By road
~40 km from Kotdwar
North India · Uttarakhand
Lansdowne, Uttarakhand
A quiet Garhwal cantonment of oak and pine · ~40 km from Kotdwar
Getting there
By rail
Kotdwar, ~40km
By air
Jolly Grant, Dehradun, ~150km
Best time to visit
March to June and September to November — mild and clear
Don't miss
Tip-in-Top
Bhulla Tal
St Mary's Church
The Darwan Singh Museum
Things to do
Forest walks
Viewpoint visits
The regimental museum
Boating on Bhulla Tal
Where to eat
What to pack
Warm layers, walking shoes
A quieter corner
Bhulla Tal, a small lake built by the soldiers
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Lansdowne?
March to June and September to November — mild and clear. What to pack: Warm layers, walking shoes.
How do I get to Lansdowne?
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, ~150km. The nearest railway station is Kotdwar, ~40km.
What is there to do in Lansdowne?
Forest walks, viewpoint visits, the regimental museum, boating on Bhulla Tal. A quieter find: Bhulla Tal, a small lake built by the soldiers.
What should I eat in Lansdowne?
Garhwali dishes and simple hill-town meals.
About Lansdowne
- Hills
- Forest
Where it is
Lansdowne is a cantonment town in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India, set among oak and pine forest at about 1,700 m, 40 km above Kotdwar.
History
Known to local people as Kalu ka Danda, the town was founded in 1887 and named after Lord Lansdowne, then Viceroy of India. It became the home of the Garhwal Rifles, and the regiment still shapes the town.
People
Lansdowne's people speak Garhwali and Hindi, and the town is closely tied to the army; many families in the surrounding villages have served in the Garhwal Rifles for generations.
Known for
- The home of the Garhwal Rifles
- Oak and pine forest walks
- Himalayan views from Tip-in-Top
- A quiet, unhurried town
Did you know?
Lansdowne's old name, Kalu ka Danda, means Kalu's hill.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.