Unspoilt nature, bracing air and a magnificent view
of the snow covered peaks inspire peace and tranquility.
If you dream of the romance of the mountains than
Lansdowne is the perfect place.
 |
 |
| ...Unspoilt nature, bracing
air and a magnificent view of the snow covered
peaks inspire peace and tranquility. If
you dream of the romance of the mountains
than Lansdowne is the perfect place... |
|
|
Ensconced amide the word’s highest and most
beautiful mountain ranges – the Himalayas, naturally
Uttaranchal Hills are endowed with extra ordinary
beauty and most of it is unseen the outside world.
This makes Lansdowne an ideal location for
eco-tourism. While rest of the world is selling tourism
by destroying nature, we at Lansdowne are also selling
tourism but by preserving and conserving nature. A
clean fresh and invigorating environment makes Lansdowne
a preferred destination to relax and unwind and it
is a truly rejuvenating experience.
At Lansdowne we have something for everybody…if
we have the Siddhpeeth route for the pilgrims, than
there is wild life route for nature and animal lovers,
adventure sports for the daring and health resorts
and cultural tourism for the rest of others.
No softy stalls, no video game parlors, no fancy
tandoori joints, and no not even a movie hall, but
we are proud of it. The Cantt Board keeps the towns
fresh as a daisy for the bravest of them all. The
proud Garhwal rifles which has the major presence
in the town, this is where some of the bravest sons
of India are trained on the huge parade ground right
in the middle of the town. They also pride in the
second best kept Regimental Mess in Asia, complete
with old armoury, weapons, hundreds of animal trophies
and the regimental ghost.
On Nov 5, 1887, the first battalion of Garhwal
Rifles migrated from Almora to Lansdowne. Since
the regiment was shifted from Almora, so Kumaoni culture
was inherited with the soldiers of Garhwal Rifles
in their life-style and food habits as well.
Being a Cantonment area, it was a good market place
for the businessmen, so many Garhwali, Kumaoni, Rajasthani
(Marwari), Muslims, Kannauji, Gorkhas and Christians
migrated to Lansdowne for business and employment
and become its inhabitants. The cultural activities
of Lansdowne were highly influenced by the mixed cultural
society. This the reason why it Lansdowne lacks a
purely traditional Garhwali culture.
Till the late 70s, Lansdowne was the only city after
Almora which was the center of cultural activities.
In the beginning, the Kumaonis, Garhwalis and Rajasthani
stared at each other’s culture with curiosity
but subsequently they adopted each other and formed
an enriched culture of Lansdowne. Rajasthanis (Marwaris)
had a rich cultural tradition, so they highly influenced
the Garhwalis. On the other hand, since Rajasthanis
were the migrants who had come for business needs,
so they also merged themselves with the Garhwali culture.
Many Pathans also migrated to Lansdowne for “labour
work”. These Pathans belonged to Sia community,
while the other Muslim migrants belonged to Sunni
Community. The mosque of Lansdowne is unique as both
the Sia and Sunni community Muslims can offer NAMAZ
in the same Mosque.
The different cultures of Kumaoni Garhwali and Marwari
complemented each other and put up an exemplary symbol
of communal harmony. The Army culture also contributed
towards the Lansdowne culture. It highly influenced
the youth and middle class people and nurtured them
as responsible citizens. Till today, discipline is
an inborn quality of Lansdowne children.
The education system at Lansdowne was very open.
The children from families of all classes, community
and background used to go to same school developing
harmony among them.
Lansdowne culture inherited only the good
things from its migrants’ cultures. Social evils
never became a part of Lansdowne culture. Though Pashu-Bali
(Animal Sacrifice) is a common phenomenon is various
parts of Garhwal and Kumaon, it never developed in
Lansdowne. It always stood apart from evils like Sati
Pratha, Child Marriage, Animal-Sacrifice or any other
orthodox tradition. Every good practice or thought
which was for the common good of the society and the
country was openly adopted by Lansdowne.
