Lansdowne by road from Delhi: distance, time, fare
Lansdowne is about 250 km from Delhi by road, via the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Bijnor, Najibabad and Kotdwar, usually 6 to 7 hours. The last 40 km from Kotdwar are a gentle hill climb. A RutzIndia.com compact sedan costs Rs 9,000 Pay Now to Reserve one way and an Innova Crysta Rs 14,250 Pay Now to Reserve, exclusive of 5% GST.
Lansdowne is the hill station for people who dislike hill stations. There is no crowded Mall Road, no cable car and no row of fast-food outlets. Instead there is a small, spotless cantonment at around 1,700 metres, laid out in the late nineteenth century as the home of the Garhwal Rifles and named after Lord Lansdowne, the Viceroy of the day. Much of the town is still army land, which is exactly why it has stayed green, quiet and uncluttered: forest paths under oak, pine and rhododendron, a couple of old stone churches, a regimental museum, and, on clear winter mornings, a long line of snow peaks on the northern horizon.
It is also one of the closest real hill stations to Delhi. Leave after breakfast and you are sitting on a pine-scented verandah by late afternoon. That makes it ideal for couples, families with young children and small office groups who want two unhurried days away. RutzIndia.com runs one-way drops and weekend round trips from anywhere in Delhi NCR, with the car and driver staying at your hotel.
Things to see and do in Lansdowne
- Darwan Singh Sangrahalaya. The Garhwal Rifles regimental museum, named after Naik Darwan Singh Negi, one of the regiment's Victoria Cross recipients from the First World War. Uniforms, medals, weapons and photographs trace the regiment's history. Opening days are set by the army, so check locally.
- Tip-n-Top. Also called Tiffin Top, the best-known viewpoint, with a wide panorama over the valleys and, in clear weather, the Himalayan snow line. A short walk from the road.
- Bhulla Tal. A small, army-maintained lake with paddle boats and gardens, pleasant for children in the afternoon.
- St Mary's Church and St John's Church. Two old churches from the Raj era; St Mary's has a small exhibition of historic photographs, and St John's is still in use.
- Tarkeshwar Mahadev temple. About 36 km away, a Shiva temple hidden in deep deodar forest, where the drive is half the pleasure. Many families make it a half-day outing.
- Jungle walks and bird trails. The forest roads around the cantonment make easy, safe walks. Early mornings bring laughing thrushes, woodpeckers and the occasional barking deer call.
The Uttarakhand Tourism Lansdowne page and the Pauri Garhwal district website list more local attractions.
On the way up, Kotdwar has two stops worth making: the Siddhbali temple on a hillock above the Khoh river, and Kanvashram, a riverside site traditionally linked to the sage Kanva and the story of Shakuntala.
Small temples and short drives
Two more stops make good use of the car. The Durga Devi temple, a small cave shrine on the Khoh river beside the Kotdwar to Dugadda road, is an easy halt on the way up or down, and families often pause here for a blessing before the hills. In town, the Kaleshwar Mahadev temple is revered by the Garhwal Rifles and sits in quiet forest within walking distance of the bazaar. For a longer outing, your driver can take you along the ridge roads towards the villages beyond the cantonment, where terraced fields, slate-roofed houses and wide valley views show a side of Garhwal most weekend visitors miss. Tell the driver the evening before so he can plan fuel and timing; there are no pumps once you leave Kotdwar behind.
The road from Delhi to Lansdowne
Delhi to Meerut and Bijnor
The car leaves east Delhi on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, which cuts the old crawl through Ghaziabad to under an hour. From Meerut a state highway runs north-east through Mawana to the Ganga crossing near Bijnor. This stretch passes through sugarcane and mango country, with dhabas at regular intervals; the crossing can be slow when the barrage road is busy.
Bijnor, Najibabad and Kotdwar
From Bijnor the road continues to Najibabad and then Kotdwar, the gateway town at the foot of the hills with fuel, ATMs and a railway station on a branch line. Lunch here is the tradition for Delhi families.
Kotdwar to Lansdowne
The final 40 km climb past Dugadda through forest is well surfaced and far gentler than the approaches to Mussoorie or Nainital, with wide bends rather than tight hairpins. Allow about 1.5 hours. From Delhi the whole trip typically takes 6 to 7 hours; from Gurgaon allow a little longer.
Travellers flying in can land at Jolly Grant airport, near Dehradun, about 150 km from Lansdowne; the drive runs via Haridwar and Kotdwar. Train travellers can take a direct train to Kotdwar, and we meet trains with a name board.
