During the colonial period, numerous churches were built in those places where the British were active, particularly in places like the Madras Presidency, Bombay Presidency and Calcutta. Likewise, one could find churches in the cantonment towns of many Indian cities where European soldiers were stationed. As time went by after the consolidation of their political hold on India, the British moved uphill to cool themselves off during the hot summer. Being adventurous, as they were, they either discovered new hill stations or developed the hills stations that had been in existence before. Thus numerous hill stations account for colonial churches as well as military training centers across India.
Lansdowne, a cantonment town in Pauri Garhwal district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, is a popular, off-beat hill station and during the summer season, lots of people come here to take long respite from the searing summer heat on the plains. Situated at an altitude of 1,706 meter (5,686 feet) above the mean sea level surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests, it was founded and named after then Viceroy of India Lord Lansdowne (14 January 1845 - 3 June 1927), a British statesman who served successively as the fifth Governor General of Canada and Viceroy of India (1888-1894). The two churches here were built by the
British masters during their hey days.
St. Mary's Church:
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St. Mary's church, Lansdowne, www.panoramio.com/ |
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| St. Mary's. interior,Lansdowne. giovannidcunha.wordpress.com Church was built in the small town of Lansdowne in 1895 by one A.H.B. Hume of the Royal Engineers of British India. The church was built as the European population on the hill station grew gradually. Further, there were innumerable British soldiers stationed here to undergo military training and they needed spiritual guidance. Drawn by the charm and beauty of this Himalayan mountain range, Hume, a Historian used to visit this place and felt the necessity of building a Catholic church here. It is located in Tip N Top point in Lansdowne. The old church has been restored by Garhwal Rifles recently. But it needs full restoration. |
St. John church:
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| St. John Church, Lansdowne.www.indiatravelblog.net/ |
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| St. John's church interior,Lansdowne. giovannidcunha.wordpress.com |
and needs better maintenance.
http://www.indiatravelblog.net/places-to-visit-in-lansdowne-uttarakhand/