In the midst of dense pine forests in the Kumaon
Hills is the sylvan cantonment town of Ranikhet, 50 km west of Almora. Ranikhet has an old
world charm with graceful churches and sprawling colonial bungalows fronted by
flower-bedecked gardens. The town is spread over a series of ridges and pretty, tree lined
paths wind into the surrounding alpine forests. Locals have been known to spot the
occasional leopard on the outskirts of town. In
spite of being one of the most beautiful hill resorts in the Kumaon region, Ranikhet still
retains its laidback, unblemished charm and is not spilling over with visitors.
Legend has it that a visiting queen (rani) was so enchanted by Ranikhet’s beauty
that she established a township here. In 1869 the land around Ranikhet was bought by the
British to create a summer resort and cantonment town. As in other colonial hill resorts,
town life centres on the Mall.
At a height of 1,829 metres, the ridge tops of Ranikhet are good
vantage points for panoramic vistas of Himalayan peaks including the Nanda Devi group.
From the luxuriant fruit orchards of Chaubatia,
10 km beyond the Mall, you can get a sweeping view of the Himalayas, especially the peaks
of Nanda Devi, Trisul, Nanda Ghunti and Nilkanth. Ranikhet is the starting point for a
number of exciting treks into the Himalayas.
The fabled Jhula Devi
temple dedicated to Goddess Shakti and an ancient shrine dedicated to Rama lie on the
outskirts of town. Bhaludam has an artificial lake that is a picturesque picnic spot.
Other places you should see are the lush orchards and herbarium of Kherna, the complex of 55 ancient hill temples
of Dwarahat, and the shrine of Durga at Dunagiri.
And lastly, some good news for golf lovers – Ranikhet has a splendidly
maintained 9-hole golf course with a magnificent view of the mountain slopes. So put on
your golfing shoes or your walking boots and make tracks to Ranikhet for a happy, fun
filled holiday. |
