Places to visit in Ranikhet

The town is spread over a series of ridges and pretty, tree lined paths wind into the surrounding alpine forests from where leopards make occasional appearances. In spite of being one of the most beautiful hill resorts in the Kumaon region, Ranikhet still retains its laidback, unblemished charm and is not spilling over with visitors. As in other colonial hill resorts, town life centres on The Mall.

Historically Speaking

According to popular belief, Ranikhet got its name from Rani Padmini, queen of Raja Sukherdev, the local ruler. The queen when visited the place, was enthralled by its beauty and decided to stay here. The place, hence, came to be known as Ranikhet or the Queen's Field. The region around Ranikhet




was ruled by local Kumaoni rulers and later came under British rule. The British developed Ranikhet as a hill station for their troops and established a cantonment in 1869. Ranikhet is still a cantonment town and is the Kumaon Regimental Center.

How to get there by Air

The nearest airport is Pantnagar airport at a distance of about 119 km.

How to get there by Rail

You can take a train to Kathgodam and than take a taxi or bus that regularly ply to Ranikhet.

How to get there by Bus

Drive on NH 24 to Rampur via Roorkee, Moradabad and Hapur. From Rampur onwards you have to drive on the state roads to Kathgodam and through to Ranikhet via Almora and Nainital. Journey time is 8 hours.

Best time to Visit

Summers are the peak season when everyone wants to escape the heat on the plains. The best time to visit Ranikhet is from September to November and again from April to June, when the weather is bracing. If you dislike the crowd, visit in the winters when the cold discourages the usual tourists.
If you like the rains, visit Ranikhet in the early monsoon and walk through the lush green hillsides. It can be invigorating.

Hotels in Ranikhet

Ranikhet has a few standard hotels and most offer good services. Besides KMVN hotels, some of the others are Rosemount Chevron Hotel and Resorts, Woodsvilla Resort, the West View Hotel, Parwati Inn and Parwati Resort.

Nearby Places

Almora is 50 kms west of Ranikhet and is a lovely hillstation with beautiful remains of the Raj. Other palces of interest around ranikhet are Katarmal, Nainital, Shitalakhet, Manila, Dwarahat and Doonagiri.


About the Author:

Author : Raman

Armaan Sharma

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Nainital - the Lake City of India