Ranikhet: Queen of Hill Stations in the Himalayas
Best places to visit in Ranikhet, sightseeing & tourist attractions in Ranikhet
Ranikhet- place that enchants all- according to legend a Kumaoni queen Rani Padmini who, enchanted with the mountains and green glens of a tiny hill hamlet, requested her king, Raja Sukhedev to build her a grand palace there. They then named it Ranikhet or queen’s meadow. The palace has vanished but the place continues to lure tourists with scenes straight out of picture postcards.
Map of Ranikhet:
Whats Famous Here:
Natural Beauty: At the crack of dawn the first rays of a sun gild the Himalayan peaks that etched the far horizon. Soon a slow burst of colours kiss the distant peaks with pink lipstick till the very heavens seemed to haemorrhage. Much had changed over the last decade in Ranikhet in the foothills of the Himalayas but the sunrise is a reassuring constant: spectacular as it has always been.
There are a few quiet getaways in the verdant embrace of the forests around Ranikhet where you will stumble on quaint British estates with red sloping roofs and green gardens bordered with flowers of every hue. Some had been converted into country house style hotels whose splendid lawns make viewing the Himalayas a treat. Yes, the weight of history and the rush of modernity had not crushed the spirit of Ranikhet.
What to See: Top Tourism Places Ranikhet
Forests around Ranikhet: Ranikhet, located 1,830 m above sea level and encircled by tall pine trees and soaring deodars, was ‘discovered’ by the British in 1869. The hill station wowed Lord Mayo, the then Viceroy of India who seriously contemplated shifting the army headquarters here from Shimla. Even today, Ranikhet has the hangover of the Raj: wide open spaces, a high altitude golf course, shaded walks, quaint churches (one of which has been converted into a handicraft centre run by war widows) and the vast lush grounds of the Kumaon Regiment which also house a museum and a memorial.
Goddess Kali Temple: Before leaving Ranikhet stop by to pay your respects to Goddess Kali enshrined in a temple nestled in a grove of mighty deodars. The statue of the Goddess is heavily garlanded with bells and gold border shawls – offerings made to the goddess for boons granted: childless women conceive when they supplicate the Goddess; sickly children grow strong and robust; unfaithful wives trod the straight and narrow…
Travel to Ranikhet:
Best time to Visit: April to Sept.
Local Languages: Hindi, Kumaoni, Garhwali
How to Reach:
Air: The nearest Pantnagar Airport, Nainital, 119 km from Ranikhet. But Delhi is a much more convenient airport as it is a domestic and international hub.
Rail: Nearest railheads are at Kathgodam and Haldwani. One can take trains to any of these two destinations to reach Ranikhet.
Road: several State transport as well as private operator buses ply on the Kumaon circuit in Uttarakhand which comprises Binsar, Kausani, Almora, Chaukori and Nainital. You can also hire a cab to reach Ranikhet.
Excursions from Ranikhet: Places You Should Not Miss in Ranikhet
Kausani: The curvaceous road twists around bulging mountains, some mantled with forests, others with terraced mustard fields that ripple yellow like the waves of a golden sea. It crosses silvery blue rivers that are spanned by metal bridges and zips down roads bordered with trees daubed in a million shades of green, gold and rust. Occasionally the snow capped peaks of the might Himalayas rear up to trace the far horizon. In the distance small hamlets teetered on mountain ridges, seemingly ready to tumble off their precarious perch. Green wheat fields undulate on slim ridges and there is an air of explosive lushness about the landscape.
The person who coined the old adage: getting there is half the fun could well have been inspired by the road to Kausani, a charming little hill resort town in Uttarakhand.
Nainital: Set in the grand tapestry of the Kilburry mountains is the Himalayan hill resort town of Nainital. Here on its grey-green lake raucous families row and spin around in pedal boats and honeymooners stare into each other’s eyes as they strolled up and down the Mall. While pockets of ineffable charm still remain, Nainital which was once the home of the legendary shikari Jim Corbett, has been overtaken by its own popularity and has acquired a big town buzz.
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Ranikhet Travel Packages: Tour package of Ranikhet sightseeing spots
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Flights to Ranikhet : The nearest Pantnagar Airport, Nainital, 119 km from Ranikhet. But Delhi is a much more convenient airport as it is a domestic and international hub.
Trains to Ranikhet : Nearest railheads are at Kathgodam and Haldwani. One can take trains to any of these two destinations to reach Ranikhet.
Buses to Ranikhet : Several State transport as well as private operator buses ply on the Kumaon circuit in Uttarakhand which comprises Binsar, Kausani, Almora, Chaukori and Nainital.
Car Hire in Ranikhet : To experience Ranikhet at your own pace you can take a care hire. Hire a cab and get enchanted by the captivating locations of Ranikhet. You can also hire a cab for excursions from Ranikhet
