St Marys Church Lansdowne
St. Mary’s Church, located close to Tip-N-Top Point in Lansdowne,
is one of those places that is filled with tranquil surroundings. The
church was constructed by Colonel AHB Hume of Royal Engineers during
1895. This place is a must-see for historians and nature lovers. Due to
the beauty of the place, it is known as the “Jewel of Lansdowne”.
History
The Church was functioning properly in the 18th century, but post
1947, it started deteriorating rapidly, due to which preachings were
stopped here. Later on, the church was renovated and converted into the
current structure of a museum by the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre.
Today, this museum houses interesting pictures of Garhwal during the
times before Independence, exhibits praising the Garhwal Regiment and
an audio visual section that takes the tourists through the history of
Lansdowne.
Climate
The climate of Lansdowne is pretty pleasant and friendly during
summers too. Summer is generally the period between March and June and
this is the time when lots of tourists come here. The winter season
lasts between December and February. Most of the times, the
temperatures go below zero here. The beauty of Lansdowne is aggravated
when the town receives a large degree of snowfall during winters.
Best time to Visit
Any time between March and October is perfect for visiting
Lansdowne. The place is in full bloom during this time and the climate
is very pleasant. You can spot a large number of oak trees and pine
forests here during this time. After October, winter sets in and the
place gets extremely cold then.
Timings
- Monday - Friday: 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM
- Saturday: 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM
- Sunday: 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM
- Public Holidays: 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM
How to Reach
The beautiful St. Mary’s Church, which is presently a museum, is
located at a very short distance from the main city of Lansdowne, at
about 1.5 km distance. The place can be reached by a simple trek from
the main city. The nearest railway station is Kothdwar at a distance of
42 km and the nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport at a distance of
150 km from the place.
