A Weekend Getaway to Lansdowne – A 2 Day Itinerary

It was in the year 2016 when I first came across Lansdowne in a travel magazine, a pristine hill station in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Named after Lord Lansdowne, one of the viceroys of British India, it now serves as the residence of the Garhwal regiment.

Over the years, Lansdowne has become a popular destination amongst tourists because of its picturesque beauty and tranquil atmosphere. People visit this city to relax and detox their minds and souls. Moreover, due to its proximity to Delhi, it also serves as an ideal weekend getaway destination.

My friends and I visited Lansdowne in 2019 on a weekend trip and explored everything that this mountain town had to offer. From picturesque views of the Himalayan foothills to lush forest walks, from tranquil lakes to spirituality.

Here is our two-day itinerary where I share details about the spots we covered, where we stayed and some tips to make the most of your getaway. But before that, do watch this video of our fun road trip to Lansdowne from Delhi.

Day 1

6:00 am – Started our journey from Noida (National Capital Region)

Starting your trip early has many benefits. One, you’re more energetic after a good night sleep. Two, you will get less traffic and will be able to cover the distance within the estimated time. Three, you will start your journey with a beautiful sunrise by the highway side which is something you do not get to see every day. Do you?

8:30 am – Stopped by the Namaste Midway food court for breakfast

This was the first time we came across this amazing place called Namaste Midway. A gigantic food court that has a beautiful village-like setup. Apart from this, they have a huge handicraft shop with ethnic clothes, jewellery and craft. They have a huge parking facility and the entire complex is clean and beautifully decorated. We had our breakfast at Haldiram’s and continued with our journey.

1:00 pm – Reached our resort in Lansdowne

We had booked our stay at the Samskara and Samsara Homestays. The homestay is located 5 km before the main town and is an epitome of scenic beauty. After the check-in, we decided to have our lunch followed by a quick nap to recharge ourselves for the evening sightseeing session.

4:00 pm – Heading to our first spot, Bhullatal or Bhulla Lake

Our first stop was a serene lake amidst the forest. Bhullatal is a man-made artificial lake maintained by the Indian Army. The atmosphere is tranquil and it serves as a great place for a picnic. Moreover, a paradise for nature and photography lovers! The lake complex is average-sized and would not take more than an hour to cover. They also have boating facility within the complex. What a better way to enjoy an evening by the lakeside paddling a swan-like boat.

Tip: You can climb up the observation deck across the bridge to get a better view of the entire lake complex.

Ticket: Lake Complex: INR 35 per person | Boating – INR 30 per person
Summer timing: All days of the week | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Winter timing: All days of the week | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

5:05 pm – Visiting the St John’s Church

A Roman Catholic Church merely few kilometres away from the Bhulla Lake. You can also walk up to this church from the lake. The beautiful ceiling and quaint architecture make this place a must-visit for the tourists. This is the only functional church in Lansdowne. We sat inside the church for some time absorbing the calmness before heading to our next spot.

Time spent: This place falls on the way to Top and Toe viewpoint and takes approximately 10 – 15 minutes see the entire complex.

5:25 pm – Stopping by the St. Mary’s Church

This was a tiny stopover on our way to the Tip and Toe viewpoint. The tinted windows and splendid architecture is what attracts the visitors the most. This old-world charm now serves as a museum displaying the history of Lansdowne.

Tip: Visit this place between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, if you wish to see the museum. Moreover, they have an audio-visual presentation every morning at 8:00 am.

Ticket: INR 10 per person

6:00 pm – Sunset at the Tip and Toe viewpoint

This is one of the busiest places in Lansdowne and remains flooded with tourists throughout the day. The viewpoint gives you a 270-degree view of the tranquil Shivalik range with the majestic Himalayas in the backdrop. During the winters, you can see sunlight beaming over the snow-capped mountains creating a visual bliss! After watching the beautiful sunset, we stopped by the tea stall to have mountain style Maggie and tea.

P.S: The portions served were good but the taste was average.

8:00 pm – Return to our homestay

It was now time to stare endlessly at the starry sky and talk our hearts out. The day was eventful and now was the time to sit back and relax.

9:00 pm – Garhwali cuisine for dinner

The homestay served authentic Garhwali cuisine for dinner. The meal was delicious and the outdoor seating made the dinner experience even better.

Day 2

5:30 am – Early morning bird watching sessions

The chirping of sparrows broke our sleep the next morning. It somehow felt refreshing! We spotted a variety of North-Indian birds in the garden of our resort. From magpies to warblers to bulbuls, you can see them all over the place. It felt good to be so close to nature.

7:00 am – Breakfast with a view!

We sat in the garden to have our breakfast. The view from our homestay was serene with sunrays cutting the mist around the hills. After a delicious breakfast, we headed to our first spot for the day.

10:00 am – Getting high on the spiritual note

A bumpy 38 km ride took us to one of the sacred places of Lansdowne, Tarkeshwar temple. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva will leave you mesmerised with its unspoilt beauty. The temple is located in a secluded place surrounded by Oak and Deodars. The fragrance of Deodars will cleanse your soul and the sound of the bells will leave your heart dancing.

Tip: Wear walking shoes, as you will have to trek down the mountain for approximately 1 km to reach the shrine.

12:15 pm – A walk through the history of Lansdowne

Since we were short of time, we skip our visit to War Memorial and Darwan Singh Museum. However, if you have time, then do pay a visit to these to get a better understanding of the history and establishment of Lansdowne. The War Memorial can only be seen from outside as it is closed for civilians. However, you can visit the museum to know all about the history of the Garhwal regiment.

Tip: You can also visit the garden outside the museum that has a beautiful display of horticulture.

Ticket: INR 50 per person. Kids below 10 years of age are not allowed inside the museum. Moreover, the museum doesn’t allow photography.

3:00 pm – Lunch stop at the Countryside Café Kotdwar

On the way back to Delhi, we stopped by this beautiful garden café called Countryside Café in Kotdwar. It took us a while to locate the café but was worth a visit. We sat in a treehouse surrounded by greenery and tiny birds. The food was great and was a ‘value for money’ place.

11:00 pm – Back home!

We reached Noida at 11:00 pm. However, it took us more than what we had estimated because of a huge jam near Ghaziabad. However, the trip gave us a good break from our mundane life and didn’t hurt our pockets much!

How to reach Lansdowne?

If you’re from Delhi or the NCR region, you can reach here directly via car. It’s 258 km away and takes approximately 6 hours to reach.  You can also reach Lansdowne by flight. The closest airport is Dehradun’s Jolly Grant Airport. From there you can hire a taxi to Lansdowne, which is 142 km away. If you’re coming by train, the nearest station is Kotdwar. You can hire a taxi to reach Lansdowne, which is merely 40 km away.

Weather in Lansdowne

The weather is pleasant throughout the year. However, during the winters, the temperature can drop up to 40 degree Celsius making the ambience chilly. Moreover, during the summers, the temperature goes up to 25 degree Celsius but remains cool.