Lansdowne Hill Station
Lansdowne is the ‘Home of the Garhwal Rifles’ is one of the most quaint and unspoiled hill stations of Uttarakhand. Lansdowne got its name from Lord Lansdowne, who was the then Viceroy of India during the period of 1888-1894. Presently, Lansdowne has the command office of the Garhwal Rifles division of the Indian Army.
Why Visit Lansdowne?
The pristine surroundings and the salubrious weather of Lansdowne encourage many travellers to indulge in meditation. One can enjoy an array of recreational activities at Lansdowne such as trekking, bird watching, boating, paddling etc.
This place also offers a marvellous view of the sunrise and sunset, accompanied by the tangy hues of the sun. Some of the famous tourist attractions of Lansdowne are the Garhwal Rifles Regimental War Memorial, Garhwali Mess, Regimental Museum, Kaleshwar Temple, St. Mary’s Church, Bhulla Tal, Tip-in-Top, and Bhim Pakora.
Adventure activities like, trekking, bird watching, boating, paddling etc. can be done while a visit to Lansdowne. It is one of the best weekend destinations of Uttarakhand. On a clear day, you can have an unobstructed view of the Himalayan ranges from Lansdowne.
For excursions, one can visit the Tarkeshwar Mahadev temple and Bhairav Garhi temple. Lansdowne is a perfect weekend getaway as it is the closest hill station from Delhi NCR region. The best time to visit this place is between the months of March to November.
Tarkeshwar Temple, Lansdowne
Some Features of Lansdowne
- Quiet, less crowded, not over a developed and relatively undiscovered hill station.
- Much cleaner and well maintained because of the Cantonment Area of Garhwal Rifles.
- Have many old buildings of British colonial architecture and military history.
- One of the closest hill stations from Delhi NCR region and a perfect Weekend Getaway.
Staying in Lansdowne
Being a fairly popular weekend destination, there are plenty of accommodations in Lansdowne where tourists could spend the night. One can easily find luxury hotels as well as budget guesthouses with limited amenities at Lansdowne. Additionally, government-owned guesthouses (GMVN) are also present.
Lansdowne Food Guide
Since Lansdowne is not as popular as Mussoorie, there are only handful of good restaurants available. Some luxurious hotels and resorts have in-house restaurants that serve delicious cuisines. Otherwise, there are many roadside dhabas and local restaurants that serve north Indian and popular Chinese dishes like noodles, momos etc.
History of Lansdowne
Traditionally Lansdowne was known as ‘Kaludanda’ or "Kalu Danda" village by the locals which literally suggest the 'Black Hills'. However, the place owes the credit for its development and name to Lord Lansdowne, then Viceroy of India (1888-1894) who founded Lansdowne in 1887.
On November 5, 1887, when the first battalion of the Garhwal Rifles migrated from Almora to Lansdowne, the town was developed as a cantonment and a Recruits Training Centre of the Garhwal Rifles was introduced by the British. During the British era, Lansdowne was a hub for all the major activities done by the freedom fighters of the British Garhwal.
At present, the command office of the Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army is located in Lansdowne. Even today, one can admire the rustic buildings, churches and old taverns at Lansdowne, narrating the unheard colonial history of the British era, reminding the visitors of the pre-independence period.
Danish Arora
25 Jul 2024
Q. We r planning to travel Lansdowne tomorrow. Is it safe? Are roads okay to travel?
A. Lansdowne is generally safe to visit even during the monsoon. However, do check the road condition between Dugadda and Lansdowne which may hit roadblock occasionally in case of very heavy rains.
Srijan Patnaik, 02 Aug 2024
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Lansdowne Weather
Check out the Lansdowne weather report for September
Lansdowne Weather in September
The minimun and maximum temperature in September in Lansdowne is 20°C and 34°C respectively. The weather is generally cloudy and rains in September and you would feel pleasant throughout the day. Light Woolen clothes are recommended for Lansdowne in September.
What is Lansdowne famous for?
Lansdowne is famous among tourist as Hill Station, Peaceful Surroundings, Himalayan Views, Lake, Weekend Destination, Cantonment.
Lansdowne is recommended destination for Corporates, Couples, Family and Kids, Foreigners, Groups.
Lansdowne is popular destination for following activities/ interests - Boating, Cantonment Area, Christmas and New Year, Hill Station, Honeymoon Destination, Leisure, Romantic, Weekend Getaway.
