This is a travel newsletter where every week I help you discover two offbeat weekend getaways across India. So, you can escape the crowds and create unforgettable experiences.

Whenever we think about spending a lovely weekend, our minds usually go straight to places like Manali, Kasol, Gokarna, or Ooty.

But how about I show you some crowd-free alternatives instead, so you can truly relax and enjoy? 🙂

I am a travel enthusiast, so it’s obvious that I will keep discovering new places to visit. While I find some really good spots for myself, I thought, why not share them with you too?

So, today I came up with an amazing place.

Lansdowne is a hill station in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located in the Pauri Garhwal area.

40 km from the nearest railway station, Kotdwar.

Lansdowne is the closest hill station to Delhi NCR.

But if you ask me why you should go there, then I’d say for trekking, camping, bird watching, rock climbing, and museums. There are ancient Shiva temples that are still visited by devotees, but too much crowd.

You can reach Lansdowne by road in about 6-7 hours from Delhi.

Lansdowne is considered offbeat because it remains less commercialised and receives far fewer tourists than popular hill stations like Mussoorie or Nainital.

It keeps the crowd away because of the limited tourist infrastructure.

The town has its old-world colonial vibe, with heritage buildings, churches, and military sites maintained by the Garhwal Rifles regiment.

You’ll find pine forests, valleys, and easy hiking trails which doesn’t require you to come with a team.

Most importantly, strict local regulations help to protect Lansdowne’s ecological and cultural side.

What I would suggest is that if you’re going alone, you can easily catch a bus, or if you’re travelling with a small group, consider taking a tempo traveller, which will help you customise your journey to your needs.

Both daily rental and total cost are feasible. It’ll come to around 6-7k. Since you won’t find any Ola or Uber, you need to plan early.

The best way? Wake up a bit earlier on Friday, then pack your bags with essentials you won’t need later before heading to Lansdowne. So, after your office, depart for Lansdowne by tourist van or car around 9-10 PM. It’s an overnight journey (~6-7 hours from Delhi).

Arrive in Lansdowne early morning (around 4-5 AM).

Check into your hotel/guesthouse, and take some rest.

Have breakfast at the hotel or a local eatery.

Visit Bhulla Tal Lake for boating.

Explore St. Mary’s Church and the Lansdowne War Memorial.

Walk around the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Museum.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Enjoy a walk in pine forests or local markets.

Dinner at the hotel or a café.

Early breakfast.

Head to Tip-n-Top (Tiffin Top) for panoramic views and a short hike.

Visit the ancient Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple for a spiritual feeling.

Optionally visit the Bhim Pakora rock formations.

Return to your hotel, check out around 3-4 PM.

Begin departure back to Delhi by tourist van/car.

Overnight journey back home, and reach early Monday morning. And enjoy your job, oops sorry!

(I won’t name any restaurant because I’ve not tried them personally.)

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I hope I sorted out your plan for this weekend.

Thanks for reading.

Well, do let me know if you'd like me to find any particular state’s offbeat weekend travel spots.

I’ll see you on Sunday with another great spot.

See ya till then,

Anirban ‘helping you travel to Lansdowne’ Das.