Lansdowne, India

2021-06-04T17:27:07Z

2409:4051:10D:1413:8F37:5AD8:3501:411F:

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Lansdowne
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Lansdowne_Landscape.jpg
| image_alt = Lansdowne Village
| image_caption = Lansdowne
| nickname =
Uplana
| pushpin_map = India Uttarakhand
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand, India
| coordinates = {{coord|29|50|15|N|78|40|55|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|..Uttarakhand Flag(INDIA).png}} [[Uttarakhand]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Pauri Garhwal]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1887
| founder =
| named_for = [[Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne|Lord Lansdowne]]
| government_type = C.E.O Ankita Singh
| governing_body = Cantonment board
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 6.09
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1780
| population_total = 7902
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
| population_demonym =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate =
| website =
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi]]
| official_name =
}}
{{multiple image|perrow=1
| image1 = Churchsnow.JPG
|caption1= St. Mary's church, Lansdowne
| image2 = Bhullar Lake 2.jpg
|caption2= Bhulla Tal Lake in Lansdowne
| image3 = Lansdownesnow2.JPG
|caption3= View from Tip-in-Top, Lansdowne after snowfall
}}
'''Lansdowne''', is a [[cantonment]] town in [[Pauri Garhwal]] district in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Uttarakhand]].

Lansdowne or Lansdown is a town and a [[hill station]] situated on the Kotdwar - Pauri road at a height of 1,780 m in Uttarakhand, India. Lansdowne is located in the Pauri district of Uttarakhand, 45 km from Kotdwar.

==History==
Originally known as ''Kaludanda'' ({{lang-hi|कालूडाण्डा}}) after Kalu (Black) and Danda (hills) in [[Garhwali language|Garhwali]], Lansdowne was founded and named after then [[Viceroy of India]] (1888-1894), [[Henry Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne|Lord Lansdowne]] in 1887, and by 1901 it had a population of 3943.<ref>[https://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V16_141.gif Lansdowne] [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]], 1909, v. 16, p. 135.</ref> Lansdowne was developed by the British for catering for the Recruits Training center of the [[Garhwal Rifles]]. Lansdowne was a major place of the activities of freedom fighters from [[British Garhwal]] during [[British Raj|British period]]. Nowadays, the famous [[Garhwal Rifles]] of the [[Indian Army]] has its command office here.<ref>[http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Regiments/Garhwal.html The Garhwal Rifles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006113305/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/Regiments/Garhwal.html |date=6 October 2008 }}</ref>
Lansdowne is one of the quietest hill stations of India and is popular since the British came to India. Lansdowne is unlike other hill stations as it is well connected with motorable roads but remote in its own way. It is situated at an altitude of 1,706 m above sea level surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests in the Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand state.

On 5 November 1887, the first battalion of Garhwal Rifles migrated from Almora to Lansdowne. Lansdowne was the only city after Almora in the late 1870s. People of different culture and states came to do business in Lansdowne after it became popular. The buildings and church of Lansdowne built during British period, which dates back to the pre-independence period. Lansdowne is an ideal location for eco-tourism as it is well preserved by the [[Government of Uttarakhand]] and the [[Garhwal Rifles]]. There is a road situated between jaiharikhal and Lansdowne which is called cool road( ठन्डी सड़क) where Indians were not allowed during the British times, it was only meant for Europeans. For the movement of Indians, a parallel road situated below this road was used.

==Local attractions==
The War Memorial, at the Parade Ground of the Garhwal Rifles Center, is an attraction for the visitors. However, prior permission from the military authority has to be obtained. Places of interest around the city include ''Tip n Top View Point'', Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple, which is the most visited Temple in Lansdowne and attracts thousands of devotees during the month of Sawan ( Indian Monsoon ), [[Santoshi Mata Temple]], Regimental Museum (also called the Darwan Singh Sanghralaya), [[Bhullatal Lake]], St. Mary's Church, and Lover's lane. Excursions from the city can go to the [[Tarkeshwar Mahadev]] Temple, Bhairav Garhi Temple, Bhim Pakora. The Annual ‘Sharadotsava’ (Festival of Autumn) is also organized at this hill station during the autumn season. The old cemetery in Kitchner Lines is one of the more mysterious places and some even call it one of the most haunted places in Lansdowne. Many war veterans have been laid to rest in the old cemetery and the graves date back to the mid-1850s.

The Garhwal Rifles Regimental Museum, also called [[Darwan Singh Sanghralaya]], houses artefacts from the beginning of the Regiment. The [[Garhwal Rifles]] participated in the two world wars among countless other battles throughout its more than 100 years of history. Many artifacts, including photographs, arms used by regimental commanders, captured weapons, campaign history and other information are displayed in this museum. There are many items, such as medals won by erstwhile Garhwal Rifle soldiers, that have been put on display, including the [[Victoria Cross]] awarded to [[Darwan Singh Negi]] and [[Gabar Singh Negi]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

Lansdowne is also famous for its standard of education.

== How to reach Lansdowne==
It is the nearest hill station to Delhi and can be reached by either road or train. The nearest railway station is [[Kotdwar]] at a distance of 44 km situated at an elevation of only 370 m. Since Lansdowne is more than 1,300 m higher than Kotdwara, the drive from Kotdwara to Lansdowne is quite steep and scenic.

The nearest airport is [[Jolly Grant Airport]], near [[Dehradun]] at a distance of 152 km via the [[Kotdwar]]-[[Haridwar]] road.

The other and better route to Lansdowne is by road from Delhi via Meerut, Bijnore, Najibabad, Kotdwar and on to Lansdowne. It saves about 50 km and the road quality is good all the way to Kotdwar. The Garhwal Rifles have painted a huge signboard with directions on rocks at the right-hand turn from the NH-119 that leads to Lansdowne. Lansdowne is 83 km from [[Pauri]] and about 250 km from [[Delhi]]. The drive through Blue Pine trees on hills near Lansdowne is a wonderful experience. However, this route has a lot of foot traffic and there are traffic jams during the [[Kanwar Yatra]].

==Geography==

{{Empty section|date=February 2021}}

== Nearby places ==
Famous Tarkeshwar Mahadev Temple with its special Shivalinga and a Kund (a small pond) known as Gauri Kund is situated 39 km away from Lansdowne. People take bath in Gauri Kund before entering the temple. Two other famous temples, Durga Devi Temple and Jwalpa Devi, which are on the [[Pauri]]-[[Kotdwar]] road are 24 km and 47 km away respectively. Durga Devi Temple is one of the oldest Siddha Pithas in India.

Kanvashram, a well-known landmark is situated 14 km from Kotdwar railway station. Shakuntala, wife of King Dushyanta and deserted by him, is said to have given birth to Bharata in the Ashram of Rishi Kanva in ancient India. India got its name 'Bharat' in Sanskrit after Bharata became king following the death of his father.

==Demographics==
{{As of|2001}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archive-date=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)|access-date=2008-11-01|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Lansdowne had a population of 7902. Males constitute 64% of the population and females 36%. Lansdowne has an average literacy rate of 86%, higher than the national average of 74%: male literacy is 91%, and female literacy is 79%. In Lansdowne, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Lansdowne (India)}}
* [http://www.naturelovers.co.in/uttarakhand/lansdowne/ Lansdowne, Uttarakhand] Information and Pictures.
* [http://lansdownecb.org.in/ Lansdowne Cantonment Board, website]
*[https://tripories.in/lansdowne/ Tripories]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cantonments of India]]
[[Category:Cantonments of British India]]
[[Category:Tourism in Uttarakhand|L]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Pauri Garhwal district]]

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Lansdowne, India