Things to do in Ranikhet
Things to do in Ranikhet
Ranikhet, meaning "Queen's Meadow," is a tranquil British-era cantonment hill station in Uttarakhand's Kumaon region offering sweeping views of snow-clad Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Ghunti. Unlike the more commercialized hill stations, Ranikhet has preserved its old-world charm through dense oak and rhododendron forests, apple orchards, and well-maintained colonial bungalows. The Jhula Devi Temple, Asia's highest golf course, and the scenic Chaubatia Gardens make Ranikhet a perfect off-the-beaten-path retreat for nature lovers.
- No photoNature / LeisureView full guide
2–3 hours
Chaubatia Orchards and Gardens
Chaubatia is a sprawling government fruit orchard campus 10 km from Ranikhet that is one of the most pleasant and fragrant places to spend a morning in Uttarakhand. The orchard grows plums, peaches, apricots, and apples across hundreds of terraced acres with panoramic views of Nanda Devi and the Trishul-Panchachuli ranges beyond. The Government Garden adjacent to the orchard has a small fruit processing unit where you can taste and buy fresh jams and juices.
- No photoLeisure / SportsView full guide
2–4 hours
Himalayan View Golf Course
Ranikhet Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses in Asia at 1,829 metres and almost certainly the most scenically situated, with unobstructed views of the central Himalayan peaks from every single fairway. Whether or not you play golf, a walk around the immaculately maintained 9-hole course through deodhar cedar forest with Himalayan backdrop is one of the most peaceful experiences in Kumaon. The early morning mist rolling off the fairways against snow peaks is utterly cinematic.
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1–1.5 hours
Jhula Devi Temple Visit
Jhula Devi Temple is a centuries-old Durga Devi temple in a cedar forest just outside Ranikhet town and one of the most unique and atmospheric pilgrimage sites in Kumaon. The temple's interior and surroundings are festooned with thousands of bells — donated by devotees whose wishes were granted — creating an extraordinary spectacle and soundscape. Local faith in the temple's power is fervent and palpable.
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1–2 hours
Sunset at Mankameshwar Mandir, Majkhali
Majkhali village, 13 km from Ranikhet, offers what many hill-station connoisseurs consider to be the finest unobstructed panoramic view of the main central Himalayan range in all of Kumaon. The Mankameshwar Mandir here sits on an open ridge with a 180-degree sweep from Kedarnath to Nanda Devi, including Trishul, Panchachuli, and Maiktholi. Watching the alpenglow paint these peaks at sunset from Majkhali is one of those rare travel moments that stay with you for life.
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Half to full day or overnight
Kosi River Fishing and Riverside Camping
The Kosi River flowing below Ranikhet is one of the best fishing rivers in Uttarakhand, with excellent mahseer and trout populations in its clear, swift-running waters. Setting up camp on a sandy riverbank beneath towering sal and oak forest, and spending a day fishing in near-total wilderness, is one of the most restorative and underrated activities in Ranikhet. The river also offers opportunities for mild white-water rafting in the monsoon months.