Lansdowne, a quaint little cantonment town in Pauri, Garhwal, is a secluded little hill station which is around 228 km from Delhi. By road, it takes about six hours to reach Lansdowne from Delhi via Meerut and Bijnor. Starting out early in the morning works best since you can beat the office hour traffic on the Delhi-Meerut highway and have a smooth drive.
The first glimpse of the hills can be witnessed on reaching Kotdwar, which also has a temple of Lord Hanuman, locally known as ‘Siddhbali.’ The temple sits overlooking lush hills and a shallow stream, roughly 40 km before Lansdowne. While snaking uphill you observe a beautiful view of the valley, complete with pretty little houses, cows grazing, terrace farming and the locales going about their daily chores. The simplicity of the way of life is mesmerising.
Lansdowne is a well-kept and clean place, as it is taken care of by the Cantonment Board. It is an ideal location for eco-tourism, as everything is accessible by foot. It is one of the few less populated towns with helpful people and simple food, untouched by commercialisation.
Gandhi Market, the main and only market of the town, has parking space for tourists. Here you get utility items, a few restaurants, hotels, wood can also be found here for bonfires.
Walk down to Bhulla Lake and enjoy boating or just sit by the lake and connect with your inner self. The quiet and peace here makes you forget all worldly worries.
Trek further and you can visit old churches and pass by bungalows from the British era. The highest point is ‘Tip n Top,’ also known as ‘Tiffin Top.’ Tiffin Top has a humble guest house where we chose to stay. The wooden flooring, the hearth and secluded location with a grand view of the Himalayas in the distance makes it a perfect stay for people looking to feel at one with nature. The food is simple and affordable. A peek down into the valley from here and you realise that you are at an altitude of 1,700 mts above sea level. If you’re lucky, you could spot clouds floating in the valley early in the morning from Sunset Point, right next to Tip n Top.
Surrounded with thick oak and blue pine trees, the hill has a number of decades old bungalows, each one with its own tale to tell. Like most hilly areas, Lansdowne also has its share of ghost stories, which may be pure legend, or might just be true. Bungalow number 13 is reputed to be haunted and has remained unoccupied for a good many years.
There are a number of old and renowned temples in and around Lansdowne which can be on your must-visit list. There is also a small Army museum that has a short film specially shot for tourists.

The writer is a travel enthusiast