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.