Ranikhet is one of the most exotic hill stations of
Uttarakhand in Almora district. This cantonment town was initially developed by
British rulers. It serves as a home to Naga Regiment, Kumaon Regiment, and
Military Hospital and is completely managed by Indian Army.
Ranikhet is well regarded as “Queen’s Meadow” and the town
served as a home to Rani Padmini. It was once the summer capital of British
rulers but proposal to make it the same was shelved. It is located at around
1869m above sea level in Kumaon Hills and is covered by dense greens of Deodar
and Oak forests. The upper landscapes are called Chaubatia Ridge which is
located at around 2116m of altitude.
Climate
With its high altitude, Ranikhet has cool climate all year
round and in winter, it gets a lot of snowfall. Summer starts late in March and
lasts till May. But the temperatures still remain below 22 degrees and summers
are very pleasant and mild. The monsoon starts at the end of the month of June
and continues till September. The region is covered by beautiful greens and has
most picturesque scenery due to rains. In Ranikhet , the winters start really
early in October and ends in February. The higher areas often get snowfall and
temperature goes below freezing range.
When to Visit Ranikhet?
You can easily visit Ranikhet in most times of the year and
temperature remains very pleasant in summers. So, you can easily roam all day
long and capture the true beauty of nature in the summer months. It becomes a
natural paradise in monsoons but mountain rains are very heavy. So, you should
avoid getting there during the rainy season as it is prone to landslides.
Things to do in Ranikhet
There is no lack of artificial and natural attractions in
Ranikhet so visitors can relax and get an ideal escape from daily hustles and
bustles. Ranikhet is covered by serene forests and have a lot of fauna species
like mountain goat, leopard, barking deer, red fox, pine marten, Indian hare
and jackal.
If you are on Central Himalayan birding tour in India,
Ranikhet becomes a bird watcher’s paradise in summers. Also visit the army
museum here, which is completely managed by Naga Regiment and Kumaon Regiment
of Indian Army. You can watch several photographs, memorials and different
stories related to World War I.
Jhula Devi Temple is another worthwhile attraction, which is
devoted to Goddess Durga. The deity is known to fulfill all wishes of devotees
who tie the bells on its walls. In its proximity is Ram Mandir which also has
monastery where ancient Vedas and Vedic mathematics are taught to the students.
You can chill and relax at Chaubatia gardens which are
covered by dense flowery meadows and fruit orchards. You can capture the exotic
views of Himalayas and even buy fresh honey and fruits from souvenir shops. You
can also view Nanda Devi peaks from several parts of this town.
E: info@asianadventures.in
Don’t miss joining our ‘conservation-travel’ community! Click Here
