Situated in Almora district of Uttarakhand, Ranikhet is a cantonment area for Kumaon and Naga Regiments of Indian Army. This means that it is extremely well maintained and beautifully landscaped that brings together some of the best experiences and click-able views for tourists. Situated at an altitude of 1869 m above sea level, Ranikhet was named after Rani Padmini, who chose the place as her residence. A popular summer retreat since the British Raj period, Ranikhet witness snowfall in winters but has mild temperatures in summers.
The bio-diversity at Ranikhet is quite exhilarating and you can find mountain goats, red-faced monkeys, pine martins, leopards, and wild bears loping around amongst majestic pine, oak and deodar trees. A tourist's paradise, Ranikhet is idyllic for tourists who want to breathe in fresh and pure mountain breeze and hear to bird songs in Himalayas. A Fruit Research Center at Chaubatiya Garden and fishing opportunity at a dam nearby are two things you must not miss at Ranikhet.
Places to See
Ranikhet offers some of the most alluring temples and gardens. You must see:
- India's second biggest Golf Course near Upat Kalika
- Kalika Temple
- Jhula Devi Temple
- Chaubatiya Garden
- Bhalu Dam
- Hairakhan Temple
- Binsar Mahadev
- Dronagiri & Pandavkholi
- Baijnath Temple
- Sun Temple at Katarmal
- Dwarahat
- Jageshwar Cluster of Temples
Shopping
Traditional sweets, such as baal mithai and singaudi at Ranikhet are quite popular. Intricate shawls in different colors are available at an affordable price at the KRC Shawl and Tweed Factory Outlet, which is situated in an old church with beautiful stained glass windows and high majestic ceiling.
Where to Stay
There are several budget and deluxe hotels as well as top-rated and high-end luxury accommodations at Ranikhet. You can also stay in heritage bungalows in tranquil locations that are tastefully done up for tourists. We recommend:
- Cosmos Ventures
- Holm Farm Heritage
- Parwati Resort
- Ranikhet club
- The Parwati Inn
- Trishul Lodge
- West View Hotel
- Windsor Lodge
- Woodsvilla Resort
How to Reach Ranikhet
Ranikhet is accessible by road and does not have a railway station or airport of its own.
By Road: Main bus station at Ranikhet is situated close to the the Sadar Bazaar area. Regular and frequent buses are available to Nainital, Almora, Kathgodam and Kasauni from here.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Ranikhet is at Kathgodam, about 80 km away. We recommend Ranikhet Express, Kathgodam Garib Rath, and Dehradun Kathgodam Express to reach here. It takes about four hours to reach Ranikhet by bus from Kathgodam.
By Air: Nearest airport to Ranikhet is at Pantnagar in Nainital, 90 km away. However, since it is not operational these days, the closest airport you can use is at Delhi, 360 km from here.
