Lansdowne Uttarakhand - Hills Station Hidden in Plain Sight

It is well said that our surroundings are full of astonishments and this one trip sure took me and family by surprise.

Since that year (June 2008) we wanted a short and quick trip we had no time to waste on long hours of traveling and it is then when my uncle suggested that we make a visit to Lansdowne, a not so much discovered beauty just six hours away from Delhi by car. A quite well-developed army cantonment area located at an altitude of 1,700 meters in the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand.

We commenced our ride at about four in the morning to avoid the daytime traffic of Delhi-NCR and took the Bijnor-Kotdwar route and now that I've mentioned Bijnor, let me advise you to stop here for a tea break and have the famous Bijnor ke meethe samose. Also, note that a car is the only possible direct way to reach Lansdowne. However, if you wish to take the train the nearest station would be Kotdwar, which is approximately 41 kilometers away from the main town and the per head ticket cost would be around INR 100 for the most basic reserved category, the third option is taking a bus from ISBT Delhi to ISBT Kotdwar which would cost you around 200-250 per head, from Kotdwar one can easily take a bus to Lansdowne with the ticket priced roughly at INR 50-60. Concerning the air mode of transport, the nearest airstrip is Jolly Grant in Dehradun, about 140 kilometers away from Lansdowne, from the airport the buses are readily available to transfer you to your terminus. The airfare is around 1500 and another 300-400 for the bus ride per head.

Note- These rates are from Delhi onwards    

As we prefer staying away from the market area, my family and I decided to lodge at the Fairydale resort, with the per night room tariff grossing up to be 2000 INR this property is managed and run by Mr. Ashok and Mr. Pankaj both of whom are decent gentlemen. However, if you like to stop within the market area, Hotel Mayur whose per night charges are around 1500 for a basic room, is the best choice for you. For the ones who love to stay in a prehistoric-like setting, Le Osh is the place meant just for you. This place charges around 5,000 and brings you closer to the rich heritage of the area. Lovers of the wild may choose to stay at Vanvasa Resort priced at INR 10,000 per hut, per night. The other options I'd recommend are Corbett Hill resort (per night tariff INR-3,000) and Samskara Homestays, which has both rooms and hut-like modern day tents, the tariff for this would be around 1,800 every night. 

As we proceeded towards our destination the weather kept getting prettier- the cold winds, the rain, and the mini, seasonal waterfalls added to the charm of the surrounding beauty. Surprisingly the temperature was only around 5-degree Celsius, with weather very rainy and foggy, considering the place is not very far from the capital and it was the hot month of June. The cherry on top was the lush greens that soothed the eye.

Now, getting to the places to see, I'd propose you visit Bhula Lake for boating, swings, joy-rides and a mini zoo. Other must-visits are Tip and Top, Bhim Pakora, Darwan Singh Regimental Museum, Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple, St. Johns Church, Kanvashram and additionally you may take a jungle safari to discover the wild.

Being a foodie, the first task I undertake during any trip is to try different eating joints and if you share the same interest as me then you must try the Kalo Danda Cafe's Coffee and Pakodas, Hotel Mayur's mushroom and the special vegetable Maggi at Kasang Regency in Palkot (about 5-6 kilometers away from Lansdowne).

Although it has been a long time since my visit, I can never forget the smiles with which the locals welcome you, I still remember a local family offering us to rest at their house.

So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags already and let those wheels roll in the direction of this mesmerizing hill station.








Lansdowne - Quick Facts

1. How to reach – Frequent buses and trains from Delhi to Kotdwar and further from Kotdwar to Lansdowne.
2. Nearest Major town – Dehradun, about 159 km by road
3. Nearest railway station – Kotdwar, 40.1 km
4. Nearest Airport – Jolly Grant, Dehradun, 152 km
5. Places to stay – Fairydale Resort, Vanvasa Resort, Le Osh
6. Best time to visit –Monsoon and Winters
7. Things to do – Boating in Bhulla Tal Lake, visit the ancient temple of Koteshwar, a walk down the lover's lane.
8. Is it Child-Friendly - Yes

Authored By- Vibha Gangal

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