Lansdowne A Weekend Retreat

Lansdowne, a colonial hill-station, surrounded by pristine nature with a majestic view of Himalayas on a clear sunny day has been on the top of the list of weekenders. GMVN Ltd. has created a tourist village where four Log huts have two double bed rooms with a lobby and five huts having one double bed room with a lobby have been erected. These beautiful wooden cottages have been imported from Finland, giving the guests a pristine feel of the Alps / Scandinavia.

By Road: Lansdowne is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand state. Buses to Kotdwar and Dugadda are easily available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Buses and Taxis to Lansdowne are available from Kotdwar, Dugadda, Pauri and other major destinations of Uttarakhand state. Lansdowne is connected with National highway 119.

The best way to get to Lansdowne by road is as follows:
Stage 1: From Delhi to Meerut 70 kms, Mawana 30 kms, Bessuna-Ramraj-Meerapur
Stage 2: Take the Right turn from here for Bijnor-kiratpur 16 kms, Najibabad 17 kms, Kotdwara 25 kms, Dogadda 15 Kms.

Lansdowne excursions consist of some of the finest places near the city. Excursions around Lansdowne, Uttarakhand are a must see for those visiting the city. Some of the famous places to visit around Lansdowne are:

Kotdwar is where the hills start. It is one of the rail terminuses for the Garhwal region. Some of the places of interest in Kotdwar include the ancient Karnva Ashram, where Shakuntala gave birth to Bharat, the Sidhbali temple and the Charaik hills. Kotdwar is a very important place from the historical point of view as well.

This is a religious spot which is dedicated to the Goddess Durga. It is one of the most popular religious places in the entire Garhwal and people come to pay a visit to Jwalpadevi in large numbers, every year. Also, during the navratras, a special religious festival is held at this temple.

Located in some of the deep oak and deodar forests, the Tarkeshwar temple is known for the ancient Siddhpeethas. The Tarkeshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located at an altitude of 2,092 metres above sea level. During the Shivratri festival, a special worship is organized at this temple. The Tarkeshwar temple was founded by the Adi Shankaracharya.

built in Jan 1888 is one of the oldest buildings in Lansdowne and gives a great peek into the heritage of the time. It has been very well maintained and a must to visit.

Garhwal Rifles War Memorial : This major attraction of town was inaugurated way back in 1923 and is located in the Parade ground.

Tiffin Top : This has become one of important tourist attractions in Lansdowne as one can witness panoramic view of Himalayas from this viewing point.Tip-in-Top is on the ridge close to St. Mary’s Church. The glorious view of the Himalayas from this point is amazing. An ideal place to trek to and be rewarded by the unforgettable view.

Bulla Tal : This is an artificial Lake developed and marinated by Garhwal Rifles which has been developed as a small picnic spot in Lansdowne where people can enjoy boating.

Bhim Pakora : These are self balancing stones which are believed to placed in such a manner by Bhim (Reference Mahabharata), during ‘Agayat Vas’ of ‘Padavas’. Though this 15 MT (15000 Kg) stone can easily be made to wobble on its axis but never slides down the slope.

St. Mary’s Church (Methodist Church) : This nineteenth century artistic church is a witness of British era and legacy in Lansdowne.

St. John’s Church (Roman Catholic Church) : This is more modern when compared to the ST. Mary’s Church and the only Church of worship currently in Lansdowne.

Christian Cemetery : This cemetery is well maintained cemetery which is frequented by many foreigners whose near and dear ones are buried here.

Tiger Cave : This natural habitat of tiger is located just 400 meters away from the resort.

Karnva Ashram 14 km away, where Shakuntala is said to have given birth to Raja Bharat, the forefather of the nation. The story of Shakuntala and Dushyant has been immortalized by the poet Kalidasa in his epic, Shakuntalam.