Story of LANSDOWNE

LANSDOWN

Also known as KALUDANDA : Kalu means "Black" & Danda Means "Hill" 

The hills in Lansdowne are alive with the sound of music and a breathtaking aura that will amaze you to no end. Not to mention the utterly vintage atmosphere that will greet you as you step into the misty chill of the Lansdowne hills. Originally known as Kaludanda, ‘Kalu’ meaning black and ‘Danda’ meaning hill in Garhwali, Lansdowne was renamed after the then viceroy Lord Lansdowne in 1887. This accessible but at the same time secluded hill station in Uttarakhand is the stuff dreams are made up of. You get the quiet that you so need on your holidays but at the same time you also get to sightsee and explore the rich culture and history of this beautiful town. Surrounded by thick oak and blue pine forests, Lansdowne affords you a serene getaway that you will always want to go back to. It protects its tranquillity fiercely, almost as if it’s afraid it will disappear with growing tourism. As such, Lansdowne is one of the most extraordinary hill stations in India, and also one of the prettiest.

Climate

Summer
March to June, Warm and pleasant Temperature - 15°C-30°C

Monsoon
July to October, Heavy rainfall

Winter
November to February, Cold and snowy Temperature - 0°C-24°C

Local Languages: Garhwali and Hindi

Best Time to Visit: The summer and winter months are the best to visit Lansdowne. During summer you can explore the town better, while in winter you can enjoy some snow and chill weather.

Clothing: Carry some heavy woollens if you plan to visit Lansdowne in winter. In summer, cottons and cotton-blends with a light jacket or scarf are a good option.

Moving around: The best way to explore Lansdowne is on foot. Most of Lansdowne is easily accessible from the town centre. So stroll around for some scenic trails and feast your eyes on the hushed beauty that Lansdowne has to offer.

Sightseeing

Kanvashram: This ashram, situated in the midst of dense forests and hills, is an idyllic place to come to and reflect and meditate. Legend goes, that the fabled sage Vishwamitra once meditated at this spot. The beautiful River Malini flows by this ashram further beautifying the already charming place. Further along are the Sahastradhara Falls, giving Kanvashram a picture-perfect ambience.

St Mary's Church: Constructed in 1896 by Colonel Hume, the St Mary’s Church is a sight to behold. It flaunts a hauntingly old-world design that will take your breath away. The church went into neglect after 1947 and was converted into a museum by the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre. Pictures of India before independence are displayed in this museum, lending the church a poignant atmosphere.

Bhulla Tal: The name of this lake is Garhwali, where ‘bhulla’ means ‘little brother’. This is an artificial lake which the Garhwali Rifles helped create and is devoted to these soldiers. One of the most exciting locations in Lansdowne, you can enjoy boating and paddling on this lake, and there’s also a children’s park to keep your little ones occupied.

Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple: This renowned shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is visited by tons of devotees every year. Surrounded by pine and oak trees, you will also fine several small flowing water pools. Visit this temple during Mahashivratri to participate in the special worship and festivities.

Tip-in-Top: Tip-in-Top is a popular tourist spot on the ridge near St Mary’s Church. This gorgeous spot affords tantalizing views of the snowy Himalayan range. You can also glimpse some parts of Tibet from here.

Jungle safari: One of the most fun activities you can do on your trip to Lansdowne is go for a jungle safari into its dense forests. Take in some fresh forest air and delight in the sturdy oaks and pines, while the birds give music with their chirping. If jungle safaris aren’t your thing, you can also opt to take a leisurely stroll in the forests.

Garhwal Rifles Regimental Museum: Set up by Lord Rawlinson of Trent, the then Commander-in-Chief of India in 1923, this museum is located at the Parade Ground in Lansdowne. This is a must-visit place for visitors who want to know more about the Indian army.

Food for soul

The Garhwali cuisine is simple, nutritious and delicious. Veggies are consumed on a large scale here, although there are a lot of non-veg eaters too. Some of the most famous Garhwali dishes include Kafuli, Phaanu, Thechwani, Baadi, Kulath ki dal, and sweet dishes like Gulgula and Arsa. Besides Garhwali food, one can also find other cuisines like Chinese, Mughlai, Marwari as well as Continental.

Festive Celebrations

Lansdowne Arts Festival is a popular event in this region where people participate in a number of different programs. If you visit Lansdowne during this festival you will witness tons of beautiful creative and arts events like performing arts, painting, kid’s events, jewellery and crafts exhibitions, etc. Mahashivratri and Ashtami are the religious festivals celebrated with great pomp, while an autumn festival called Shardotsav is held mostly in the month of October.

Getting There

By Air: Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun is the nearest airport to Lansdowne and provides you with regular flights.

By Rail: Kotdwar is the nearest railway station to reach Lansdowne. Trains from Delhi will take you to Kotdwar and from Kotdwar Lansdowne is about 45 kms away. 

By Road: One of the peculiar things about Lansdowne is that it is very well-connected by road. Roads are well-connected to Haridwar, Kotdwar, Meerut, Gopeshwar and other places. Lansdowne also has a bus stand that provides you with private and public buses.

Lastly. This is the reason why Uttrakhand is preferred as a Travel destination for millions of travellers. That is the reason why we BURE is developing  resort cum estate in Lansdowne. To gift Uttrakhand a marvelous one of kind resort and estate in INDIA. 

Come and Experience the difference..

Thanks : Have a wonderful day.

Team Bure