When to visit Lansdowne
- March to June: the classic season. Rhododendrons in spring, warm days and cool evenings in May and June, when Delhi is baking. Weekends fill up; weekdays are blissfully empty.
- July to mid-September: monsoon. Mist, dripping forest and very few visitors. The Kotdwar road usually stays open, but slips can occur; keep plans flexible.
- October to mid-December: clear skies, crisp air and the best Himalayan views of the year. Diwali and long weekends are busy.
- Late December to February: cold, with occasional light snowfall on the higher ridges around Christmas and in January, which can make for a magical, if chilly, weekend.
There is no permit needed for Lansdowne. It is a cantonment, though, so respect signs around military areas, and do not photograph army installations or personnel.
Chauffeured cars and Lansdowne fares
The prices below come from our standard per-km rates, before 5% GST. We add tolls, parking and any state entry charges exactly as paid, plus a driver night allowance of Rs 1,500 for each night the car stays with you. Round trips are billed on the greater of kilometres driven or 250 km per calendar day. Our fare chart covers every vehicle class.
| Lansdowne booking | Compact sedan | Premium sedan | Innova Crysta | Tempo Traveller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Lansdowne, one way (about 250 km) | Rs 9,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 12,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 14,250 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 19,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Delhi weekend round trip, 2 days (500 km billed) | Rs 18,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 24,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 28,500 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 39,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
| 3-day round trip with Tarkeshwar (750 km billed) | Rs 27,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 36,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 42,750 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 58,500 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Kotdwar station to Lansdowne (about 40 km, minimum fare applies) | Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 5,940 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,740 Pay Now to Reserve |
- Couples and small families usually book a compact sedan, or a premium sedan such as a Honda City for extra comfort on the long plains stretch.
- Groups of five or six travel best in an Innova Crysta on rent.
- Office offsites and friends' weekends of 10 to 26 people can take a Tempo Traveller in Delhi; the Kotdwar road is easy for larger vehicles.
- Other hill weekends from Delhi are listed on our outstation cabs page.
All our vehicles are within four model years. Cancel more than 72 hours before pickup and we refund everything; within 72 hours we keep 10%, within 48 hours 50%, and within 24 hours or on a no-show the whole fare. The cancellation policy has the full terms.
A relaxed 2-day Lansdowne weekend by car
Day 1: Delhi to Lansdowne (about 250 km). Leave Delhi by 7 am to clear the expressway before the morning rush. Breakfast near Meerut or Bijnor, lunch in Kotdwar with a quick stop at Siddhbali temple, and reach Lansdowne by mid-afternoon. Evening walk to Tip-n-Top for sunset, then dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Lansdowne and back (about 270 km). A slow morning at St Mary's Church, the regimental museum and Bhulla Tal. Leave by 1 pm to reach Delhi by 8 pm.
With a third day, drive to Tarkeshwar Mahadev through the deodar forest, about 36 km each way, or spend a lazy day on forest walks. Craving a busier hill town instead? Compare with our Mussoorie by road guide, or head to the plains-edge forests of our Jim Corbett by road guide.
Where to stay and eat in Lansdowne
Much of the town is cantonment land, so hotels are fewer than in Mussoorie or Nainital and spread out along the approach roads and the slopes around the town. You will find a government tourist lodge, a clutch of family-run hotels near the bazaar, and a growing number of resorts and homestays in the forests a few kilometres out, several with valley views and bonfire lawns. Book ahead for summer weekends, Diwali and New Year, because there is little spare capacity.
The small bazaar has a few simple eateries serving North Indian meals, Garhwali dishes like kafuli and jhangora kheer when in season, and hot pakoras by the plate. Most visitors eat at their hotel in the evenings. Carry snacks for the forest walks, since there are no stalls once you leave the town centre.
Practical tips for Lansdowne
- Leave Delhi early or late. The Meerut and Bijnor roads are busiest mid-morning and early evening.
- Carry cash. Kotdwar has plenty of ATMs; Lansdowne has only a couple and card acceptance is limited.
- Pack a jacket even in summer. Evenings drop sharply once the sun goes behind the ridge.
- Respect the cantonment. Some roads close to civilian traffic at certain hours; your driver knows the rules.
- Plan evenings. Lansdowne goes to sleep early. Bring a book, board games or a good playlist.
- Book the car for the full stay. Taxis are hard to find locally for side trips to Tarkeshwar, so keeping your own car and driver saves a lot of phone calls. For Delhi transfers before or after, our taxi service in Delhi and car rental with driver in Delhi cover airport runs and local hire.
