Ranikhet, true to its name which means Queen's meadow, is a beautiful town located high in the Kumaon hills in the state of Uttarakhand. The town is a popular hill station and an Army cantonment in the district with the same name. There exists an excellent Military Hospital and centres of Kumaon Regiment and Naga Regiment. Situated at an altitude of 1829 meters and well-connected by roads to the neighbouring towns and other popular hill stations like Almora and Binsar, Ranikhet is complete with nature's riches. It is surrounded by snow-capped hills and green forests, which are home to a large and diverse species of flora and fauna.
It were the British who rediscovered the town and thereafter established the headquarters of their army regiment here. Soon the town became the summer resort and was frequently visited by the homesick troops and officers. Today, the remnants of their colonial era in the forms of colonial bungalows, churches, street squares, etc. are popular attractions among the tourists. Ranikhet is a small town and the Indian Army maintains the cantonment. Besides being a historical town, Ranikhet is also the centre of commerce in the region. It has fairly bustling marketplaces with number of colorful shops, public places, restaurants, and some of the best hotels in Ranikhet. Sadar Bazar, Zaroori Bazar and Khari Bazar are the hotspots, these are the places where most of the actions are experienced. The shops here are excellent for a good section of woolens, from shawls, sweaters, to carpets. Plum juice is the speciality of the town. In addition, one can also shop the local handicrafts, religious books etc. as souvenirs.
NH87 is the connecting highway that links the town with the rest of the cities of the nation. It is best that one takes the route that passes through Bhimtal, rather than the route that passes near Nainital. It is so because there exist several scenic spots of the route through Bhimtal. As a tourist destination, the town is ideal for a tranquil relaxed holiday in the lap of the nature. It is best for those seeking sometime to relax at a quite place and relishing the best of genuine hospitality, good food, and admiring the nature. The town has some of the best world-class scenic spots and lookout points. Trekking, rock climbing, mountain cycling, picnic, and long walks are some of the most popular activities among the tourists. Besides, sightseeing is a major activity in the town. The popular places that one should not miss to visit includes: The Mall, Golf Course, Chaubatia Garden, Mankameshwar Temple, Jhula Devi Temple, Sheetla Khet, and Binsar Mahadev Temple.
Focusing on accommodations in the town, the good thing is that there is no dearth of hotels in Ranikhet. There are the uber luxurious hotels that offer all the luxuries of a 4/5 Star hotels to the affordable and humble cheap hotels that are best for a short trip of the town. Besides, there also exist the budget hotels in Ranikhetthat are the value for money hotels effectively catering to all elementary and some of the luxury needs of the guests.
Martin Wynn
