Ranikhet

Once a beloved spot for Queen Padimini (wife of a local ruler), Ranikhet was lost in the chapters of history but was fortunately rediscovered by the British in the 1860s. Today, it is a popular hill station with exquisite natural beauty and pleasing calmness, located in Almora District of Uttarakhand. Counted among the best hill stations of Northern India, Ranikhet is a celebrated destination among nature lovers, honeymoon couples and for those having adventure on their minds. Must visit places at Ranikhet include beautiful meadows, inviting orchids and orchards, alluring lakes, historic temples, interesting treks and picnic spots offering irresistible beauty of Himalayan peaks and valleys.

‘Ranikhet’ translates to Queen’s meadow and the name is believed to have been inspired by Padmini’s love for this place. Located at an altitude of about 1,869 m., the place accommodates Asia’s highest 9-hole golf course. The cool weather and clean environment of this hill station are enough to rejuvenate one’s mind and body. Winters receive snowfall and can be extremely cold at times. Bestowed with rich flora and exciting fauna, Ranikhet is popular for its alpine fruits like peach, apple and apricot. With the help of a tourist guide, one can plan some wonderful trekking expeditions to the nearby places.

March to June and September to October

Dishes that are particular to the region include delicious sweets with simple but effective ingredients. Bal mithai (also known as Ram mithai) resembles burfi and is prepared from milk and sugar. Singaudi is another sweet you would not like to miss. Small stalls all over the place sell snacks like samosas and noodles. Restaurants attached with the top hotels are ideal to dine at. A kind of juice, called buransh juice, prepared from the local mountain berry can be enjoyed.

The Mall is among the bets areas in Ranikhet to shop items like attractive woollens and shawls. Handlooms prepared at an old church are quite interesting and you can even see the workers preparing these items. Sadar Bazaar is another good shopping destination with all kinds of shops and stores.

Served by excellent network of roads, Ranikhet can be accessed by public transport or private vehicles from various parts of North India. The hill station has its nearest railhead located at Kathgodam (about 68 km. away). Pantnagar Airport is the closest airport located at a distance of about 100 km from Ranikhet. Local buses operate to the nearby attractions of Ranikhet. Private operators also offer SUVs to get around. Walking is a wonderful way to explore the place’s magnificence to the fullest.

Spotting beautiful flora (oaks, rhododendrons, pines and deodars) and fauna (leopard, deer, red fox, porcupine and many others) add to the worth of this picturesque hill station.

Dwarahat (about 34 km.): A picturesque town, it is also admirable for its religious places like Vimandeshwar Temple, Dunagiri Temple and Pandukholi Caves. Almora (about 48 km.): Another beautiful hill station of the region, Almora is famous for its traditional culture, fabulous sightseeing and old temples. Nainital (about 56 km.): The hill station that needs no introduction, Nainital is popular for its lakes, Nanda Devi Temple, vintage points and charming colonial buildings. Kausani (about 60 km.): Majestic views of many Himalayan peaks can be viewed from here. It is also famous for a shawl factory producing extremely attractive products. Binsar (about 66 km.): Dominated by oaks and rhododendrons, the place is popular for colonial homes, temples and Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary.

There is no limit to other exciting tourist places one can visit from Ranikhet and some of them include Majkhali, Manila, Binsar Mahadev, Jaurasi, Sitlakhet, Tarikhet, Khairna and Bhimtal.