Lansdowne, in Uttaranchal, is a must-see for all those who have had an overdose of commercial retreats like Mussorie and Nainital, writes Rachna Bisht-Rawat
If you want to see a geographic version of an assault rifle with flowers popped in the barrel, visit Lansdowne. Just 267 km from Delhi, in next-door Uttaranchal, lies this Army cantonment where red-roofed bungalows glisten in the sun and yellow centered white daisies grow wild in quiet nooks and corners. Where Bumble bees hum and the Whistling Thrush hops and twitters on the roadside. Side-by-side with the magnificent British time Parade Ground where recruits sometimes play friendly football matches with local teams and valiant Garhwali soldier Gabbar Singh?s towering statue stands guard.
What adds to Lansdowne?s misty charms and breathtaking early morning views of the Himalayan ranges is that it has managed to escape tourist attention despite being so close to the Capital city. So for now, and until it is discovered by the irresponsible tourists, you avoid those noisy crowds and their dirty litter.
A leisurely drive takes five hours from Delhi to Kotdwar. From here, Lansdowne is just 42 km away. The road twists and turns around small hills with the gurgling river Kho following it for a while. As you climb higher up the hill, the river gets left behind and instead you run into interesting tea dhabas and cucumber carts and even a thirst-quenching mountain spring.
On way you also find the temples of Sidhbali and Durga Devi ringing out with the clanging sound of metal bells.
The hairpin bends can be upsetting for queasy stomachs. Also, watch out for the rashly driven jeeps driven by boisterous Garhwali boys.
The air turns cool and crisp just as Lansdowne hits you, with the welcoming green colour of the Garhwal Rifles. Clean well-swept roads, friendly locals with sing-song accents and the aura of a town where time seems to have stopped are typical of Lansdowne.
The main road leads into a quaint market place, where you get everything form locally made mouth-watering pastries and crisp fried jalebi-samosas to local ferns or lingdu that goes into an appetising Garhwali vegetable dish.
A relatively new attraction for kids is an artificial lake that has been created by the Garhwal Rifles. A war museum and two churches also get their share of attention from visitors.
But for the ultimate high go on a walk along the winding roads, listening to the chirping of the friendly birds and the ear splitting ?kafal pako? of the hill bird. Two scenic view points Tiffin Top and Snow View can give you a breathtaking glimpse of the Himalayan ranges on a clear day.
A stroll on Thandi Sadak, a tiny winding walkway along the outer side of the hill, is a must and do ask a local to apprise you of the story of the headless ghost of an ?angrez sahib? that horse-rides there on moonlit nights.
The Garhwal Rifles Mess is considered one of the best in the Indian Army with a stunning view point and a fascinating gazebo covered with laminated pencil sketches of acts of bravery in the regimental history.
Lansdowne is a must-see for all those who have over-dosed on commercial retreats like Mussorie and Nainital.
1 comment:
History of lansdowne:
Lansdowne, in Uttaranchal, is a must-see for all those who have had an overdose of commercial retreats like Mussorie and Nainital, writes Rachna Bisht-Rawat
If you want to see a geographic version of an assault rifle with flowers popped in the barrel, visit Lansdowne. Just 267 km from Delhi, in next-door Uttaranchal, lies this Army cantonment where red-roofed bungalows glisten in the sun and yellow centered white daisies grow wild in quiet nooks and corners. Where Bumble bees hum and the Whistling Thrush hops and twitters on the roadside. Side-by-side with the magnificent British time Parade Ground where recruits sometimes play friendly football matches with local teams and valiant Garhwali soldier Gabbar Singh?s towering statue stands guard.
What adds to Lansdowne?s misty charms and breathtaking early morning views of the Himalayan ranges is that it has managed to escape tourist attention despite being so close to the Capital city. So for now, and until it is discovered by the irresponsible tourists, you avoid those noisy crowds and their dirty litter.
A leisurely drive takes five hours from Delhi to Kotdwar. From here, Lansdowne is just 42 km away. The road twists and turns around small hills with the gurgling river Kho following it for a while. As you climb higher up the hill, the river gets left behind and instead you run into interesting tea dhabas and cucumber carts and even a thirst-quenching mountain spring.
On way you also find the temples of Sidhbali and Durga Devi ringing out with the clanging sound of metal bells.
The hairpin bends can be upsetting for queasy stomachs. Also, watch out for the rashly driven jeeps driven by boisterous Garhwali boys.
The air turns cool and crisp just as Lansdowne hits you, with the welcoming green colour of the Garhwal Rifles. Clean well-swept roads, friendly locals with sing-song accents and the aura of a town where time seems to have stopped are typical of Lansdowne.
The main road leads into a quaint market place, where you get everything form locally made mouth-watering pastries and crisp fried jalebi-samosas to local ferns or lingdu that goes into an appetising Garhwali vegetable dish.
A relatively new attraction for kids is an artificial lake that has been created by the Garhwal Rifles. A war museum and two churches also get their share of attention from visitors.
But for the ultimate high go on a walk along the winding roads, listening to the chirping of the friendly birds and the ear splitting ?kafal pako? of the hill bird. Two scenic view points Tiffin Top and Snow View can give you a breathtaking glimpse of the Himalayan ranges on a clear day.
A stroll on Thandi Sadak, a tiny winding walkway along the outer side of the hill, is a must and do ask a local to apprise you of the story of the headless ghost of an ?angrez sahib? that horse-rides there on moonlit nights.
The Garhwal Rifles Mess is considered one of the best in the Indian Army with a stunning view point and a fascinating gazebo covered with laminated pencil sketches of acts of bravery in the regimental history.
Lansdowne is a must-see for all those who have over-dosed on commercial retreats like Mussorie and Nainital.
Post a Comment