Blawgg

The scorching summer heat drives flatlanders like us Delhi-ites out to the hill stations every May/June. Unfortunately but expectedly, the usual spots are at this time way too crowded and congested.  There still are thankfully, some places that haven’t been trampled under scorpios and endeavours and/or littered by colored polybags yet. One of them is Lansdowne, about 230 kms north of Delhi, via Bijnor and Kotdwar.

The town is strictly under army control – hence the good roads, spotless town center and litter bins everywhere. There’s not a lot of touristy places, and there are only a handful of hotels. But there are tall Deodar forests, scenic hills and curving roads, and a couple of divine churches. The town center itself is a small junction with market lanes. The hotel recommendation is Fairydale resort – by far the best and well located (and owned by an XLer!) – there’s another call Blue Pines but it’s way lower than the main town.

Lansdowne

The two Churches

Tarkeshwar Temple – nestled in a Deodar valley – as divine as it gets

Rock formations – One of the many

Boating Lake