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Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Lansdowne Uttrakhand

I’m always hesitant in suggesting Lansdown to people for vacations. I want to keep it the way I remember it from my childhood days- discreet and peaceful. I don’t like even the idea of Lansdowne being crowded, selfish me!It is a small cantonment town in the Garhwal region of Uttrakhand and is well connected by road. Nearest railway station is Kotdwara (around 40ish km). Drive from Kotdwara to Lansdowne is exiting and enjoyable with some steep turns.

Do not expect fancy restaurants, lavish pubs or exotic shops - Lansdowne is solely for nature lovers. There is hardly anything else to do except admire nature and relax. It provides the rarest of all things a nature lover (like me) could ask for these days- Solitude! Lansdowne has a rustic charm to it- time seems to move slower here and that is the beauty of this place. My favorite thing here is to trek to the nearby villages and simply explore. The people are very simple, friendly and welcoming.

There is not much to do in Lansdowne itself, the so called tourist attractions like tip-and-top point, bhulla taal , Bheem pakoda etc within Lansdowne do not appease me. But there are some great places around Lansdowne/ Kotdwar that should not be missed:

1.       Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple:  My favorite picnic spot ever. I have enjoyed numerous family picnics here since childhood and I am definitely partial to this place. It’s nostalgic and so much fun each time I visit. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is amidst spectacular landscape. Tall and strong Deodar trees seem to be guarding the serenity of this place, protecting it from the chaos of the outside world. The aura is truly mesmerizing.

2.       Durga Devi Temple: It is always refreshing to stop by at this temple just on the outskirts of Kotdwara. The temple is situated by the Khoh river. A quick trek down to the river to crawl inside the small cave is a lot of fun. If the river is not too fierce, it is great to just sit on the rocks with legs dangling in water. Elephants are in abundance here, it is not a good idea to draw their attention as it their terrain. From personal experience- if you are at the river and spot an elephant here, climb up to the road as fast as you can and leave. Well, that’s pretty much to it.

3.       Kanvashram: This place is like a rare hidden gem just a few km from Kotdwara. Kanvashram is an ancient place that holds historical and archaeological significance. It is believed that this ashram was rishi Kanva’s home who used to run a gurukul here. The ashram surrounded by beautiful forests has a tranquilizing aura. For the adventurous souls, there are some trekking options. Interestingly there is still a gurukul here that we can visit. I would recommend stopping at this place on your way to Kotdwara/Lansdowne and appreciate this place of antiquity.

4.       Siddhabali Temple: This is an ancient Hanuman temple situated by the Khoh river. I don’t really know how old the temple is but even the most aged people say that it has always been there. Numerous stairs lead up to the temple but the effort is worth every calorie. The temple premise is very clean and well maintained. Cool breeze, lush green hills and the lovely Khoh river slithering below- The view is hypnotizing.  It is very common to spot elephants drinking water at the river. My fondest memories from childhood include having a carefree time at the Sidhbali Bridge in the evenings and laughing at silly things with my cousins. How time flies!

 My 2 Cents:
1.       Lansdowne comes to a standstill at sunset. Do NOT visit if you tend to get bored after sometime looking at the mountains or you do not enjoy solitude because that’s the best (and only) thing this place offers.

2.       A comfortable pair of walking shoes is a must for all hill stations.

3.       It could be a tough terrain to drive for people who are not used to driving in the hills. Take it easy and do not overtake.

4.       If possible leave early for Tarkeshwar to get maximum time to enjoy there. Try chai and fan from the stall outside.

5.       Climbing up the Sidhbali temple stairs could be a tough task for elderly people.

6.   Do not forget to try the famous 'Chocolate mithai' at Kotdwar.

7. Respect Mother Nature. Do not litter. This is more of a request. 


36 comments:

  1. Ohh it's awesome.mujhe bhi yaha jana h.

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  2. Ohh it's awesome.mujhe bhi yaha jana h.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Akshay, I am glad you liked it :)

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  4. You have added more worth to this place
    By well describing it's beauty n hidden treasures.
    Will definitely visit it soon.

    Thanks for the lovely write up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Pooja. I am sure you will like this place :)

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  5. You have added more worth to this place
    By well describing it's beauty n hidden treasures.
    Will definitely visit it soon.

    Thanks for the lovely write up.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Juhi ... you make me more restless with evry post of urs .. awesomely described with to the point suggestions... m already in love with the place .. keep writing ..

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the motivation.It is indeed a beautiful place, do plan a trip soon.

      Delete
  7. You must visit on your next trip to India :)

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  8. Lovely post Juhi. Falling in luv wd dis place. Will soon visit here .thanks fr d lovely descrption it wud b a travel guide fr me :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tejasvi. Do visit , I'm sure you are going to love it.

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  9. Pleasing words. And beautifully written too. Keep writing girlie

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  10. Nicely illustrated amazed by your description
    Good job👍👍👍👍👍👍

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  11. Nicely illustrated amazed by your description
    Good job👍👍👍👍👍👍

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