Lansdowne trip

ntomer

Ghaziabad – Meerut – Bijnore – Kotdwar – Dugadda – Lansdowne – Dugadda - Kotdwar - Bijnore - Meerut - Ghaziabad

Last month had been very busy for me; 3 of my projects were nearing completion and it made life hell for me. I was regularly reaching home at early morning; I would have hardly talked to my daughter for 1 hour in March. I needed and deserved a break.

I had planned to drive to Lansdowne earlier but due to non-availability of accommodation it never materialized. This time luckily I got acco so decided to leave on 31st March morning to Lansdowne for a week-end trip. Wifey said that next Friday being Good Friday we'll get 3 days; but I was too fed-up to postpone.

So we left for Lansdowne on Saturday morning from our home in Ghaziabad, in my 2005 model Getz GLS at 6:30 AM.

The road we took from Ghaziabad is NH-58; even at that time the traffic in Ghaziabad was bad, it took us about 30 minutes to cross Ghaziabad. The road from Ghaziabad to Meerut is 4-lane; but is in bad condition and traffic is horrible. One can see all kind of vehicles ranging from bullock-carts, tractors, combines to jugaads on this road.

We reached Meerut in one hour; 12 KMs before Meerut at Partapur by-pass, one has to take a right turn from NH-58 to go inside Meerut. After driving 12 KMs in Meerut, we reached Begam Pul crossing, took a right-turn from there to take the Bijnore road. The road from Meerut onwards although single-lane is in excellent condition with very little traffic. I was able to drive at 100-120 kmph for long stretches.

One word of caution - there are very dhabas on this road, so preferably have your breakfast before Meerut. We found a decent one after Mavana, just before the turn to Hastinapur.



We reached Najibabad by 10:00 AM. I tell you people here have suicidal tendencies, the just jump on the road without giving a damn to the oncoming traffic. The road here from Jalalabad to Najibabd is in terrible condition (abt 4 KMs), traffic is BAD and you find 3 railway crossings in 4 KMs. Luckily all 3 were open.

From here we took a left turn to Kotdwar; the road further narrows down but is in excellent condition. Here is a pic of the road with my car.



We reached Lansdowne at 12:00 PM; checked in our hotel - the Fairydale Resorts. It's a raj-era bungalow with lotsa old-world charm.



After feshening-up, we drove to town and had lunch there; then drove up to St. Mary's church and Tiffin Top. The church is very well-maintained and looks fab.



The view of Lansdowne from Tiffin Top -



Lansdowne is home of Garhwal Rifles and is maintained by the cantonment board. This means cleanliness, orderliness and efficient administration. All construction has to be approved by cantt board; that's the reason the town has only 3 hotels and is not a typical tourist hill-station. A nice place for those who enjoy solitude. Perfect for long walks alone or with your companion.

The place has many raj-era bungalows; all occupied by army people and administrators. The most beautiful of these bungalows -



The resort has beautiful lawns, overlooking pine forests. Sitting in these lawns, I re-fuelled myself ;-)



We left Lansdowne at 11:00 AM next morning. The breakfast at Hotel Mayur was out-of-this-world. Reached Meerut at 2:00 PM. The traffic was horrible and it took us 1 hour to cross Meerut. After that 1 hour drive to Ghaziabad. And I was home re-freshened and re-charged.

ChrisJ

Sounds very nice.

Lansdowne is definitly on my list!

Thanks for the info and photos!

Chris.

alok_verma27

thnx ntomer for such detailed information and photos.

rishabh6296

Lansdowne and pauri are even on my itinerary this summer.

karnail

rishabh6296

which is the best hotel in lansdowne?

shashank.aggarwal

They have only 3 or 4..

1. Fairy Dale Resort
2. Uttranchal Bhawan
3. Hotel Mayur (seemed to be most congested of all)
4. Pine View Resort (is 4 KM before Lansdowne, but booked well in advance)

__________________
Travelogue - Around India
Random Reviews

rishabh6296

Thanks Shashank!

