St Mary's Church, Lansdowne — the old stone church on the ridge by Tip-n-Top
What it is
St Mary's Church is the old stone church on the ridge above Lansdowne, close to the Tip-n-Top viewpoint. It is a small Gothic building of dressed stone, with a round window over a pointed door, a steep roof and tall deodars around it. Wikivoyage says the town has two churches from before independence and that only the other, St James's, still holds services; St Mary's is kept by the army for visitors.
Photos: Mishra.vishesh620 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Sanyam Bahga (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons, resized.
Why go
For the building and for where it stands. The church sits on the same ridge as Tip-n-Top, the viewpoint over the Shivalik hills, and Wikivoyage places the snow view point close by, with great peaks such as Chaukhamba on a clear day. In winter, when snow settles on the roof and the deodars, it is the picture most people take home from Lansdowne.
Visiting
It is about 3 km and 8 minutes by road from the town centre on our routing, or a steady walk uphill. We have no verified opening hours; the inside may be closed, but the grounds and the view are the reason to come. This is cantonment land, so keep to the paths and follow any army signs.
Combine it with
The one-day town walk adds Bhulla Tal, Tip-n-Top and the Santoshi Mata temple. Read the best time to visit Lansdowne.
Plans that include this
All 2 plans that stop here →
Nearby places
All of Lansdowne →
Nearby destinations
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Questions people ask
Is St Mary's Church in Lansdowne still in use?
No. Wikivoyage says Lansdowne has two churches from before independence and that only St James's still holds services. St Mary's stands as a visitors' church on the ridge, looked after by the army, and it is one of the town's most photographed buildings, especially under winter snow.
Where is St Mary's Church in Lansdowne?
On the ridge above the town, near the Tip-n-Top viewpoint, about 3 km and 8 minutes by road from the centre on our routing. Wikivoyage places the snow view point close to St Mary's, so the church, the view and the Santoshi Mata temple at the top of the town make one short outing.
When does it snow at St Mary's Church?
In the winter months. Wikivoyage says Lansdowne has cold winters with snowfall, and the church under snow, with the deodars around it white, is one of the best-known pictures of the town. Snow can make the ridge road slippery, so check it before you drive up and wear shoes with grip.