Ranikhet

Tourist’s attraction in Ranikhet: a Review

Ranikhet is a picturesque cantonment town located in the Almora district of Uttarakhand in India. This hill station stands elevated at an altitude of 1869m (6132 ft) above the sea level and is a neighbor to the rival hill station Nainital, a well known tourists’ spot in terms of Indians and foreigners alike. There is an abundance of tourist’s attraction in Ranikhet. This place belongs to the Kumaon region of Uttaranchal. So Central Kumauni along with Hindi and Garhwali are spoken here. English is also an upcoming language due to growing tourism credentials.

Ranikhet translates as The Queen’s Field in English and was named after Queen Padmini, wife of King Suhardev, who was mesmerized by its scenic splendor and chose to reside here. Her residential palace is a major tourist’s attraction at Ranikhet till date. Afterwards, the British established the Kumaon Regimental Centre in 1869, which is also a popular spot. There are an envious number of spots to enjoy along with its breathtaking views of hilly landscapes. The exact setting your pleasant vacation.

The Ranikhet Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses in the world and it is a sought-after tourist’s attraction within Ranikhet. Also living up to its accolade of Gods’ Abode, it is dotted with temples and holy shrines such as temples of Hera Khan, Jhula Devi, Kalika, Binsar Mahadev, Dronagiri, Katarmal, Bajinath, Chamarkhan, which are exemplary for their beauty. Chaubatia gardens are a fruit lover’s haunt, boasting of an assortment of fruit plantations. The artificial lake named Bhaludam is also a tourism asset.

Flora and fauna, namely oak, pine, deodar and leopards, Indian hare, langurs, Sambhars, jackals, also combine Ranikhet’s tourist attraction. The little town is famous for stunning shawls, local delicacies like Bal mithai and Singaudi. Well connected to the major towns by air, roadways and railways, Ranikhet keeps buzzing with tourists from April to June as it provides a fine relief from sweltering summer due to its pleasantly cool climate. You can also get an overview about this place on Internet prior to visit; there is no dearth in travel websites nowadays.

Ranikhet Resorts: Where Fantasy Meets Elegance

The appealing scenic vista of Ranikhet, the cantonment town, is in perfect harmony with the luxurious resorts. The facilities offered at Ranikhet resorts add extra interests for tourists who seek coziness along with mesmeric sights. In recent days, the resorts have become premier destination for urban visitors who are familiar with a comfortable lifestyle. The exclusive choices are enticing and often leave the visitors in dilemma to ascertain the place to lodge.

We can start with Kalawati Retreat, one of the leading resorts in Ranikhet. The resort combines nine deluxe rooms with adjacent balcony for an excellent interaction with nature. The rooms are well kept for both domestic and foreign visitors. Vegetarian, Chinese and Kumauni dishes are available here. Fresh vegetables are used in cuisine and it is only one among others that has an arrangement of separate dining for vegetarians. Others conveniences include hot and water supply in bathrooms, car parking, garden and village walk, games and Kumauni massage.

Woodsvilla, another distinguished resort within Ranikhet flanked by oak, pine and deodar trees, is a revelation for tourists. The blissful union with Himalaya leaves visitors in awe. There are total 34 rooms in 27 units. Each opens at the verandah for a better view of the Kumayun ranges in snow white blanket. There is a unique conference room of 1000 sq. ft. for commercial dealings and trainings with an accommodation of 100 people. The available equipments for the conference are slide projectors, TV, cassette, VCD and deck players.

For entertainment and games, they provide darts, pool, air hockey, table tennis, among host of various indoor games. Arrangements for nature walk, trekking, rock climbing and mountain bikes are offered to adventurous and fun loving people. Golfing at Ranikhet Golf Course, is an added attraction for executives, that is hardly offered by any other resorts at Ranikhet. They are emerging as ideal destinations for executives who find solace in the heart of the nature while taking a break from the din and bustle of daily urban life.

A Guide to Hotels in Ranikhet

Ranikhet is a place where natural abundance meets your unflinching desire of being with the nature for a few days. Hotels in Ranikhet have sprung up across this cantonment town to cater to your needs. The serene environment welcomes business travelers as well as budget travelers. Hotels in Ranikhet offer different tariff rates and their facilities vary too. The hotels may be classified into following categories, namely 5 star hotels, general resorts, mountain/hill resorts, Heritage hotels, culture hotels, 3 star hotels and budget hotels.

The Oberoi Vanyavilas is the only 5 Star hotel. Among other hotels at Ranikhet, this hotel offers the luxury and comfort that you seek. It has an in-house swimming pool, restaurant, 24 hours coffee shop and a business centre. Among other hotels, this one will surely exceed your expectations. You will find that South Asian hospitality has reached a new height in Oberoi Vanyavilas. There are three 3star hotels in Ranikhet, namely Cosmos Himalayan Villas, Trishul Lodge and Woodsvilla Resort. All of the 3 star hotels in Ranikhet offer standard services.

Cosmos Himalayan Villas is easily accessible and centrally located when compared with other Ranikhet hotels. If you are a golf lover, an advantage of putting up at Trishul lodge or Woodsvilla resort is good as that they are closest to the golf course. There are nine general resorts. Their services are a close shave with that of a 3star hotel. You may choose to check in at Rajdeep hotel or Meghdoot hotel but according to the customer review of general resorts, Ranikhet inn and KMVN tourist rest house Kalika are the best in this segment.

Mountain/hill resorts are a close touch of premier hotels around Ranikhet and they offer leading services. West view hotel is the best in this segment. There are two heritage hotels in Ranikhet, namely Chevron Rosemount and Holm Farm Heritage. The former is a touch better than the later in this segment. Shivmandir Dharamshala is the only cultural hotel in Ranikhet that attracts devotees from across the world. The diversified range of hotels is one of the key reasons that populates tourist.