Are you bored with the daily routine you follow and looking for an exciting and thrilling weekend? Why not go and have a tour of Agra or Jhansi? What, done already, looking for a thrilling and amazing weekend trip so, what about Lansdowne? Why not take a look at this unexplored gem in the middle of a forest having waterfalls, a tiger reserve and snow points?
What, excited already? Yes, I know this is amazing. Now let me tell you everything about your weekend trip to Lansdowne like how much time you need and how to reach there. Also, how much does a Lansdowne trip cost and top 10 best places that even Google won’t tell you?
Let me introduce to you this beauty first:
Lansdowne: A destination made just for weekend trips
Lansdowne is a hill station in the state of Uttarakhand and was established as a Military Garrison in the times of British rule in India. When I first heard of this place I got confused about why it sounded British. Then I did some research and here is brief information about the history and origin of this weekend destination.
How Kaludanda became Lansdowne?
Lansdowne was earlier known as Kaludanda which is a combination of two words; Kalu(Black) and Danda(Hills) in the Garhwali language. When Lord Lansdowne became the Viceroy of India, this place was developed as a training center for the recruitment of Garhwal rifles and hence was named after the Viceroy. Currently, it is the regimental center for the famous and great Garhwal Rifles of the Indian army.
There is another belief as well that there was a sage who used to mediate here a long ago named “Kalun”. Later on, this place was named after him and this story sounds more realistic to me than the previous one.
How Lansdowne is different from other hill stations in India?
There are two things that make it different from other hill stations in India and those are: accessibility and peacefulness. This hill station is easily accessible from most of the major locations and especially from Delhi. Not every hill station in India is connected by motorable roads. This is also one of the quietest hill stations in India which makes it perfect for a weekend trip.
How to reach Lansdowne?
To enjoy your weekend trip you must reach to Lansdowne first and here are the best ways to reach this place.
By Road:
Car: You can directly book a cab or take your car and leave for Lansdowne. The roads are quite good and one can easily drive to the hill station in around 6 to 7 hours covering a distance of around 280kms.
Bus: Another great option is using a bus which is not only cheap and budget friendly but also enjoyable. There are many buses running from Delhi to Kotdwar which costs around 1000rs with a semi-sleeper facility.
The fastest and cheapest way to reach Lansdowne from Delhi for a weekend trip:
By train:
For me, the train is the best option of all and also falls within everyone’s budget. You can book a ticket to Kotdwar railway station which is the nearest railway station from Lansdowne. Kotdwar is around 40kms far from the hill station, though there are a few more railway stations close to Lansdowne there are no trains available for those stations from Delhi.
By Air:
The nearest airport is Jolly grant airport of Dehradun located around 150kms from the hill station and is well connected by road as well. You can easily get a bus or a cab from the airport to the hill station.
Here is the pricing information for all these conveyances.
| Cab | Bus | Train | Flight |
| 4500rs onwards | 1000rs onwards | 130rs onwards | 5500rs onwards |
Now if you are flying to Jolly Grant airport, you will get a cab or bus to Lansdowne. Here is some more information on how to reach Lansdowne from Kotdwar if travelling by train from Delhi.
How to reach Lansdowne from Kotdwar?
In order to start your weekend trip, you need to reach Kotdwar first and then you can reach Lansdowne. Here are the ways how you can reach Lansdowne from Kotdwar.
- A shared taxi
- Local bus
- Rent a bike
If you take a shared taxi or a local bus it will take you to the bus stand near the main market of Lansdowne.
Another option is to rent a bike from Kotdwar and visit Lansdowne and explore all the places that I have already mentioned below.
Where to stay in Lansdowne?
There are enough hotels and resorts in Lansdowne and near it. You can easily get hotels in Kotdwar, Dugadda, Gounu, Sauli, and Lansdowne itself.
The prices of hotels vary from location to location and the facilities they offer. You can easily find the best deals on the internet.
However, if you are looking for budget hotels, then you can find them either in Kotdwar or in the Lansdowne market.
Top 10 places to visit in Lansdowne on a weekend trip:
1. Kaleswar Temple:
The Kaleswar Mahadev Temple is located at a distance of 1 km from the market of Lansdowne. One can easily walk up there and enjoy the beautiful scenery around the temple.
The historic importance of the temple:
The name of the temple is based on a sage named “Kalun” who used to meditate here ages before. One can feel a very positive vibe at this place and is best for meditation and concentration.
2. Garhwali Museum:
- Wednesday closed
- Timings: 09:00 – 17:30
- Ticket price: 30rs
Museums are the best attraction sites at any location to understand the place in its real sense. Garhwali museum is very well maintained and has a collection of a variety of war materials. As Lansdowne is also the base of the great Garhwal Rifles of the Indian army hence this museum is no less than heaven for any army lover. Although one can explore the museum in 1 hour yet it is best to give it 2 hours at a minimum. I am pretty much sure that every Indian will feel proud of what the Garhwali Rifles regiment has contributed to the nation.
