Ranikhet

Ranikhet is a picturesque location surrounded by hills in northern India. It is a cantonment town situated in the Almora district of the Indian state Uttarakhand. History has it that the name means queen’s meadow in English, originated from a local legend who fell in love with an ancient local queen named Queen Padmini. Although there is no palace, the fact that the queen chose to live here resounds in the history of the place. Before you visit, you will be better of to know about Ranikhet.

It was the place of interest for British who frequented this place to escape from the sweltering heat of the Indian subcontinent during their rule. More is known regarding Ranikhet, it is 1869 meter above the sea level and the entire cantonment town is divided into two ridges, namely Ranikhet ridge and Chaubattia ridge. The ridge is 5983 ft above the sea level and the Chaubattia ridge is about 6942 ft above the sea level. There are many local myths that make up the history of the hill town.

How to reach Ranikhet
By Flight: The nearest airport to Ranikhet is Pant Nagar airport situated 115 km from Ranikhet and is very well connected by motorable roads. Taxis are available from Ranikhet to Pant Nagar. You can also opt for buses from the airport till Ranikhet. The distance from Pant Nagar Airport to Ranikhet can be easily covered within three hours of time.

Nearest Airport: Dehradun - 154 kms from Ranikhet.

By Road Ranikhet: is well connected with motorable roads connecting major cities and towns of Uttarakhand state. Buses to Kathgodam and Nainital are easily available from ISBT Anand Vihar, Delhi. Buses and taxis are available from Almora, Nainital, Kathgodam to Ranikhet. You can also hire a taxi and use the same to explore the city. You will be charged on the basis of the vehicle hired, kilometres covered and the number of days.

By Train Kathgodam: is the nearest railway station to Ranikhet and is 88 km away. It is connected to all the major cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata, The trains are frequent as it the gateway to Kumaon region. From here, you can either take a bus or a taxi up to Ranikhet.

Commuting Within Ranikhet: Walking is the preferred mode of travel. Alternately, you can also opt for local transports like buses, taxis and jeeps.

Weather of Ranikhet:
Summer (March - June) It is the best time to visit Ranikhet. It has a maximum temperature of around 27 degrees Celcius and a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celcius. This is an ideal time to visit the town of Ranikhet, given the pleasant weather that the town experiences during this time when compared to the rest of the subcontinent. However, it is also the peak season and can be a little crowded.

Monsoon (July - August): Ranikhet can be visited in the early months of July, but it receives heavy rainfall during the months of July and August and it is advisable not to travel during these months as your plans might get hindered due to the rain.

Winter (September - February): Winters in Ranikhet are cold, with a maximum temperature of around 15 degrees Celcius and a minimum temperature of around -3 degrees Celcius. The weather during the early winter months of September, October and November is pleasant and this is also a good time to visit Ranikhet. It is also an ideal time to visit if you want to avoid the crowd and also if you want to experience snowfall.

Local Food and Cuisine of Ranikhet
Ranikhet houses the rich and authentic local cuisines as well as North Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, European and Asian cuisines. Bhaang Ki Khatai, Mixed dal Salad, Kappa (a green curry), Sisunak Saag(a dish prepared with green leafy vegetables and many local ingredients), Aloo ke Gutke ( a Kumauni potato dish), Aloo Daal Pakora, Rus (a preparation of many dals) are the local delicacies, popular here.
Other than these, you can find typical North Indian cuisines including Tandoori Roti, Naan, various preparations of Paneer and other vegetables, Non-vegetarian.

Ranikhet Attractions
Bhalu Dam: The popular tourist spot, lying at the distance of 3kms. From Ranikhet, is known for its artificial lake and picnic spots.

Binsar Mahadev Temple:Lying at the distance of approximately 15 km from Ranikhet, this popular temple of Lord Shiva has a stunning stream flowing just in its vicinity. The temple is surrounded by verdant cedar forests.

Chaubatia Gardens: Popular by the name of Orchard Country, Chaubatia is situated merely at a distance of 10 kms. from Ranikhet, and offers a charming view of Himalayan cascades.

Chaukhutia: Located at 54 kms from Ranikhet, en route to Badrinath shrine, Chaukhutia is well known sight seeing and famous for natural beauty and fishing centre.

Upat and Kalika Golf Course: Ranikhet has the Asia’s highest altitude located natural 9 hole golf course, which offers a tempting environment to the golf lovers. What’s more, Kali temple and a forest nursery juxtaposing the golf course are also worth visiting.

Katarmal Sun Temple: Situated at a distance of 25 km from Ranikhet, is popular for its 12th century built Sun Temple. Katarmal Sun Temple is India’s second Sun Temple. First one being the Konark Sun Temple at Orissa.

Hairakhan Temple:Hairakhan Temple is located 4 km from Ranikhet town situated at Chiliyanaula, offers a spectacular Himalayan view. The temple was built by Shri Hairakhan Maharaj – known to be an embodiment of Lord Shiva.

Jhula-Devi Temple: Jhula-Devi Temple is an 8th century goddess Durga temple which lies quiet close to Ranikhet Hill Station. It is believed that anybody who wishes for something in front of goddess Durga, his/her wishes are fulfilled. Lying close to Jhula-Devi Temple is temple dedicated to Lord Rama.

Majkhali: Located at the distance of 13kms. from, Ranikhet, en route to Almora, Majkhali offers a splendid view of the snow capped Himalayan ranges.

Manila: Manila, literally meaning enchanting, is situated at a distance of 87kms. from Ranikhet, and 75kms. from Ramnagar. Manila is the seat of Manila Devi - the family Goddess of the Katyuri cla.

Jaurasi: Located at a distance of 16kms. from Ranikhet, and situated at an altitude of 6000ft., above sea level, Jaurasi offers rich mountain view to the tourists.

Khairna: Khairna is located at a distance of approximately 22 kms. from Ranikhet on the Nainital route. The place offers plenty of opportunity to the visitors for fishing.