Paradise of the hill station Ranikhet
Ranikhet, or "Queen’s Meadow," is a mesmerizing hill station falling under the state of Uttarakhand. It sits at 1829 meters above sea level. The hill station receives its name from Queen Padmini of Kumaon. Queen Padmini of Kumaon fell in love with this beautiful hill paradise, so King Sudhardev built a palace here as a gift. Over time, it became known as Ranikhet, or Queen's Field, in English. The hill station is near Nainital. Another relevant part is to consult local tour guides or hotel staff before visiting here. The Indian Army maintains the hill station.
It also serves as a base for the Kumaon and Naga regiments. The hill station was out of contact with the world for a long time. Britishers rediscovered it in the late 1870s. They later transformed this tiny hill station into the headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment. At present, Ranikhet is much the same as any other cantonment town. The highway to Ranikhet has a lot of small markets where vendors have a variety of delicious apples, apricots, peaches, and various other alpine fruits.
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| Ranikhet, the Queen of the Hills: |
The hill station is approximately 8 hours or 350 kilometres from Delhi and 55 kilometres from Nainital. The beautiful hill station is easily accessible on an overnight air-conditioned train that runs daily. We can cover the remaining 75 kilometres in addition to the “Ranikhet Express” from New Delhi (non-AC buses and taxis). The bus can also reach Ranikhet Hill Station from New Delhi, which runs regularly and is air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned.
Some of the major tourist attractions of Ranikhet areas are as below:
Bhalu Dam:
A British Viceroy built the Bhalu Dam nearly 200 years ago as a source of drinking water for the soldiers. After a 10km drive from Kothiyan, the lake is another 3km hike down from the Chaubatia Orchard. It offers a panoramic view of the Himalayan mountains near the dam. The dam site is open to tourists throughout the year. The views of the massive Himalayan peaks make Bhalu Dam an ideal spot for camping.
Binsar Mahadev Temple is another tourist destination located roughly 15 kilometres from Ranikhet. It is one of Lord Shiva's most renowned temples. In the immediate surroundings, there is a beautiful creek. Verdant cedar forests surround the temple.
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| Chaubatia Gardens |
Chaubatia Gardens is Ranikhet's most well-known tourist attraction. Chaubatia is just as close as Ranikhet, which is only 10 kilometres away. It has a lovely view of the Himalayan waterfalls.
Upat and Kalika Golf Courses
The natural 9-hole golf course in Ranikhet is Asia’s highest-altitude golf course. It provides an enticing setting for golf enthusiasts. The Kali temple is also worth seeing, as is a forest nursery across the street from the golf course.
Sun Temple of Katarmal:
The Katarmal Sun Temple is a religious place 16 kilometres from Almora. It is readily accessible from Ranikhet and Almora and takes around 2 hours of picturesque driving with views of the lush Himalayas. Lord Surya is honoured at this temple. The temple complex dates back over 800 years. A total of 45 minor temples surround the main temple. Even though this old shrine is now in ruins, it is a popular tourist destination in Ranikhet and Almora.
Sitlakhet Hidden Hill Station
Sitlakhet is the place to go if you want to get away from the noise and bustle of the city. Sitlakhet, located in the Almora area, is a lesser-known tourist site around 24 kilometres away from Queen's Meadow in Ranikhet. Sitlakhet, proudly perched at 1900 meters above the multicoloured Syahi Devi hills, is one of the nice spots to visit in the Kumaon Himalayas. The Chaukhamba peaks are visible in the distance from this off-the-beaten-path location.
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| Sitlakhet Hidden Hill Station |
The city of Bageshwar is at the junction of the Saryu and Gomati rivers, at an elevation of 1004 meters, and has numerous prominent temples dedicated to the gods. Bageshwar is a historically and religiously significant location. On the east and west sides of Bageshwar, Bhileshwar and Nileshwar are the best places, and Suraj Kund and Agni Kund mark the north and south sides, respectively.
Binsar - Bird Watching Paradise
Binsar, a peaceful area in the Kumaon region, is one of the most picturesque spots. With a height of 2420 meters, Binsar offers magnificent views of the majestic Himalayan peaks of Chaukhamba, Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, Panchachuli, and Kedarnath. Binsar Zero Point offers a panoramic and spectacular view of the Himalayan peaks for 300 kilometres. Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary, which acts as a sanctuary for unique animals, birds, and floral species, surrounds this tiny hill town. Binsar Paradise is densely forested, and it is unquestionably the ideal location for adventurous trekking, camping, and nature hikes.
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| Binsar - Bird Watching Paradise |