Lansdowne – All You Need To Know!
Lansdowne is a cantonment town in Pauri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand. Lansdowne was founded and named after then Viceroy of India (1888-1894), Lord Lansdowne in 1887. There’s a lot of history attached to this town but not much in the physical state which makes it interesting enough for a weekend getaway!
The drive from Delhi to Lansdowne is gorgeous, the roads are excellent and the views are to die for!
It’s a small town and there’s literally nothing much to do there except put on your walking shoes and just enjoy the nature. I have still listed these three places you shouldn’t miss.
1. St. Mary’s Church- It was built in 1895. The Army has done a fabulous job maintaining the church with the floor and stained glass is still intact!
2. The Garhwal Rifles Regimental War Memorial- The museum is a tribute to the Garwal Rifles and emphasises their long and rich military history. War heroes, guns, medals & trophies, everything from World War time is on display! If you are lucky, you can get the glimpse of parade practice going on in the parade ground.
3. Lover’s Lane- The only trekking route present in the area with views of the Himalayan ranges! You’ll obviously be surrounded with oak and pine trees! So serene.
P.S. We also went to the Tarkeshwar Mahadev temple which is about 44 odd kms away from Lansdwone! The place is known for its temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is surrounded by thick forests of cedar and pine trees. This is something one shouldn’t miss if you’re in Lansdowne. The temple radiates a lot of positivity!
There are very few resorts/hotels in the main town. One is the Fairydale resort and the other is a government accommodation which is very well maintained, the GVMN tourist bungalow. We stayed at the Garwhal mess (perks of being a Fauji kid) which was built in 1892. You’ll need Army connections to stay here. So start the ‘jugaad’ because it’s totally worth it!
Like I said, there’s not much to do in this town; it’s a typical Army cantt. So for those who have a slight idea about towns like these, you can surely give this town a miss! For those who have no idea what an Army Cantt. looks like then head to Lansdowne for a quick getaway! And of course for picturesque landscapes and a hideaway from the big city mad rush.