Dilliwala

Hey rishabh,

At Lansdowne, your choice is basically limited to 2 - Fairydale and GMVN. Don't know where UA Bhavan is, unless shashank means GMVN, or it's in the bazar, like Mayur. For the bazar, I have 3 words - avoid like plague! Except for eating. I don't recall Pine View either from my last 2 trips, Feb 05 and Jan 06. Maybe it's new. '05 I stayed at Fairydale - it's not bad, but nothing great either. In fact I checked GMVN out and liked it better as it was relatively new still, only they had no room the night I arrived. If u have the correct contact u cud also book the PWD GH.

And a word of advice for anyone driving from Delhi and neighbourhood in the direction of Bijnor/Kotdwara - never, never, NEVER drive thru the Meerut city centre, i.e. via Begampul! Unless it's between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am. At other times, take the left-hand Meerut Bypass, drive to the crossing where u see the sign "Meerut Cantonment", turn right, go straight across the railway line, the road will wind its way to the Mall Road (ask if u get confused), then keep on straight, u'll pass Wheeler Club on your right. At the end of the Mall Road, ask for directions to "Mawana Road" (the riksha guys are the best to ask), u may have to ask a few times, but as long as u keep asking for Mawana Road u'll be sent in the right direction.

shashank.aggarwal

I returned this morning itself..yeas by UA bhawan I meant GMVN.

1. Blue Pine Resort, 4 km Before Lansdowne.
2. Hotel Mayur, Located in the market, checked the Deluxe room, did'nt like it much, didn't stay there.
3. GMVM, didn't want to see it.
4. Fairydale, stayed there a month ago, liked the service. Stayed there again and this time enjoyed there food. AMAZING food !!
5. Jungle Retreat Anand, 3 KM beyond Lansdowne.

Last month when we drove we went through the bypass itself...however on the second squares locals guided us to take the right turn, we crossed the railway line and were guided towards some bus depot..

But the road was very confusing as I found myself at a 'V' point more often than I would have liked.

Dilliwala

Seems u are a fan of Lansdowne! It is actually the closest hill-station to Delhi, not a lot of people realise that. Good weather?

1. So 4 km before means near the fork at Deriakhal, where people hang around for buses/jeeps going on the side-road (to Rikhnikhal)? Where is it exactly, below the road or above? Is it very new? I can't figure out why I missed it otherwise. Have u been inside? Room-rates?
5. Beyond meaning - the road going out of town towards Gumkhal and Pauri, passing below Tiffin Top? Also new?
I don't remember either of theses places from Jan 06.

Yes, the Bypass approach thru Meerut Cantt can be confusing the first few times, but once u get the hang of it, it's quite simple, and much more convenient than Begampul. The trick is to keep asking for Mall Road, and at the end of that, Mawana Road.

shashank.aggarwal

Yes, other popular places are like Paharganj now, full of people..crowded..

But Lansdowne, currently, hardly has the capacity of 50 rooms (maybe much less than that)..so that means 100-150 tourists to the maximum at any given time..there are other Tourist bunglows and guesthouses, but they all are 'departmental' and you need contacts for them..but again that will add 20 people of so...

So that means at the peak rush no more than 150-170 tourists..quite neat huh...

This place seemed quite new, I didn't check it this time..however last time we reached there at 1 AM and it was very foggy, we tried to get a room, but were told that they were full and they didn't even open reception door for us..and its on the upside of the road..

I am not familiar with routes there..but I guess the place you are talking about is 12 Km before lansdowne...as y'day a local told me to book a Jeep till that place and from there I can get other transport options..incase we missed the last jeep from Lansdowne to Kotdwar at 6 pm. (Thank god we didn't miss it )

Sorry no Idea...as didn't go towards that side..Or inquired about this place..

by the way its not Tiffin Top its "Tip-n-Top" I read it on the direction boards.. and locals also referred it by the latter name..

Got your point sir...will make a note for the next trip !!

Dilliwala

Actually it is Tiffin Top, cos that's where the Brits used to go for their tiffin (not kidding)! The present version has been truly desi-ised - it's like Laat for Lord and Carpet Saab for Corbett Saab in Kumaon.

shashank.aggarwal

Oh okay...!! but spellings on army direction boards are generally right.. anyways will inquire about it when I am there next time..

puchoo

went to lansdowne barely a month back. Check the travelogue and the photographs at

http://puchoo.wordpress.com/category...ues/lansdowne/

__________________
Cheers!
Sidharth

Indiamike Mod team............the new kid on the block!

puchoo.wordpress.com