Lansdowne travel guide

A quiet cantonment hill town of the Garhwal Rifles – oak forests, old churches and Himalayan views

📍 Uttarakhand 6 places to visit Updated 1 Nov 2026

Lansdowne is a small, clean cantonment town at about 1,700 m in Pauri Garhwal, home of the Garhwal Rifles since the 1880s. With almost no commercial build-up, it offers pine and oak walks, colonial churches, the Tip-n-Top viewpoint and a calm weekend escape from Delhi.

History of Lansdowne

The ridge was known locally as Kaludanda, the “black hill”. In 1887 the British set up a cantonment here for the newly raised Garhwal Rifles and named it after the then Viceroy, Lord Lansdowne.

The town still belongs to the Army: its regimental centre, the Darwan Singh Sangrahalaya (named after Victoria Cross winner Darwan Singh Negi) and colonial churches like St Mary’s and St John’s keep its old character.

Because the cantonment controls building, Lansdowne has stayed one of the least crowded hill towns in Uttarakhand.

Best time to visit Lansdowne

March–June and October–November are best. Winters are cold with occasional snow; July–September has rain and landslides.

Mar–Jun

Spring & summer · Cool, 15–28°C

Escape from the plains’ heat.

Best

Jul–Sep

Monsoon · Rain, mist

Green but road slides possible.

Avoid

Oct–Nov

Autumn · Clear, crisp

Best Himalayan views.

Best

Dec–Feb

Winter · Cold, 0–12°C

Occasional snow; carry warm clothes.

Good

How to reach Lansdowne

✈️

Nearest airport

Dehradun – Jolly Grant Airport (DED)

About 150 km (4–5 hours).

🚆

Nearest railway station

Kotdwar (KTW)

About 40 km (1.5 hours) – direct trains from Delhi.

🚌

Bus stand

Buses and shared taxis from Kotdwar; Delhi buses run to Kotdwar.

From	Distance by road	Travel time
Kotdwar	About 40 km	1.5 hours
Delhi	About 250 km	6–7 hours
Haridwar	About 115 km	3.5–4 hours
Rishikesh	About 140 km	4–5 hours
Pauri	About 75 km	2.5–3 hours

Distances and times are approximate and change with traffic and weather.

Famous places to visit in Lansdowne

1Tip-n-Top

Viewpoint 📍 Near St Mary’s Church 🕘 Sunrise and sunset

A ridge-top viewpoint with Himalayan peaks on clear days and valley views all year.

2St Mary’s Church

Church 📍 In town 🕘 Day time

A 1890s church now run as a small museum by the Garhwal Rifles.

3Bhulla Tal

Lake 📍 In town 🕘 Day time · boating

A small lake built by the Army, with paddle boats and a park.

4Darwan Singh Museum

Museum 📍 Cantonment 🕘 Day time · closed some days

The Garhwal Rifles regimental museum, with uniforms, medals and history.

5Tarkeshwar Mahadev

Temple 📍 About 35 km 🕘 Morning to evening

A Shiva temple in deodar forest, a lovely drive from Lansdowne.

6Bhim Pakora

Trek 📍 About 4 km walk 🕘 Day time

A short walk to a balanced boulder said to move with a push.

Timings and entry fees change – please check locally before you go.

🪖 A cantonment town

Regiment: Garhwal Rifles regimental centre since 1887
Feel: Clean roads, little traffic, no big hotels
Rule: Don’t photograph Army areas

Some museums and areas are open only on certain days – check locally.

Lansdowne itinerary

Weekend in Lansdowne

Day 1

Arrive via Kotdwar; walk to Bhulla Tal.
Sunset at Tip-n-Top.

Day 2

St Mary’s Church and the museum.
Forest walk to Bhim Pakora.

3 days – with Tarkeshwar

Day 1

Bhulla Tal and Tip-n-Top.

Day 2

Day trip to Tarkeshwar Mahadev.

Day 3

Museum, church and a slow morning before heading down.

Trip budget for Lansdowne

Item	Cost	Note
Stay (homestay / resort)	About ₹1,800–6,000 / night
Food	About ₹400–900 per person / day	Few restaurants
Taxi from Kotdwar	About ₹1,500–2,200
Weekend for 2 (approx.)	₹6,000–14,000	2 nights + food

Costs are rough estimates for Nov 2026.

Lansdowne vs Mussoorie and Nainital

A quiet hill weekend from Delhi?

Place	From Delhi	Vibe	Best for
Lansdowne	About 250 km, 6–7 h	Quiet cantonment	Calm, walks
Mussoorie	About 290 km, 7 h	Busy hill town	Mall Road, cafés
Nainital	About 300 km, 7–8 h	Lake town	Boating

Where to stay in Lansdowne

Most stays are homestays and small resorts on the ridges outside the cantonment, around Jaiharikhal and the Kotdwar road. Book ahead for long weekends.

Own a homestay, hotel or cottage in Lansdowne?

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