Landour in the Dehradun district of Uttarakhand is a quaint little hill station close to Mussoorie with an old-world charm. If Mussoorie is called the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’, Landour can be christened as the ‘Princess of Hill Stations.’ Visiting Landour is like stepping back into a bygone British era, complete with colonial buildings housing cafes and churches. The British army built the hill station for military troops as a convalescent station. A sanitorium and later a hospital were built for the British army soldiers recovering from illness and needing rest and rejuvenation. Here is a list of things to do in Landour.
Enjoy the scenic views from Lal Tibba
From the roof of the Lal Tibba Café, one can get a panoramic view of the surrounding deodar forests and mountain ranges. On a clear day, one can see the snow-capped Himalayas. A Japanese Binocular from the second world war era is positioned on the rooftop. You need to pay Rs. 50 to go to the roof of the café located on Depot Hill, the highest point. The area around the café was buzzing with tourists. The Savoy Café opposite Lal Tibba is another popular spot. On make-shift tables, vendors were selling chutneys, pickles and other preserves.
Visit Landour Bakehouse café & Anil Prakash store at Sister’s Bazar
Sister’s Bazar gets its name from the sisters who lived near the hospital. It is home to a café and a store. The Landour Bakehouse resembles a 19th-century colonial kitchen. You can pick your favourite baked items like muffins, croissants, tarts and some tea or coffee. We sat on the wooden benches and chairs close to the window with views of the mountains and deodar forests. The café’s ambience gets a perfect score for its wood flooring and décor, decorative plates on walls and wooden shelves with ceramics and vintage artefacts. Next to the bakehouse is the Anil Prakash store, where you can pick some jams, marmalades, peanuts and other preserves.
Eat something at the Chaar Dukan
A row of four shops called Chaar Dukan is close to St Paul’s Church. Some new ones were added later here. Scores of tourists flock here to eat some snacks, fast food and sip on tea/coffee with sweeping views of the mountains.
Stroll around Ruskin Bond’s Home Ivy Cottage
Located next to Doma’s Tibetan Restaurant is Ivy Cottage, where Ruskin Bond, my favourite English author, resides. The tranquillity and natural beauty of Landour and the Garhwal Hills have found mention in several of his books. You can meet the 80-plus author at the Cambridge store in Mussoorie every Saturday. The Doma restaurant, with its vibrant, colourful exterior, cannot be missed, and his home is just next to it. I got off the car and walked towards Ivy Cottage, hoping to get a glimpse of Mr Bond. But I had no luck and just shouted, ‘I love you and your books Ruskin Bond.’ My grown-up children giggled and couldn’t fathom seeing their mom as a fan girl.
Visit St Paul’s Church and Kellogg Memorial Church
Built in 1830, St Paul’s Church was run by priests who served at the hospital for convalescing British military troops. The church wore a deserted look at the time of our visit. The other famous church in Landour is the Kellogg Memorial Church which also houses the Landour Language School, where the British learnt Hindi during the British Raj in India. The gothic architecture of this church, with stonewalls and arch windows, is reminiscent of a bygone era.
GETTING THERE-
Nearest Airport: Dehradun, 32 km away, is the nearest airport to Landour, with limited flights. The other option is Chandigarh which is 212 km away, or Delhi Airport, 307 km away.
Distances:
Mussoorie to Landour: 7 km or 30 minutes.
Dehradun to Landour: 37 km or 1 hour 30 minutes.
Where to Stay: There are limited staying options in Landour. Most tourists stay at Mussoorie and take a day trip to Landour. We stayed at the JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa.
Best Time to Visit Landour: Due to its excellent weather, most tourists visit Landour in the summer months of May to June to escape the heat. But visiting it in the winter months (October to February) is also a great option.
Travel Tip: The narrow meandering roads of Landour make driving difficult. Parking is also a challenge. So try to visit it early morning.