Ranikhet - Ethereal and Tranquil Kumaon

Ranikhet in the Kumaon hills, near Nainital, is a haven of tranquility with its meadows, pine and cedar forests and etheral views of the snow capped Himalayas.
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Ranikhet, quietly ensconced amidst pine trees with a charming background of the snow clad Himalaya, has a breathtaking scenic beauty. Blessed with a healthy climate, its magnetic charm attracts tourists all the year round. It is a haven for bird watchers and visitors who wish to spend their holidays in solitude.
Ranikhet is a place which has preserved its virginity and pristine charm. The sweep of Himalayan range visible from here is arguably the largest available from any place. It is a pure heaven 6000 feet above the sea level, away from the bustling lifestyle of city life. In Ranikhet, nature’s beauty overwhelms with its sheer abundance. Majestic snow peaks glisten in the sun. Wind whistle through the pine and towering deodar trees, rustling leaves in their trail. Pathways lead you to a panoramic view of the mighty Himalayas that spell wonderment.
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Ranjana and Achal's Visit Experiences.
Magical Moments
 

The mountain road winding thru cedar forests.The peace, tranquility and cleanliness almost slams my senses as soon as we cross the green and yellow gateway of the Kumaon Regiment Centre (KRC) into Ranikhet. The ethereal beauty with a majestic deodhar (perhaps the first on the 9 hour drive from Delhi) to our left welcomes us in. Since the time the Britishers discovered this celestial piece of earth to the outside world, the ambience of the place seems almost unchanged. Norman Troupe, who built his homestead, Holm Farm, here, would probably agree, a 130 years later. His estate, now converted into a heritage hotel, maintaining its olde worlde charm, still stands atop a hill surrounded by coniferous forests.

Aah, no hustle-bustle of a busy hill station. No touts offering the best accommodation bargain in town, or cajoling us to book a sightseeing tour for the morrow, or offering to escort us to ‘sunset point’ or ‘himalayan point’ in the evening. When did you need to hold another hand to discover nature in all its purity and grandeur? I don’t want this 14 km drive from Ranikhet to Majhkhali,  to end. All thoughts of reaching our destination before dark vanish. Had we not already ‘arrived’?

Golf course ringed by pines.
My eyes rove through pines ringing verdant meadows (to later discover that it is a golf course), wooded slopes of stately deodhars standing sentinel to the winding mountain road. As the car negotiates a bend, a silver streak hits the sky. With a sharp intake of breath I slowly brake, bringing the vehicle to a smooth stop, almost guilty for the noise the engine was making.

Fast Facts
Location: 365 km fr Delhi, 65 km fr Nainital.
Height asl: 6000 feet.
Route:Delhi – Moradabad – Haldwani – Bhowali – Jyolikot – Khairna – Ranikhet.
Nearest Railhead: Kathgodam (80 km).
Clothing:April-Sept: Light Woolens.
Oct-Mar: Heavy Woolens.
Accommodation:
1) Chevron Rosemount - Originally built by the British as a hotel in 1900, the intricate stone facade, louvered balconies, elaborate window arcs, wrought iron grills have preserved the pristine glory in true form. Large well appointed rooms with attached baths, hot/cold running water, tennis & croquet courts, sprawling lawns make it a perfect place to spend a leisurely holiday.
Click here for Room Rates.
Places Around: Kausani - 62 km, Binsar - 50 km, Mukteshwar - 63 km, Ramgarh - 61 km, Corbett - 90 km.

 

The setting sun breaking thru clouds.The sun, slowly turning orange, slips from behind the clouds down towards the last leg of its journey for the day, saying goodbye with a splash of colors across the sky. As the seconds pass (or stand still?) the emotions of the Sun through the day are reflected on the white and blue canvas - silver, orange, grey - slipping in and between tufts of clouds, its rays streaking through the pine trees, calling to the birds to return home. Timelessness and creativity, new meanings are reborn; myriad emotions, changing, expressed and reflected with each passing moment – the pines, deodhars, oaks, tiny mountain flowers, the jungle babbler, the undulating hills, the tree line, soothing breezes, all juxtaposed perfectly. I realize, my furiously beating heart has settled to a trance at this discovery (setting suns have become a ‘discovery’ in the new millennium).

An ancient temple discovered during a jungle walk.Next day, I wake up to a misty morning and the views through the bay windows enthrall me.
"Blended of mists and light, winds and water;
Can a mere cloud bear messages?"
Now I know where Kalidas got his inspiration for ‘Meghdoot’.

The trails, behind the resort, on their way to the quaint hamlet of Digoti lead us through emerald foliage, into a small, ancient temple complex.

A colonial church now turned into a kumaoni factory.The romance of Ranikhet keeps unfolding. We stop to admire an old church only to discover that it is now a factory, with the war widows of the KRC operating looms to knit Australian Merino wool into shawls with ethnic patterns. At another place, a winding path into the forest brings us to ‘Carpentree’, a workshop where Kumaoni youth are engaged in making designer furniture, of legally felled pines, deodhars, surai. Employed are contemporary design and traditional techniques of solid wood craftsmanship and also the likhai craft – decorative wood carving that goes into ornate doors, beams and pillars.

As dusk mingles into the evening, the star spangled sky entices us to sit out with our favourite sundowners. Lounging on the restaurant balcony, the 270 degree view of the Himalayas – the king of the mountains – is ever so mesmerizing.

Thank you, city stresses, that I find all this so very magical!
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LASTING IMPRESSIONS !
~ Ranikhet is beautiful, and the view of 300 kms of Himalayas at dawn is stunning.
Punit Jain, VP Mktg, Newgen Software, Delhi.
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Shimla Mussoorie Nainital Kullu - Manali  
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