Ranikhet Travel Guide — Everything You Need to Know
Ranikhet is a quiet cantonment town at about 1,800 m in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, set among pine and oak forest with views of the Nanda Devi range on clear days. It is the home of the Kumaon Regiment, and the army keeps much of the town green, clean and unhurried — the reason people choose it over the busier lake towns. Pulp Hotels does not list a stay in Ranikhet yet.
Things to do in Ranikhet
- Kumaon Regimental Centre museum — the regiment's history, medals and memorabilia, in the cantonment.
- Upat golf course — a hilltop golf course a few kilometres out of town, with wide meadows and mountain views.
- Chaubatia — the government orchards on the slope above town, with apple, peach and plum trees and views of the peaks.
- Jhula Devi temple — a temple hung with bells left by devotees, near Chaubatia.
- Majkhali — a ridge on the Almora road with one of the best views of the snow peaks near Ranikhet.
- Forest walks — level roads through pine and deodar around the cantonment, the simplest pleasure of a stay here.
Best time to visit Ranikhet
March to June is pleasant and the main season. October and November bring the clearest views of the Himalaya. December to February is cold, with snow in some winters. July to September is the monsoon: green, wet and misty, with landslide risk on the hill roads.
Getting to Ranikhet
The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, around three hours away by road, with direct trains from Delhi. The nearest airport is Pantnagar. Ranikhet is roughly two to two and a half hours from Nainital and about an hour and a half from Almora.
Where to stay around Ranikhet
Stay near the Mall Road and the cantonment to walk to the town's sights, or out towards Chaubatia, Upat and Majkhali for orchards, forest and views. Many travellers combine Ranikhet with Almora, Kausani and Nainital on a week's loop through Kumaon.
