A hill station and a cantonment town in Almora district of Uttarakhand, Ranikhet is a major tourist attraction for anyone planning to visit the region. Located at an altitude of 1869 metres above sea level, Ranikhet offers exquisite views of Himalayan range and is a trekker’s paradise in true sense. A distinct feature of this cantonment town is its spread across two ridges, namely the Ranikhet ridge located at an altitude of 1824 metres and the Chaubattia ridge which is located at an elevation of 2,116 metres.

History

Queen’s meadow seems to be an appropriate name for Ranikhet as it was in this town that King Sudhardev won over his queen, Rani Padmini who thereafter chose to reside at this place, hence the name Ranikhet or Queen’s meadow.

The headquarters of Kumaon Regiment were established by the British here in 1869. It is said that initially British had Ranikhet as Summer Capital of India in mind, however, the location was later shifted to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.

Climate

The climate is moderate during summers and March to October is considered to be the best time to visit Ranikhet. The weather is extremely cold during winter months and Ranikhet receives snowfall from December to February. However, tourists do come over to Ranikhet during winter months also as the place has numerous comfortable options for boarding and lodging.

Things to do

Any day is good for a morning walk in Ranikhet. The town also has a golf course which is consider to be among the biggest in Asia. You can take a stroll across the golf course or try your hand at the game, even if you are a beginner.

Move along the bustling market and you will come across numerous eateries which offer chosen local cuisine which can give a tough competition to Continental and other Indian food items.

Attractions

Army Museum

A well maintained museum is the first place where visitors head when on a visit to this hill town. The museum has a rich collection of weapons and flags captured from enemies during various wars. Among the prized possession in the museum is a boat captured from LTTE during Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka.

Jhula Devi Temple

Head to Chaubatia located at a distance of 7 km from Ranikhet and you reach the Jhula Devi temple. Devotees whose wishes are fulfilled hang bells on the temple wall as a mark of respect to the deity. The serene peace and calmness of Jhula Devi temple has made it popular among visitors who flock to the temple in large numbers.

Chaubatia Gardens

Chaubatia garden is the best place to get an unrestricted view of the Himalayan ranges. Watching the snow capped peaks from among the apricot and apple orchards is a unique experience in itself. Chaubatia gardens are located at a distance of 10 km from Ranikhet.

Shopping

You can buy a wide variety of items in Ranikhet. The Mall Road area has numerous shops selling shawls, kurta and jackets. Sadar Bazaar, a crowded street in Ranikhet is known for its range of embroidery products.

Do not forget to feast on ‘baal mithai’, a special dish prepared from concentrated and condensed milk.

Accommodation

Ranikhet offers numerous options to any traveller for a comfortable stay. A range of budget and luxury hotels are available in Ranikhet. Parwati Inn, Hotel Meghdoot, Mayank Resort and Ranikhet Inn are some of the options you can explore for a comfortable stay.

All these hotels offer modern amenities and can also arrange for a tourist guide on request.

How to Reach

By Air

Pantnagar Airport is the nearest air link to Ranikhet. Taxis can be hired from the airport for a comfortable journey to the hill station.

By Rail

If travelling by train, Kathgodam railway station at a distance of 68 km from Ranikhet is a perfect option. Trains from important cities like New Delhi and Dehradun connect Kathgodam with other parts of the country.

By Road

Ranikhet is well connected by an all-weather road and is 350 km from New Delhi. The travel time is around 8 hours and Uttarakhand State Road Transport Corporation operates regular bus service between New Delhi and Kathgodam. Local buses can be hired from Kathgodam to Ranikhet for further journey.