Ranikhet Travel Guide
A pine-and-oak cantonment town with orchard walks at Chaubatia and long Nanda Devi views.
- Altitude
- 1,869 m
- Best season
- Year round
- From Dehradun
- ~330 km
- Category
- Kumaon
Why visit Ranikhet
- A working cantonment that has kept commercial development tightly controlled — the result is wide, shaded avenues and a genuine small-town quiet
- Chaubatia apple orchards (8 km) produce a dozen apple varieties along with peaches and plums; the orchard walk in blossom season is outstanding
- One of the highest golf courses in Asia at 1,829 m — nine holes through a meadow ringed by deodar and oak
- Nanda Devi and a long arc of Kumaon Himalaya visible from Jhula Devi temple and the cantonment road on clear mornings
- Jhula Devi temple, draped end-to-end in bells donated by answered-prayer devotees, is one of Kumaon's most atmospheric shrines
Ranikhet is a Kumaon cantonment kept deliberately quiet — pine forests, the Jhula Devi temple and golf-course meadows with Himalayan panoramas.
Chaubatia's apple and apricot orchards, a few kilometres above town, make the classic morning walk.
Explore around
Places near Ranikhet
Government-run orchard with 12 apple varieties; open to visitors year-round; blossom (March–April) and harvest (August–September) are peak times
Small reservoir in forest; picnic spot; pleasant walk from the dam road
Ancient Shiva temple in dense forest; 11th century stone carvings; quiet and relatively unknown
Bell-covered Durga temple; every fulfilled wish results in a bell being added to the shrine — thousands hang from every surface
Clear mornings (October especially) give an unobstructed Himalayan panorama from Trishul to Nanda Kot
What to do
Activities at Ranikhet
Golf
The Ranikhet Golf Course at 1,829 m is among the most scenically placed in India. Green fees are nominal; clubs and caddies available on hire. The nine-hole course is maintained by the military and open to civilians with advance enquiry.
Orchard walk
The Chaubatia government orchard covers 600 acres and is open to visitors without restriction. In harvest season, jams and squashes are sold at the estate shop. A walk through the orchard rows with Himalayan peaks in the distance is one of Ranikhet's most underrated experiences.
Heritage walk
The Kumaon Regimental Centre houses a well-curated military museum (open weekdays; permission required) tracing the regiment's history from 1788. The cantonment church of St Bride (1890s) and the old officers' mess are worth seeing on the same walk.
Sunset from Upat meadow
The Upat and Kalika meadows above the golf course face west toward the valley and catch the last light. Local vehicles reach the Kalika temple (2 km from the course), from where a short walk opens the meadow view.
Before you go
Ranikhet travel tips
- As a military cantonment, certain areas require passes — the golf course and museum need advance coordination but are accessible to civilians
- Kathgodam (80 km) is the practical railhead; the road via Bhowali is better surfaced than the Almora road
- The cantonment main road (Mall Road) is a pleasant 3 km walk; traffic is minimal and the deodar canopy makes it shaded even in May
- Chaubatia orchards are best visited on weekday mornings — weekends see large family groups from Kathgodam and Haldwani
- Ranikhet has reliable mobile connectivity (Jio, Airtel) and several ATMs near the main bazaar
- Accommodation is spread across the cantonment; book ahead in April–May (apple blossom) and October (clear skies)
Getting there
How to reach Ranikhet
Pantnagar Airport (119 km, ~3.5 hrs). Taxi or shared cab from Pantnagar or Haldwani.
Kathgodam station (80 km) connects to Delhi (Ranikhet Express overnight). Shared taxis from Kathgodam to Ranikhet take about 2.5 hours.
Delhi → Haldwani → Kathgodam → Bhowali → Ranikhet (350 km, 8–9 hrs). From Almora it is 50 km on a narrow but scenic road. Uttarakhand Roadways buses run from Haldwani regularly.
Where to stay in Ranikhet
- KMVN Tourist Rest House: reliable mid-range option with valley views, central location
- Norton's Abode and other homestays on the Chaubatia road offer more character than the town hotels
- West View Hotel (century-old colonial-era property) is the most atmospheric stay in Ranikhet
- Budget hotels cluster near the main bazaar and bus stand; functional but without views
Food & dining
- Ranikhet has a small bazaar with standard north-Indian dhabas and a few bakeries near the bus stand
- The cantonment guesthouses serve simple homestyle meals — advance notice usually needed
- Kumaoni snacks (singodi, arsa, bhaang-seed chutney) are available at the bazaar on fair days
- Carry provisions if staying near Chaubatia — restaurants thin out beyond the main market
Background
History of Ranikhet
Ranikhet was established as a military cantonment in 1869 by the British for the Kumaon Rifles, one of the oldest regiments of the Indian Army. The name translates as "Queen's field" — local legend holds that Queen Padmavati of the Chand dynasty camped on this meadow, though documentary evidence for this pre-colonial history is thin.
The Kumaon Regimental Centre, headquartered here since the regiment's reorganisation after 1857, has been home to a remarkable fighting force that served in both World Wars, and continues to be one of India's most decorated regiments. The regimental museum in the cantonment traces campaigns from the North-West Frontier to Kargil.
Because the cantonment authority has controlled construction and commercial activity throughout its existence, Ranikhet has escaped the dense hotel development that overtook Nainital and Mussoorie. This administrative accident has produced a town that still resembles a mid-20th century hill station — one of very few left in Uttarakhand in that condition.
Plan your trip
Suggested Ranikhet itinerary
- Day 1Arrive from Kathgodam. Settle in. Evening stroll on Mall Road. Sunset from Upat meadow.
- Day 2Morning: Jhula Devi temple and Chaubatia orchards (8 km). Afternoon: Golf course walk, Kalika temple. Evening at leisure in town.
- Day 3Drive to Binsar Mahadev (20 km) for the temple and forest. Return via Bhalu Dam for a picnic stop. Depart for Kathgodam or continue to Almora (50 km).
Common questions
Ranikhet FAQ
- Is Ranikhet entirely a military zone?
- The cantonment covers most of the town, but civilians move freely on public roads. Specific areas like the golf course and museum need prior enquiry but are not off-limits.
- Can civilians play golf at Ranikhet?
- Yes, on weekdays with advance enquiry to the cantonment. Green fees are very modest by any standard.
- What is the best time to visit Ranikhet?
- March–April for apple blossom at Chaubatia, and October for the clearest Himalayan views. June can also be pleasant before the monsoon cloud sets in.
Keep reading
Ranikhet guides
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