HillStations

Looking for a divine place to visit in the state of Uttarakhand?  You should head for the Almora district until you get a hill station known as Ranikhet, which is also a cantonment town. The cantonment spans over two ridges. One of the ridges is called Ranikhet ridge, which is situated at a height of 5983 feet while the second was called Chaubattia ridge, which is situated at a height of 6942 feet. The Indian army maintains the Naga Regiment and Kumaon Regiment here. The British had set up the center of operations of the Kumaon Regiment here in the year 1869. They used the center as a sanctuary from the heat of the summers in India. There was a time when there was talk of replacing Shimla with Ranikhet as the summer headquarters of the Government of India. It is perched high up in the Kumaon hills at a height of 1869 meters with a commanding view of the Himalayan peaks.

In Hindi, Ranikhet actually means the Queen’s meadow. As the legend goes, king Sudhardev wooed his sweetheart Queen Padmini at this place and won her love. Later she opted to dwell in this territory. That’s how it got its name Ranikhet. However no palace exists in this region. English, Hindi and Kumaoni are spoken here.

During the summers the weather is quite moderate and on the other hand the winters can be pretty chilly. The best season to visit Ranikhet hill station is from October to March. Ranikhet receives snow through the winter season, this is generally in the months of December, January and February. The tranquil surroundings and the mystical aura of Ranikhet hillstation lure holiday makers throughout the year. The wholesome air and clement winds here waft in from the snow topped Himalyan peaks. Ranikhet’s weather could be described in one word, ‘Alpine’.

The distance by road from Delhi to Ranikhet is 279 kilometers. This distance can be covered by road or by railway. The closest railway station is Kathgodam, which is at a distance of about 80 kilometers from Ranikhet. You can visit more than one hill station if you visit Ranikhet as Almora and Nainital hill stations are as close as 50 kilometers and 60 kilometers respectively.

There is only one place for shopping in Ranikhet hill station and it is called Sadar Bazaar. You will find shops, restaurants and hotels in this portion of the town. It can be pretty crowded here.

Also Check Out The Foll:

1. Tourist spots in and around Ranikhet The golf links at Upat, the Kalika temple, the agricultural...
2. Videos of Ranikhet Some videos shot at and around Ranikhet. The snow fall,...
3. Map of Ranikhet Map of Ranikhet, in Uttarakhand, India. Zoom out to see...