Ranikhet hill station in Uttarakhand
Ranikhet is a hill station in Almora district, Uttarakhand. It is at an altitude of 1,869 metres (6,132 ft)above sea level.It is famous among travellers for the beautiful mountains and wildlife. The oak, pine and deodar forests is house for wildlife including leopard cat, Rhesus monkey, Dhole, langur, goat, leopard, barking deer, sambar, yellow throated marten, Indian hare, red fox, and porcupine.
When to visit:
The hill station isquite pleasant in summers and very cold in the winters. For the travellers, the best time to visit is from March to October. In the month of December, January and February, the mountains are covered with snow and the view is mesmerising.
What to do in Ranikhet:
- Photography
- Sightseeing
- Shopping
How to reach:
There are number of buses available to reach there.Ranikhet itself is the nearest bus stand.
Kathgodam railway station is the nearest railway station to reach to this place. It is 80kms away from the location. From there one is suggested to take taxi or cab.
Pantnagar Airport is the nearest airport to this location and it is at a distance of 119km from Ranikhet.
Places to visit near Ranikhet:
Jhula Devi Temple – This temple opens every day from 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM. It is dedicated to Goddess Durga. Elegantly designed bells here are the point of attraction. There is a Ram temple nearby which also catches attention of tourists.
Majhkali –This is a beautiful village, at a distance of 12kms from Ranikhet. There are few resorts nearby. It is known among travellers for its local culture and beautiful views of mountains.
Ram Mandir – This temple is situated near the Chaubatia Gardens. There are number of stairs which lead up to this holy place. It was built and dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Ram. There is a monastery here, where students learn ancient Vedas and Vedic and modern mathematics from Sant Sri Mouni Maharaj.
Bhalu Dam - It is an artificial lake surrounded by forests and it was built around 200 years ago. It is a perfect place for families to camp and spend some time.
Kalika – This is a small hill station, at a distance of 6km from Ranikhet. It is surrounded by dense forests and the view is mesmerising from the top points of the hills.
Chaubatia Orchards -Located in the foot of Himalayan ranges, this is famous for offering the views of the peaks of Nanda Devi, Nilkanth, Nandaghunti and Trishul. Apart from the view, this place offers apples, plums, peaches and apricots.
Haidakhan Babaji Temple –This temple is at a distance of 4.5km from Ranikhet. It displays a tall statue of Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva. It is known for its Navratri celebration which takes place for all 9 days. For spiritual seekers this is a place not to miss.
Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum - It is a famous museum built in the 1970s. The purpose was to showcase the rich legacy of the Kumaon Region and exhibit the glory and achievements of the Uttarakhand army. It displays of photographs of wars, weapons, medals, uniforms, flags and stone tablets.