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The
Himalayas shone in the twilight sun. The valley below bore a clean virginal look
as numerous waterfalls gushed downwards to form gurgling brooks. The
intoxicating scent of pine filled the air. The atmosphere was invigorating.
Intoxicating. Since the time the
Britishers discovered this celestial piece of earth to the outside world, the
ambience of the place seems almost unchanged. The peace, tranquility,
cleanliness and the ethereal beauty almost slams the senses as soon as one
enters into this Himalayan resort. Standing atop a hill surrounded by coniferous
forests, with all its olde worlde charm, this sylvan retreat offers an ineresting mix of hill
and military cultures.
Welcome to the Queen's Fields - Ranikhet.
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General Information:
Getting There:
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AIR Nearest Airport, Panthnagar- 112 km. |
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RAIL Nearest Railway heads are Kathgodam- 80 km & Ramnagar- 96 km. |
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ROAD Ranikhet is well connected by roads to important centres in the region. Some of the major distances are : Almora ( 49 km. ) Delhi ( 386 km ) Nainital ( 59 km. ) Kathgodam ( 80 km.) |
Tourist Attractions
According to legend, a queen, in the course of a journey came here and was so enchanted by it's beauty that she settled down here. And thats why the name Rani-Khet, meaning Queens Fields. Boasting of beautiful forests of oak and pine, Ranikhet at 1829 mtrs. offers a stunning panoramic view of the Himalayas - from the Bhagirathi peaks in the west to Nanda Kot in the east.
CHAUBATIA
10 km. from Ranikhet on a motorable road, Chaubatia is a vantage point
set amidst gardens. On a clear
morning a 300 km. wide view of the snow-clad Himalayan peaks can be seen clearly
from Chaubatia. The NandaDevi, Trishul,
Nandaghunti and Nilkanth peaks are very clear. 
Bhaludam, 3 km. from here, has an
artificial lake. Supposed to be one of India's largest horticultural gardens,
the Govt. Fruit Research Centre is located here. As the name implies, these are four, fruit gardens, with a Government Fruit
Research Centre, complete with a fruit sales depot and cafeteria. Spanning over an expanse of 265
acres, 36 varieties of apples are grown at Chaubatia,
four of which are exported.
JHULA DEVI
TEMPLE
This secluded temple
dedicated to Durga has beautiful bells, echoes of which are heard from some
distance. Nearby is a temple of Lord Rama.
UPAT &
KALIKA
With one of the best 9 hole golf links in the country, Upat is a boon to the
enthusiast. With the added attraction of private orchards, it is 5.6 km away.
Just one kilometre from Upat is Kalika with its famous temple to the Goddess
Kali. It also has good forest nursery. A beautiful snowcapped
mountain peak is
available on the other side of the golf link at Upat.
From
Kalika a 45 minute drive
away, through misty, pine forests is another temple, the Binsar Mahadev.
EXCURSIONS
MAJKHALI
13 km. A vantage point on the road to Almora.
On the Ranikhet - Almora road, 13 km, is a spot of entrancing, celestial beauty.
Here is an awe-inspiring view of the majesty of the snowy peaks. The U.P.
Government Agriculture Farm is situated here.
SHITALAKHET
35 km. Scenic spot offering a fine view of the Himalayas. It has
lush orchads and is also known for its herbal and medicinal plants. It is an
ideal place for a peaceful holiday.
DWARAHAT
37 km. Believed to be the seat of the ancient Katyuri Dynasty, the town
has a cluster of old temples divided into 8 distinct groups.
DUNAGIRI
52 km. Famous for its temple dedicated to Durga Devi. The temple bears an
inscription dating back to 1181 AD
PRIME
ATTRACTION: Nanda
Devi Fair
Nanda Devi Mela is a fair of great religious and cultural significance. It is
held at Nanda Devi Temple in September to commemorate the memory of goddesses,
Nanda and Sunanda.
Accomodation
