Route library · Weekend · Mountains
Delhi to Lansdowne
A good first hill ride. Lansdowne is a small, orderly Garhwal cantonment at about 1,700 m, sitting in oak and pine forest above Kotdwar. The ride is mostly easy highway, then a short twisting climb, and it is close enough to do properly in a single weekend.
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At a glance
- Round trip
- About 540–580 km
- Riding time
- 5–6 hours each way with stops
- Nights
- One is enough; two is relaxed
- Start point
- Delhi (via Meerut and Bijnor to Kotdwar)
- Highest point
- About 1,700 m at Lansdowne
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Your first proper hill switchbacks, but short and well-surfaced.
- Surface
- Good highway to Kotdwar; the last ~40 km is narrow tarmac with tight bends and some monsoon damage
- Best season
- October to June. Cold with frost Nov–Feb; avoid the monsoon (Jul–Sep landslides on the climb).
The ride
From Delhi you cross the plains — Meerut, Bijnor, Najibabad — on flat, busy highway. Put the miles away efficiently and be patient through the towns. At Kotdwar the hills begin, and the road turns into a tight shaded climb through Durga Devi up to Lansdowne — about 40 kilometres and 1,400 metres in a series of switchbacks.
Lansdowne itself is small and quiet by design. It is an army town, so it is clean, low-key and closes early. Ride up to Tip-n-Top for the ridge view, walk around Bhulla Tal, see St Mary's Church.
Day by day
Delhi to Lansdowne
An early start. Delhi → Meerut → Bijnor → Najibabad → Kotdwar (about 5 hours). Fill the tank at Kotdwar, then climb the last 40 km. Aim to be up before dark; the bends are no fun at night.
Around Lansdowne
Tip-n-Top for the view, Bhulla Tal, St Mary's Church, the war memorial. A walking-pace day. With a second night, ride the quiet forest road towards Jaiharikhal.
Lansdowne to Delhi
Descend to Kotdwar in the cool of the morning while the road is empty, then the long highway run home. Leave early to beat the plains heat and traffic.
Fuel & services
- Plenty of pumps across the plains — Meerut, Bijnor, Najibabad, Kotdwar.
- There is no petrol pump in Lansdowne. Fill up completely at Kotdwar before the climb, and again at Kotdwar on the way back.
- Lansdowne has hotels, guesthouses and army-run options. Book ahead on long weekends.
Road & conditions
The highway is fine but tiring — heavy truck traffic and slow towns. The Kotdwar–Lansdowne climb is well made but narrow, with blind hairpins; use your horn on corners, hold your line, and watch for buses coming down fast. After the monsoon there is usually slip damage and gravel on the bends until it is cleared.
Bike, fuel & getting help
- Suggested bike
- Fine on a well-maintained 150–200cc commuter.
- Fuel gap
- One long stretch without a pump — fill up before it and top off where you can.
- Spare fuel
- Carry 3–5 litres of spare fuel.
- Emergency & logistics
- The nearest well-equipped hospital is the valley/district town, one to two hours off; signal is patchy above the bazaar; carry the group lead's number and an emergency card.
Best time to ride
October–November and March–June are the sweet spots — clear air, open roads, comfortable temperatures. December to February is fine if you are ready for near-freezing mornings and the odd light snow. Skip July to mid-September.
What to add to your kit
Beyond the standard ride kit: a warm layer and windproof gloves for the evenings, and a headlamp. In winter add thermals.
Ride this with a group
We run Lansdowne as a one-night group ride — a lead and a sweep on the climb, fuel planned around Kotdwar, and a clean-up on the way up.