Originally known as Kaludanda after Kalu (Black) and Danda (Hill) in Garhwali, Lansdowne was founded and named after then Viceroy of India (1888-1894), Lord Lansdowne in 1887, and by 1901 it had a population of 3943. Lansdowne was developed by the British for catering for the Recruits Training center of the Garhwal Rifles. Lansdowne was a major place of the activities of freedom fighters from British Garhwal during British period. Nowadays, the famous Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army has its command office here.Lansdowne is one of the quietest hill stations of India and is popular since Britishers came to India. Lansdowne is unlike other hill stations as it is well connected with motorable roads but remote in its own way. It is situated at an altitude of 1,706 m above sea level surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand state.
Camping is the best among many things to do in Lansdowne. Shun the hotel rooms and break free of the stereotypical way of holidaying as you go for overnight camping and outdoor activities in this pretty hill station. Lansdowne has the lush green open lands which are best-suited for setting up your tent for a night or two, sitting around the bonfire, and dining out in the open.
One of the most significant tourist attractions in Lansdowne, Bhulla Taal is a small and quiet man-made lake maintained by Indian Army. It is dedicated to the youth of Garhwal Rifles of Indian Army who laid their lives in the service of the nation. Take a boat tour of this picturesque lake and be ready with your cameras as you are going to spot lazy swimming ducks in the lake and the agile rabbits hopping around the banks. Also, there is an amusement park which is a great place to have fun. Believe it or not, those who have been to this lake, always have some great stories to share. Don’t miss: Enjoy bird watching near Bhulla Taal Lake. Also, there’s a small restaurant next to the lake where you can enjoy snacks and evening tea/coffee.
Let the hiker in you come out as Lansdowne is the right place for hiking and trekking. Owing to its geographical location, many treks are launched from this little town into the hillside. The treks range from small hiking trails lasting a few hours to tougher climbs that can take up to 2-3 days. The famous treks here are up till Snow Viewpoint and Hawaghar. What makes trekking tours one of the best things to do in Lansdowne is the bliss of witnessing amazing sceneries from Snow Viewpoint as well as Hawaghar. Make sure you capture the photogenic snow-clad mountains with clear blue skies and feel the gushing wind through your hair.
Also known as Tiffin Top, Tip n Top is a clean and serene place situated on the ridge close to St. Mary’s Church and is one of the popular tourist attractions in Lansdowne. Call it a romantic place for lovebirds, a haven for nature-lovers or picnic spot for families and kids – Tip n Top viewpoint has it all to be a perfect place to hang around. You can trek to Tip n Top view point and enjoy a panoramic view of surrounding Shivalik Hills and snow covered the Himalayas where you just can’t stop clicking.
“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking”- a saying by Friedrich Nietzsche that seems even more realistic as you venture out into the forests of pine and oak trees on the hills of Lansdowne. Enjoy the fresh air, singing birds, sounds of animals, humming of insects on the forest floor and every bit of nature in its purest form as you ramble through the lonely paths in Lansdowne. Just walking and walking and doing nothing else might not seem as exciting, but for many tourists, it’s one of the most peaceful and rejuvenating things to do in Lansdowne. Document your nature walk by taking photographs, indulge in leaf art, sketch whatever strikes you there, or just sit down at some clear space and lay your eyes on your favourite book. Lansdowne is heaven for those.
It’s not just the clear blue sky and towering pine trees that you see when you look up. Lansdowne also attracts a wide variety of migratory birds like northern shoveler, ruddy shelduck, northern pintail, red-crested pochard, common merganser and many others. These cute creatures flock to this place from different parts of the world and whether or not, you’re a nature enthusiast, you would love to indulge in bird watching. Be handy with your cameras!
When planning for sightseeing in Lansdowne, don’t forget to include a religious tour of various temples in this hill station. Two famous temples here are Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple (38 Km from Lansdowne) and Santoshi Maa Temple, which is at a walking distance from Tip n Top Viewpoint. There are two churches as well, St John Church – the only functional Roman Catholic church in Lansdowne located on the Mall Road. Timings are 08:00 am to 5:00 pm; and St Mary’s Church – an old church converted into a museum that houses pictures and stories of the pre-independence era. Timings are 08:00 am to 5:00 pm and entry fee is INR 10.
This is a well-decorated, two storey historical defence museum which is dedicated to Darwan Singh Negi, a Naik in Garhwal Rifles and a recipient of prestigious Victoria Cross gallantry award. You can find some lesser known details about Garhwal Rifles of Indian Army in this museum. This 33-year old museum, which is also a prominent Lansdowne attraction, has a collection of old uniforms, photographs, certificates, arms and ammunition that promises to awaken the child in you.
Catch a glimpse of the big cats in action at Kalagarh Tiger Reserve, which is one of the most significant tiger reserves in India. Spread over about 300 sq km, Kalagarh Tiger Reserve actually covers the northern part of the famous Jim Corbett Park. You can feel the close proximity of the raw nature while exploring this tiger reserve. Apart from the high density of Tigers here, you can also spot barking deer, hog deer, goral, sambhar, porcupines and other wild animals. Going for a jungle safari in Jim Corbett Park is one of the most thrilling things to do in Uttarakhand. This is the best place for jungle safari in Lansdowne, so make sure you include this in your itinerary!
Visiting Lansdowne and not trying out the local Garhwali cuisines is just as boring as spending whole day indoors while holidaying in Lansdowne. Here, you can gorge on a variety of local delicacies which is one of the best things to do in Lansdowne Uttarakhand for obvious reasons. Just walk into any restaurant and treat your tastebuds to local dishes such as Kafuli, Phaanu, Thechwani, Baadi, Kulath ki dal and Aloo ke gutke. Besides, you can also enjoy some sweet dishes like Gulgula and Arsa and Chinese and Continental dishes.
ITarkeshwarm a beautiful site for day and night stay has come up near Tarkeshwar Shiv Mandir a walkable distance with all modern facilities at hill station.
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