My travelogue on Lansdowne

Syalsaur is north of Rudraprayag. GMVN has a nice location there right on the riverside.

Hi IndiaMikers .... i am planning to visit Lansdowne during the 1th August long weekend for 2N/3D .. have a few questoins:

1. Is it good time to go there?
2. Which would be the best place to stay - budget not a constraint?
3. Is it doable in 3 days?
4. Any other better option for the time of the year and duration from Delhi?

Thnx in advance!

Responses inline below

1. Is it good time to go there?
>> Yes, it's a beautiful small hamlet and will be lush greens post rains
2. Which would be the best place to stay - budget not a constraint?
>> GMVN has good rooms and a pretty good location
3. Is it doable in 3 days?
>> Easily doable in 3 days; quite good enough
4. Any other better option for the time of the year and duration from Delhi?
>> A comfortable drive approx 5 - 5.5 hours drive.

-Naveen

Nice post, Loved reading through the replies. Will get there soon..

I agree on all points except below
August is good but there is a good probability that weather may spoil/mar the trip to some extent. Reason - monsoons are no good in hills (Of course they are, if you are looking for lush green valleys and slopes - but then be prepared for possible road blocks or risks of landslides during Aug-Sept. Not to say about leeches if you prefer to take a walk). Refer to road blocks news and landslides in past couple of years.

And yes, it's not that cool in May-June either. However the place is serene and beautiful. Oct-Mar is a better season, IMHO

I visited there in June 2008.Excellent location ,Stayed at GMVN.Good location nice rooms.

@shveta gupta: I was there in Lansdowne a couple of weeks ago and did the to and fro ride from delhi to delhi in about 22 hours. Although that was just a spontaneous trip when we actually went out of our IIT hostel to have dinner in some roadside dhaba of a highway, and we ultimately landed up in Lansdowne. Still thats indicative that you can definitely do it in 3 days.

Hi!
I'm in a bit of a desperation situation here. I've got my stay confirmed at the Oak Grove Inn, Lansdowne for the 30th and 31st of May. The general view that most people have is that it would be better to go by my own car, specially as the Inn is a little outside Lansdowne per se. I've been in talking with various car rental guys. The cost of fuel and the driver charges are not a problem. But I'm not sure about the toll and interstate taxes. A breakdown given to me by a rental company is a as follows :

UP Tax: 400

Uttrankhand tax: 600

Highway Toll & Parking charges: 850

Are these the right figures?

The Uttarakhand tax is about double of that. That's because it's for a 3-month period.

I'm not aware of any highway toll on that route. And parking charges? Where?

Simplest for you is to take a train Delhi-Kotdwara. Even hiring an exclusive car from the RS will be significantly cheaper, as you can imagine. And no inter-state taxes to worry about.
Even otherwise, getting to Jaiharikhal (location of OGI) is not a problem by share-jeep from Lansdowne.

what's up with gmvn website?
Was trying to book syalsaur gmvn thru' their website.
It doesnt' let me register...
have noticed this many times in the past...
how do you do the bookings then?

There are many places in lansdowne like tarkeshwar temple which is few kilometer away from lansdown on the way of rignikhal,tip and top etc are the places which added beauty to that hill place.

Well, with their Mumbai office then.

Some Gyan on Lansdowne in my recent travelogue here - http://www.indiamike.com/india/journ...owentry&e=1256 (see day 7 onwards)
and pix here https://picasaweb.google.com/1119203...at=directlink#

nice repressentation of this place called lansdown.

I have been going to Lansdowne for many years now. Its the most easily done short trip, ood enough for a weekend as well. Some less known things about and near Lansdowne include a gorgeous stream to have a dip in, the gazebo and museum in Garhwal rifles centre, for which a pass can be taken with ease. There are perhaps the max number of wild flowers in this area than any where else if you go beyind Jairikhal toward day and night dhaba, in the monsoons. ANd many more.

May fav haunt there is Oak Grove Inn and having some finger lickin great meat of various sorts in their "Hangout"

A small glimpse I have packed into some pics on jumarring.blogspot.com