Lansdowne Weekend Trip

Away from the hustle and bustle of metros, Lansdown is a quaint little hill station that promises the old-world colonial charm and mesmerizing views. It is located in the Pauri district of Uttarakhand and is approximately 281 km away from Delhi. This hill station is one of the best off-beat weekend destinations. The beauty of Lansdown is still unspoiled and untouched as it is still away from the urbanization and is less crowded as compared to other hill stations of Uttarakhand. Lansdowne is a perfect for you if you are looking for a peaceful and serene hill station to visit near Delhi.

Places to Visit: Tip in Top Point, Garhwali Museum, Garhwali mess, Bhulla Taal, Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, St. Mary’s Church, Tiffin Top, St. John’s Church, Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple, and Santoshi Mata Mandir

Ideal Duration: 3 Days/2 Nights

How to reach: Nearest railway station to Lansdowne is Kotdwar which is approximately 45 km from Lansdowne while the nearest airport is Dehradun. Reaching Lansdowne by road is also easy as you can either drive or take a bus as the bus network is also good and one can easily get buses to-and-fro easily.

Best time to visit: All seasons are good for Lansdowne as in summers, you can go to escape the hot climate of plains while in winters, you can experience the magical snowfall and snowy peaks. November to February are extremely cold as the temperature goes down from 15 degrees to -5 degrees.

Places to stay: Best place to stay in Lansdowne will be near the Lansdowne market as there are many hostels and hotels located here along with the local market and many food places. Apart from this, you may also stay on the outskirts of this hill station as there are various picturesque resorts to treat you with amazing views and serenity.

Food & drink suggestions: The most popular food item of Lansdowne is Band Samosa. This is a desi burger-like dish where a samosa is stuffed inside a bun and served with chole ki sabzi and chutney. This is very cheap and is available for just Rs.10 in many of the local shops. Apart from this, you must also try Aloo Triangles which is another regional culinary gem. If you are a wine lover then Lansdowne as a lot of locally produced, tasty and cheap wines in varieties of plum, apple, peach, sherry, and black grape.

Things to do: Lansdowne has a lot of activities to offer to its visitors. Here’s the list:

• Camping is the best thing to do in Lansdowne as there are many dense forests of oak, deodar, and rhododendron trees with hidden lakes and ponds.
• Enjoy boat riding in Bhulla Lake
• National Park and is about 13 km away from Lansdowne
• Trek to the snow view point or hike to the Tip in Top viewpoint
• Take a nice calming nature walk in the forests of Lansdowne
• Visit the mystic temples
• Visit the old churches
• Eat local street food
• Shop shawls, jackets, and stoles from the local market. You can also buy leather products from the shops located near the Garhwal. Rifles Camp.
• Try local wines

Beautiful morning view

Day wise Itinerary:

Day 1:

After checking in to your accommodation, leave to explore Lansdowne town. Visit the museum, Gandhi Chowk (market of Lansdowne), Garhwali mess, Kaleshwar Mahadev temple and St. Mary’s Church. Have your lunch and dinner in one of the cafes near Gandhi Chowk.

Day 2:

Get up early in the morning and leave for Tip in Top Point for sunrise. Come back to the hotel, have your breakfast, and leave for Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple which is 36 km from Lansdowne City. Come back to Bhulla Lake for Lunch and enjoy boating. Visit the other churches and markets nearby or simply spend your leisure amidst nature and leave for Delhi.