Ranikhet is one of the most beautiful and charming hill resorts of the hills of Uttar Pradesh. This place gives a breathtaking and mesmerizing view of the majestic Himalayas and the Nanda Devi group of peaks. Its lush green pine and oak forests, attractive plant life and varied fauna are captivating in their own ways.
Legend has it that Rani Padmini, queen of Raja Sudhardev, loved this place so much that she made it her abode. Ever since then, this place came to be known as 'Ranikhet', literally meaning "the Queen's Field".
Ranikhet is also a cantonment, established in 1869 when the British troops selected it as a hill station. The Kumaon Regimental Centre, Museum and Memorial stand testimony to this fact. Besides these, there are numerous other places like the Chaubatia Garden, Bhaludam- a small artificial lake and the famous Kalika temple which are worth visiting. The golfers too can have their day at the nine-hole Upat Golf Course, which is just 6 kms from Ranikhet on the Almora road.
Ranikhet usually has a pleasant climate. But be it rain, sun or snow, every season has its charm here and this makes it an all-season destination.
It is situated at a distance of 50 kms from Almora.
| Area | 21.76 sq. kms |
| Height | 1829 Mts. |
| Clothing | Summer Light Woolens or
Cottons. Winter Heavy Woolens. |
| Season | Round the Year |
| Language | Kumaoni, Hindi |
| Accessibility | |
| Air | Nearest Air port is Pantnagar 199 kms. |
| Rail | Nearest Railheads are Kathgodam, 83 kms. and Ramnagar 96 kms |
| Road | Well connected by road with all major towns of Kumaon hills and near by districts |
| Accommodation | |
| Tourist Rest House Forest Rest House |
Tel. 91-5966-22297,
22893 Private Hotels are available. PWD Inspection House Tel.91-5966- 22671 |
Excursions
| Chaubatia Garden | Govt. Garden and the Fruit Research Centre 10 kms. from Raniketh |
| Upat Kalika 6 kms | The best mountain golf links with 9 holes and on this side it is surrounded by dense Oak forests. |
| Bhaludam | Here is a small artificial lake,which attracts tourists round the year. 3 kms from Chaubatia Garden |
| Dwarahat 38 kms | It had been the principal seat of the Katyuri Rajas and is full of ancient sculptures. |