Ranikhet or Queen's Meadow of Kumaon

Ranikhet, at 6000 feet from sea-level, has all the ingredients of a romantic, charming, picturesque little hill-station with its lush and dense green forests, stately mountain peaks and the exotic flora and fauna. To experience a symphony of sight, not merely sound, the place to be is Ranikhet.

The Legend and, thus, the name

The place where Ranikhet stands is said to have impressed the queen of Raja Sudhardev, Rani Padmini, so much that she decided to settle here itself. Since that time the place came to be known as Ranikhet which, literally, means "Queen's Field".

Oh..! The Beauty!!

The soothing breeze, the music and the soulful singing of birds, the very view of the Himalayas make your experience as good as Heaven. With the advent of the rains comes the blooming flowers and ripened fruits on branches of stooping tress.

The spiritual leanings and vibes become even stronger when sunlight adds to the whole effect by peeping through the mist and clouds. Autumn brings carpets of dry leaves adding romance to the place.

This explains why it never loses its charm in any of the seasons.

Attractions

* Pilgrimages

Jhoola Devi Ram Mandir

It is situated 7kms. away from Ranikhet on the road to Chaubatia. Temples dedicated to Rama and Durga are the main attractions.

Hairakhan Temple

Famous for the beautiful temple of Baba Haira Khan, it is 4 kms. away from Ranikhet. The view of Himalayas from here is awesome.

Tarikhet

It is 8kms. away from Ranikhet and is primarily famous for its Gandhi Kuti. The temple of Gollu Devta is very well-known throughout the region.

Binsar Mahadev and Mankameshwar (a temple built by the famous Kumaon regiment) are the other important pilgrim-sites.

* Excursions

Chaubatia

Some call it the 'orchard country' and it possesses one of the most picturesque views of the Himalayas. It is 10 kilometers away from the town of Ranikhet.

Upat and Kalika

A delight for Golf lovers, it is only 5kms. from Ranikhet and is situated on the main road to Almora. It has one of the best 9-hole golf courses in the area. The temple of Maa Kali and a forest nursery in the vicinity of the course are worth a visit.

Manila

It is 87 kms. away from Ranikhet. Known for the fact that it is seat of the family Goddess of the Katyuri clan, Manila Devi, Manila boasts of a view which is really enchanting and one that brings inner peace.

Jaurasi, Chaukhatia and Khairna are also worth a mention as these are majestically beautiful and calm to the core. A visit to these places can revitalize your mind.

Getting there

The best way to reach Ranikhet is by train and the nearest railheads are Kathgodam at a distance of 87kms. and Ram Nagar, which is 96kms away.

By road, the distance of important and prominent towns and cities from Ranikhet is:

Almora (50kms)
Nanital (68kms)
Delhi (279kms)
Haridwar (254kms)