Pauri Garhwal · Uttarakhand
Lansdowne
A quiet Garhwal cantonment town of pine ridges, a golf course and the Garhwal Rifles museum.
Lansdowne is an easy hill destination in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, reaching 1,800 m. The best time to go is March to June and September to November. Plan 2 to 3 days on the ground from Dehradun and about ₹2,500 per person per day.
What to do in Lansdowne
The one thing not to miss
Tip-n-Top
The ridge viewpoint above the cantonment.
- 2Bhulla TalA small lake kept by the Garhwal Rifles.
- 3The regimental museumThe story of the Garhwal Rifles.
- 4St Mary's ChurchA stone church on the ridge.
- 5Tarkeshwar MahadevA Shiva temple in a deodar forest, a drive away.
A sample plan: 3 days
Day 1
Dehradun to Lansdowne
About 5 hours on the road. Check in and take a short walk to get your bearings.
Day 2
Tip-n-Top · Bhulla Tal · The regimental museum
Details for each are under What to do, above.
Day 3
Lansdowne to Dehradun
Leave after breakfast; hill roads are slower than the map suggests.
A starting point built from the things to do above. Move days around to suit your pace.
When to go
- ❄︎Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Why go
Undisturbed colonial-era calm, and barely any tourist traffic.
Why not
Limited stay options and almost no adventure activities.
Before you go
- Permits
- None.
- Guide
- Not needed.
- Safety
- Leopard sightings reported near the forest edges at night.
- Phone & internet
- Good.
Permits, food and festivals in Uttarakhand →
These details haven't been field-verified yet. Confirm permits, road status and weather locally before you travel.
If something goes wrong
Main hospitals in Uttarakhand: Base Hospital, Haldwani; Community Health Centre, Munsiyari; District Hospital, Bageshwar.
All emergency contacts for Uttarakhand →What to pack for Lansdowne
Worked out from its season, altitude and terrain. Tick things off as you pack; tap a name to find it in a shop.
Clothing
10 items
- Fleece or light sweater Evenings turn cold in the hills even in summer.
- Thermal inner wear (top and bottom) Nights drop below freezing in the snow months.
- Down or padded jacket Your main warm layer for mornings, evenings and high points.
- Woollen cap that covers the ears Most body heat is lost from the head.
- Woollen socks, 2–3 pairs Dry woollen socks for the night matter more than you expect.
- Waterproof gloves You will be touching snow; ordinary woollen gloves get wet.
- Neck gaiter or balaclava Covers nose and neck in wind and on cold mornings.
- Hand warmers A small, cheap comfort at camp and on early starts.
- Compact umbrella Showers are frequent in the rainy months.
- Rain jacket or poncho The season here overlaps the rains.
Footwear
2 items
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip Hill towns mean slopes, steps and wet stone.
- Waterproof snow boots Ordinary shoes soak through in snow. Often rentable on the spot — check before buying.
For day outings
2 items
- Day pack, 20–30 litres For day outings: water, a layer, a camera.
- Water bottles, 2 litres in total Refill rather than buying plastic bottles.
Health and sun
6 items
- Sunscreen, SPF 50 UV is much stronger at altitude and on snow.
- Small first-aid kit and your own medicines The nearest chemist may be hours away.
- UV-protection sunglasses Protects against snow glare and strong high-altitude light.
- Lip balm with SPF Cold, dry air cracks lips within a day.
- Motion-sickness bands or tablets The approach roads are long and winding.
- Insect repellent Mosquitoes and midges at lower altitudes and in the wet months.
Documents and money
3 items
- Government photo ID and two photocopiesAsked for at hotels, check posts and permit counters.
- Enough cash for the whole tripATMs are scarce and often empty beyond the gateway town.
- Permits and registrationsNone.
Phone and power
2 items
- Power bank Charging is limited, and cold drains batteries fast.
- A SIM that works thereGood.
Read before you go
1 item
- A guidebook for Uttarakhand Worth reading before you go, and it works without a signal.
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Getting there
The nearest gateway is Dehradun.
Directions open in Google Maps with today's road time. In the mountains, add a third to whatever it says.
- Normal car?
- Yes, any car can make it.
By road
From
Delhi
- Distance
- about 260 km
- Drive time
- 6–7 hours
- Delhi
- Meerut
- Bijnor
- Najibabad
- Kotdwar
- Lansdowne
From
Kotdwar
- Distance
- about 40 km
- Drive time
- about 1.5 hours
- Kotdwar
- Dugadda
- Lansdowne
Kotdwar is the nearest railway station.
Live directions from KotdwarFrom
Dehradun
- Distance
- about 150 km
- Drive time
- about 5 hours
- Dehradun
- Haridwar
- Najibabad
- Kotdwar
- Lansdowne
Buses and shared taxis. Trains from Delhi reach Kotdwar; buses and shared taxis cover the last stretch.
Pickups & drivers
From Dehradun. Call or WhatsApp the driver directly.
No drivers listed for Lansdowne yet. Drive this route? List your cab.
Lansdowne: questions people ask
What is the best time to visit Lansdowne?
The best months for Lansdowne are March to June and September to November. December to February are possible but not ideal. Snow is likely in January.
How difficult is Lansdowne?
Lansdowne is rated easy. No trekking is needed, starting at 1,700 m and reaching 1,800 m.
How many days do you need for Lansdowne?
Plan 2 to 3 days on the ground, counted from Dehradun. Add travel days to reach the gateway from your city.
How much does a trip to Lansdowne cost?
Expect about ₹2,500 per person per day for a mid-range trip (stay, food and local transport). That is roughly ₹7,500 for 3 days, before the cost of getting to Dehradun.
How do you reach Lansdowne?
By road: from Delhi it is about 260 km, 6–7 hours (Delhi → Meerut → Bijnor → Najibabad → Kotdwar → Lansdowne); from Kotdwar it is about 40 km, about 1.5 hours (Kotdwar → Dugadda → Lansdowne); from Dehradun it is about 150 km, about 5 hours (Dehradun → Haridwar → Najibabad → Kotdwar → Lansdowne). Trains from Delhi reach Kotdwar; buses and shared taxis cover the last stretch. The nearest gateway is Dehradun.
Do you need a permit or a guide for Lansdowne?
Permits: None. Guide: Not needed.
Is Lansdowne suitable for children and senior citizens?
With children it is great; with seniors it is great. It is quiet in season. Leopard sightings reported near the forest edges at night.
What should you pack for Lansdowne?
Pack fleece or light sweater, thermal inner wear (top and bottom), down or padded jacket, woollen cap that covers the ears, woollen socks, 2–3 pairs, waterproof gloves, neck gaiter or balaclava, hand warmers, compact umbrella. Also carry a government photo ID, enough cash and any permits. The full list is on this page.
Is there mobile network and internet at Lansdowne?
Good.
Who should not go to Lansdowne?
Lansdowne suits most travellers, including children and senior citizens. The one drawback to know about: Limited stay options and almost no adventure activities.