Ranikhet

Nestled among the green population of tall conifers, the place is a home to various species of wildlife. The salubrious atmosphere is a home for orchids, apples, peaches and various other alpine fruits and flowers. The high altitude supports various indigenous and exotic varieties that counts approximately 4000 species of plants categorized into tropical, Himalayan subtropical, subalpine and alpine vegetation. There are also several varieties of medicinal herbs found in this area. Some commonly found trees in this region are deodar, pine, and oak with stretches of deciduous forests and subalpine pastures. The geographical and climatic structure also makes it a natural abode for animals such as goral, leopard, Himalayan black bear, musk deer, blue ship and thar. The vast forest land also hosts an exotic variety of birds like like Grey Quail, Kala Titar, Whistling Thrush, Chakor, Cheer Pheasant, Monal Pheasant and Koklas Pheasant.

According to traditional belief, Ranikhet was named upon Queen Rani Padmini who was mesmerised by the beauty of this valley and fell in love with the enchanting land. Raja Sukherdev was obliged to fall into her wishes and built her a palace which later became their residence. It is believed that the origin of the present day name was given to this tale. There are no traces of the palace in present-day records and is believed to be destroyed as Britishers established their cantonment and developed the place as a hill station. This folktale is considered a myth for lack of textual references for supporting the existence of Rani Padmini in both Hindu and Rajputana relics.

Trekking: Ranikhet has a lot of trekking spots that you can enjoy. The most popular among them is the trek from Chaubatia Orchards to Holm Farm. Other trails include Chaubatia to Bhalu Dam; Meghdoot to Jhula Devi Temple.
Paragliding: Wildrift Paragliding camp is 12 km ahead of Ranikhet. The take-off point for paragliding overlooks a wide valley floor and is thus convenient for beginners also. You can either opt for a simple thrill of tandem flight or actually learn to fly solo.
Golfing: Ranikhet is famous for having the best golf courses in the country and is 5 km from the town of Ranikhet. You can access it by paying nominal fees and practice your golf swing and putt
Fishing: You can do fishing in the Bhalu dam with permission from the Forest department.

Ranikhet can be explored in 1 or 2 days, but it will be better if you spend at least 2 days there.
Day 1- On the first day, you can start early and visit the Wildrift Paragliding camp which is 12 km from the city. You can enjoy lunch at the camp and visit the Upat golf course on the way back. The weather is very pleasant and you can travel all day long without feeling tired. At night you can shop at the local market for wooden items, paintings and jewellery.
Day 2- You can start your second day by visiting the Chaubatia Gardens. From here you can trek till the Bhalu Dam and try your hand at fishing. You can have lunch at the Rani Jheel or Ashiyana Park which are coveted picnic spots. After lunch, you can visit the Jhula Devi Temple, and enjoy the sunset at Majkhali overlooking the Himalayan peaks. Ranikhet is extremely picturesque and is a treat to the eyes.

Ranikhet houses the rich and authentic local cuisines as well as North Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, European and Asian cuisines. Bhaang Ki Khatai, Mixed dal Salad, Kappa (a green curry), Sisunak Saag(a dish prepared with green leafy vegetables and many local ingredients), Aloo ke Gutke ( a Kumauni potato dish), Aloo Daal Pakora, Rus (a preparation of many dals) are the local delicacies, popular here.
Other than these, you can find typical North Indian cuisines including Tandoori Roti, Naan, various preparations of Paneer and other vegetables. Non-vegetarian dishes are available easily. One can also relish some traditional and local sweets such as Bal Mithai, Ram Mithai, Toffee and much more. For alcohol, you might be required to go to high-end hotels as there are no good bars outside the hotels.
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The top places near to Ranikhet are Nainital which is 29 km from Ranikhet, Almora which is located 22 km from Ranikhet, Lansdowne which is located 75 km from Ranikhet, Bhimtal which is located 34 km from Ranikhet, Mukteshwar which is located 29 km from Ranikhet

The top things to do in Ranikhet are Chaubatia Orchards, Jhula Devi Temple, Majhkhali, Golf Course, Bhalu Dam, Kalika. You can see all the places to visit in Ranikhet here

The packages for Ranikhet start at INR 9000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

The nearest airport to Ranikhet is Pant Nagar Airport situated 115 km from Ranikhet and it is well connected by motorable roads. The nearest railway station is the Kathgodam railway station. Ranikhet is well connected to the major cities via a proper road network and is the preferable mode of transportation.
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The months between March and July are usually the best time to visit Ranikhet, before the last weeks of the latter bring in heavy rainfall. It leaves the area as a host to many cultural and sports activities. Winters in Ranikhet welcome you with snowfall, owing to which large groups of people throng this place at this time. 

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It is an ideal destination for nature lovers. It is very peaceful and calm and the weather is extremely soothing. It is very near to Delhi and can be a really nice weekend getaway. It is a perfect spot for couples and families. It is an ideal spot for photographers, artists or basically anybody who wants to escape the monotonous life.

Crowded during peak season. Narrow roads leading to traffic jams.

Peaceful location. Very beautiful. Scenic