radha. Those uninitiated, Shera is our Safari and Radha our Alto.
It was the usual weekend but our traveler souls were thirsty for some travel. We had two options in kitty- Mussoorie or Lansdowne.
We settled down for Lansdowne for two reasons a) It was relatively unknown b) It was closer to Delhi.
Lansdowne – The Little Town Christened by the British
Lansdowne was originally called Kaludanda, Kalu meant black, and danaa meant the hills. It was the viceroy of India – Lord Lansdowne who discovered this hill station and Lansdowne came to be known after him. During the freedom struggle, it became a hot spot for the freedom fighters. Today it hosts a Recruits Training Centre of the Garhwal Rifles.
Situated at an altitude of 1,706 m above sea level and surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand state, Lansdowne has become a favorite for many travelers in the recent years.
Route To Lansdowne – Route via Meerut – Bijnour- Kotdwar
Lansdowne is located at a distance of 258 km from Delhi in Uttarakhand. It is a small cantonment town and also the nearest hill station to Delhi and is far less commercialized than its other counterparts.
Journey To Lansdowne
We started early Saturday morning around 4 a.m., wanting to reach there by 12 p.m., as that was the check-in time for our resort. To reach Lansdowne by road one must take the Pauri National Highway and cross Meerut, Bijnour, and Kotdwar to reach Lansdowne. On our way, we took a half an hour break just once at Cheetal Grand for our morning breakfast. We had reached there by 7 a.m.
The road to Landsdowne takes you through narrow roads flanked by fields and rivers. Soon the flat roads turn serpentine, fringed with pine and oak trees. The sight was pure viewgasm and a few Insta worthy pics didn’t hurt.
Where to stay in Lansdowne
Being less commercialized, Lansdown has only a few resorts, hotels, and homestays. It is advisable to do your bookings beforehand. We were lucky to get a cottage at Tip N Top resort without prior reservation. The cottages not only are located at a beautiful spot but are also spacious with beautiful interiors, balcony, and charming windows. The balcony gave lovely views of the mountain and sipping a cup of tea, looking at the mountains felt heavenly.
Prime Attractions in Lansdowne
- Tip-In-Top: Also known as Tiffin Top, this place is situated in the ridge area. An important tourist destination, one can view beautiful snow-covered Himalayas and some parts of Tibet. Though it was just like any ordinary viewpoint, for us, the rain and the views made it really awesome. Tip N Top or the Tiffin top wasn’t really far from our cottages. Next day, early morning, we stopped there for a cup of tea and came back to our cottage
- Bhulla Tal: BhullaTal seemed like an exciting destination in Lansdowne, so before heading for Delhi, we decided to give it a try. It is surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens and a fountain. The lake is known for the boat ride and we too gave it a try. Nonetheless, it was fun.
- Lansdowne Market: You can give it a miss if you want to. But we landed up there during our evening stroll. There are a few shops, offering the necessities. Though we didn’t really want anything, we got some pakodas packed.
- St John’s Church: Located at the Mall Road, this church was established in 1936. The beautiful architecture of the church, followed by the spiritual aura inside, makes it a must-visit place for the tourists who want to heal their souls.
Concluding words:These destinations were quite fun for a weekend trip. Sauntering through the lanes and wandering in the ridges dotted with Oak and Pine trees, we concluded the trip. Lansdowne will always find delightful mentions in our travel diaries, both because of its beauty and proximity.
