Discover Ranikhet: Queen of Hill Stations
Ranikhet, whose name translates beautifully to “Queen's Meadow,” is a cantonment town administered by the Kumaon Regiment in the Almora district of Uttarakhand. Situated at 1,829 metres, it is one of the least commercialised and best-preserved hill stations in the Himalayan region. The town's character is defined by its colonial heritage — wide, peaceful roads flanked by tall oak, rhododendron, and pine trees, punctuated by well-maintained bungalows, old churches, and military cantonments that have barely changed since the British era.
The British established Ranikhet in 1869 as a summer headquarters for the Kumaon Regiment, and the military continues to manage much of the town. This military control has paradoxically been the town's greatest blessing — it has kept Ranikhet free of the uncontrolled development that has blighted other Himalayan hill stations. There are no blaring loudspeakers, no encroachments on the forests, and no chaotic bazaars overwhelming the original character of the place.
The Upat and Kalika plateau, 6 km from Ranikhet, is home to the Ranikhet Golf Course — at 1,850 metres, it is one of the highest golf courses in Asia, established in 1926. Surrounded by Himalayan peaks and dense forest, it offers a unique golfing experience that has attracted players from across India and abroad. Even non-golfers find the plateau worth visiting for its extraordinary views of the Nanda Devi range.
The forests around Ranikhet are extraordinary. The Majkhali area (12 km from Ranikhet) offers one of the finest views of the Himalayan range in all of Uttarakhand, with a panorama stretching from Kedarnath to Panchachuli. The Chaubatia Orchards — established by the British in 1869 — sprawl across 250 acres and are home to hundreds of species of apple, apricot, plum, and pear trees, and house a government jam and juice production facility whose products are sold across India. The orchards bloom spectacularly in spring and are open to visitors throughout the year.
Ranikhet's rich military heritage is celebrated at the Kumaon Regimental Museum, which houses an impressive collection of weapons, medals, photographs, and memorabilia tracing the Kumaon Regiment's history from 1788 to the present day. The regiment has participated in virtually every major Indian military campaign and many United Nations peacekeeping missions.