3. Bhulla Tal:
- Wednesday: closed
- Timings: 09:00-17:00
- Entry fee: 150rs (includes boat ride)
- Washrooms available for both men and women
This place is a pack with beautiful views, a picturesque location, a water park and a few water activities. It is a must-visit place for a family, especially with kids. Bhulla Tal is mainly an artificial lake with pavements built around it. It is a great place to hang on, sit for some time and have some chit-chat with your partner or bestie. It is also a must-visit place for a romantic couple as the scenery and the location can build a lovely moment.
4. Tarkeshwar Mahadev Dham:
- Timings: 24*7
- Distance: 36km from Lansdowne
There is a village situated 36 km from the main market of Lansdowne known as Tarkeshwar. The whole area is surrounded by Cedar and pine trees making it an amazing location to visit. This Tarkeshwar Temple adds the importance and beauty of this place with its peacefulness and spiritualness.
Away from the rush of a city, in the middle of a forest full of Cedar and pine trees, it becomes much more than just a temple. Every Shiv Bhakt can feel the vibe and energy at this place and the surrounding are just amazing and worth visiting.
There are also a few places for accommodation near the temple and good for a family to stay for a while and enjoy the calmness of nature.
5. Tip In Top point:
- Timings: 24 hours
- the Best time to visit: At sunrise and sunset
- Cost: 20rs/person
- Washrooms available for both men and women
It is a very popular sunrise view point in Lansdowne to see the great Himalayan Mountains. Tip In Top viewpoint is at walking distance from Bhulla Tal to see a panoramic view. If you really like a 360-degree view of the hill station then you must add this place to your Itinerary.
There are places to eat inside the Tip In Top view point campus and outside it as well. The outside one is more budget-friendly than the one inside the campus.
6. Bheem Pakora:
- Timings: 24*7
- Best time to visit: throughout the day
You all must have eaten pakora but have you seen a pakora made of rocks? Isn’t it funny, I found it too when I first saw a rocky pakora placed one above the other. It is a quite decent place for a day hiking and for taking pictures.
7. Snow view point, Lansdowne:
- Timings: 24*7
- Best time to visit: Throughout the day, Sunrise and Sunset
To experience a beautiful view and roads covered with pine and Cedar trees on both sides of it, Snow View point is the right place to visit. There are some activities for the children to do as well. Snow-covered mountains can be seen from this viewpoint even in the month of March.
It is the best place to sit back and enjoy the view with a cup of tea or coffee peacefully.
It is also a nice place to witness sunrise and sunset in Lansdowne.
8. Kalagarh Tiger Reserve:
- Timings: 07:00 – 14:00
- Best time to visit: In the Morning Hours
Costs:
- Gate pass per vehicle: 900rs
- Gypsy Charge for 6 people (1Gypsy): 3000rs
A beautiful place to encounter wildlife in its own habitat. Along with a very peaceful environment, one can expect to see, Tigers, elephants, foxes, deer and many other animals. Pine and Cedar trees are the main beauty of this place but a range of other plants can be seen and a must-visit place for a plant lover. Kalagarh dam is also a beautiful location to visit in the forest.
9. Bhalugarh Waterfall:
- Timings: open 24hrs
- Best season to visit: Winters
- Best months to visit: October to April
A must-visit place for every nature lover. A waterfall located between beautiful mountains and valleys is what a tourist expects. One of the best attractions for trekkers and hikers as the trek leads to this gem in the middle of the mountains.
Tips: In the mountains, Google Maps does not work very well so avoid trying to go alone. Trek in groups or by a vehicle. It is in a dense forest so always ask others for help if you find yourself lost in the middle of the way.
10. Durga devi Mandir:
Located on the banks of a river and 12 km from Kotdwar on the Kotdwar-Duggada road. A must-visit place for Shakts(devotees of Shakti) and a nice place for just anyone. The peacefulness and calmness at the temple with the sound of flowing water make it a perfect place to sit and meditate. It is believed that Goddess Durga visits this temple very frequently and every good wish made here with a pure heart receives blessings from the Goddess.
Tips to complete your Lansdowne weekend trip without any hassle:
- Rent a bike in Kotdwar or in Lansdowne to explore each and every place in and around the place.
- If you only wish to visit Lansdowne and not the places nearby then do not rent a bike, rather reach Lansdowne by shared taxi or bus from Kotdwar as the area is within 2 to 3km square.
- Most of the locations in Lansdowne are best to be visited in the morning so try to wake up early.
- The attraction sites in Lansdowne are situated inside a forest so try not to go alone if you know the roads well. It is very easy to get lost in the mountains.
- Locals of the area are very helpful so you can always ask for their help especially to know the directions.
- The food offered in the local market is good and cheaper than at hotels or resorts so if you love local foods, you can try it outside.
- Though one can book online accommodations it is very easy to find budget hotels and rooms as well as dorms in the Lansdowne.
- Lansdowne is not as crowded as other hill stations in India so it is easy to find accommodations even in the peak season.
- As Lansdowne is a hill station so the best time to visit is from October to July. I generally do not recommend travelling to a hill station during the Monsoon season due to landslides.
- Lansdown is better in winter, even more than in summer as the views are better and clear and define how a hill station should look like.
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