Lansdowne - A Peaceful Retreat !
Lansdowne is a small little cantonment town set amidst the oak and blue pine forests in the Pauri Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. Since the time of pre-independence, this small town has been the home to the Garhwal Rifles divison of the Indian Army. The hill station is not as commercialized as other popular hill stations such as Manali or Shimla, but it has its own charm. The serene surroundings and pristine environment of Lansdowne makes it a perfect weekend getaway destination for those who are tired of their routine life and want to spend some relaxing time in the lap of Mother Nature.
Around six hours drive along the National Highways NH-58 and NH-119 from Delhi take you to this quaint little town. As soon as you cross Najibabad, a nip in the air and thick forests of oak and blue pine bordering the road welcome you to have a pleasant stay in this small little hill station.
The tranquility, quietness and peace at this hill station make it a perfect site to indulge in some meditation to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Bird watching, trekking and boating are some of the popular activities which all tourists enjoy during their visit to Lansdowne. When in Lansdowne, your itinerary must include some of the following major tourist attractions in the town.
Major crowd puller in the town is the 'Garhwal Rifles Regimental War Memorial' which is located in the Parade Ground of the Cantonment Area. You can also visit the 'Regimental Museum' which houses a rare collection of rifles and antique artefacts belonging to the Garhwal Rifles.
You can spend your evenings at the 'Bhulla Taal' (small artificial lake) enjoying the view of setting sun as you paddle your boat along the waters of the lake which is illuminated by the golden hues of the setting sun's rays. For kids, the manicured gardens surrounding the lake are also a must visit.
From the lake, you can take a walk up to the 'Tip-in-Top Point' to get some magnificent views of the enchanting Himalayas and the zig zag roads down below. You feel as if you are floating in the air when the clouds and mist surround you from all sides at this point; the experience is just unforgettable.
On your way to the Tip-in-Top point, you will come across two beautiful churches: St John's Church and St. Mary's Church. A visit to these quaint churches will surely give you a peace of mind.
For pilgrims, 'Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple' is the most visited attraction in the town especially during Shivratri when a local fare is also organized. People also enjoy trekking up to this 700 years old temple as the trekking trail lies amidst the soaring trees of pine and deodar. A cool breeze of air refreshes you as you pass the forest.
Another major attraction in Lansdowne is the 'Bhim Pakora' which is a huge horizontal rock naturally resting over another big vertical rock. When the rock is slightly pushed, it moves a little but the interesting part is that it never falls.
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