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Ranikhet Travel Guide
Distance: 45 km from Almora
75 km from Nainital
367 km from Delhi
Travel to a picturesque little hill resort, Ranikhet,
which literally means 'The Queen's Field', was named
after the wife of a 12th century ruler, Sudhar Deve.
However, there is no evidence to suggest that the
queen ever lived here, and the land remained in
the hands of farmers for centuries.Ranikhet was
a forgotten town until the British stumbled upon
it, in 1869. For the English, the plains of India,
which could fry like a furnace in summer, were excruciating.
Come May, and they needed to make a quick getaway
to the mountains.Which iswhy, in summertime, the
capital of British India shifted from Delhi to themore
salubrious climes of Simla.The heat and dust of
the North is probablywhat motivated the English
to 'discover' Ranikhet as well, and theyconverted
it into military cantonment. Ranikhet is sprawled
across an 1830 metre high rift and is an ideal travel
spot for a bit of rest and recreation. It has a
balmy climate and its dense cover of pine and oak
forests are the lungs of the town. In fact, Lord
Mayo, the Viceroy of India, found the town so arresting
that he wanted to move the army's Summer Headquarters
lock stock and barrel from Simla to Ranikhet. Although
the British have long since gone back to their little
island nation, the place is still home to the Kumaon
Regiment - one of India's best. Many buildings in
Ranikhet bear the regimental crest, and most of
the vehicles driving along the Upper Mall belong
to the regiment.
As you approach the area, the clatter of the Sadar
Bazaar - the town's main thoroughfare reaches your
ears. The Sadar Bazaar is the noisiest and most
crowded place in Ranikhet, and the din during peak
hours can be deafening.The Upper Mall on the other
hand, presents a striking contrast - an evening
constitutional through its peaceful promenades can
be quite invigorating. Bang in the middle of the
Mall lies the Jhula Devi Temple. Apart from the
usual crowd of devotees that throng the place, a
leopard visits the temple once a month. However,
local legend asserts that only the high priest of
the shrine can see the feline animal.
Next to Jhula Devi, lies the Temple of Lord Rama
- dedicated to the hero of the Hindu epic, Ramayana.
Travel a few kilometres along the Mall and you hit
the Chaubatia. Originally a sanatorium for British
troops, it now houses the Government Fruit Garden
and Research Station that grows no less than 200
varieties
of fruit. Six kilometres from Sadar Bazaar is Uphat
- the site for one of the highest
golf courses in India. Just beyond the fairways
lies the Kalika Temple and a Forest Nursery that
is run by the government.
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