Lansdowne

Lansdowne was originally a popular hill station with the British. The Lansdowne was founded by ‘Lord Lasndowne’ in 1887 A.D., thus the place has been named after him. Attracted by its salubrious climate and natural beauty they established a cantonment here. The famous Garhwal rifles of the Indian Army also has its command office here.

Lansdowne is situated at an altitude of 6000 mtrs., Enroute Kotdwar – Pauri road, 45 km. from Kotdwar. Surrounded by thick oak and blue pine forest, it is a very charming place for a quiet holiday as it is devoid of the usual hustle and bustle of hill stations.

History

Originally known as, Kaludanda, after Kalun (Black) and Danda (Hill) in local language, Lansdowne was founded and named after then Viceroy of India, Lord Lansdowne in 1887, and by 1901 it had a population of 3943 . Lansdowne was developed by the British for catering for the Recruits Training center of the Garhwal Rifles. Lansdowne was a major place of the activities of freedom fighters from British Garhwal during British period. Nowadays, the famous Garhwal Rifles of the Indian Army has its command office here .

  

Geography

Lansdowne is located at 29°50′N 78°41′E / 29.83, 78.68. It has an average elevation of 1,400 metres (4,593 feet). It is situated en route Kotdwara-Pauri road. Lansdowne is 81 km from Pauri and about 250 km from Delhi.

It is the nearest hill station from Delhi and is approachable by either Road or Train from Delhi. The nearest railway station is Kotdwara at a distance of 41 km. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, near Dehradun at a distance of 152 km via Kotdwara-Haridwar road.

Get in

Lansdowne in on the route from Kotdwar to Pauri. Kotdwar is the nearest railway station. Buses and taxis are available at the Kotdwar railway station. Having your own vehicle will enable you to easily visit nearby towns and temples.

 See

• Santoshi Mata Temple
• Tiffin Top – a view point
• Snow View – a view point
• Garhwal Rifles Museum
• The War Memorial at the Parade Ground of the Garhwal Rifles Center is an attraction for the visitors
• Bhulla Taal
• St. Mary’s Church.
• Bhairav Garhi temple
•  Annual ‘Sharadotsav’ (Festival of Autumn) is also organized at this hill station during autumn season.

Do

Travel to…

• Jwalpa Devi (47 km)
• Durga Devi temple (24 km)
• Tarkeshwar Mahadev (30 km)
• Karnva Ashram (14 km) – where Shakuntala is said to have given birth to Raja Bharat