Valley of Flowers Trek About Valley of Flowers The Valley of Flowers lives up to its name, with an endless supply of flowers in full bloom. The journey could even be renamed a floral fairytale romance! The Valley of Flowers' unique landscape is like a dream come true: an exquisite valley bejewelled with a never-ending stretch of flowers. Between the rocky mountain ranges of Zanskar and the Great Himalayas are lovely meadows studded with indigenous alpine flora. The area, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, was designated as a national park in 1982. The endless stretch of gorgeous vegetation, dotted with colourful blossoms of pink, yellow, purple, red, blue, and orange hues, is the highlight of this excursion. Throughout the hike, the fragrant scent of the carpeting flowers entices you. Botanists, flower lovers, bird watchers, wildlife photographers, hikers, environment enthusiasts, and adventure seekers from all over the world are drawn to the valley's unspoiled beauty. It...
The Charming Hill Station Ranikhet is located in the
Almora district of Uttarakhand at an elevation of 1,829 mts above sea
level. Ranikhet has everything to pacify the nerves of an avid city dweller.
The hill station Ranikhet, literally meaning Queens Land, is an all-season tourist spot for the admirers of the natural beauty. Ranikhet is a place that reflects the best of the great Himalayas
Ranikhet is one of the most popular destinations in Uttarakhand that is blessed with some of the best scenic natural beauty. This tiny little paradise is the perfect getaway for someone who needs some freshness for their mind. Located in the district of Almora in Uttarakhand, this destination offers you everything to soothe a city dweller’s nerves.
Located in the laps of Kumaon Hills in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, Ranikhet is an evergreen hill station that is a massive tourist attraction in the state. Colonial charm, seasonal beauty, relishing weather, and untouched serenity of this place makes it a perfect destination for nature lovers to spend some quality time in the bounties of Mother Nature. During the British rule, it was the summer capital for the British before Shimla.
The word ‘Ranikhet’ literally translates to Queen’s Farm in Hindi and comprises of undulating Himalayan hills, lush forests, trekking ranges, mountainous climbs, golf courses, orchards, and temples.
This beautiful and silent hill station offers you a breathtaking view of the mighty Himalayas and has an incredibly peaceful environment. It is home to some of the most beautiful gardens filled with apple orchards, apricots, and pine trees. It also has dense forests and cascading waterfalls that allure the visitors with their never ending beauty.
According
to local legend, this is the place where the then princess, Rani Padmini fell
in love with Raja Sudhardev and later selected this picturesque valley as her
new home. Apart from being a wonderful holiday destination, Ranikhet is also
known to try on your adventure shoes go for some trekking, mountain climbing,
camping or rappelling.
Being a vivid hill station, you get to experience a cool chilling climate mainly due to the town’s high altitude and location near the Himalayan foothills. This is what makes it pleasant and calm during summers but experiences heavy snowfall in winter.
Chaubatia Gardens is one of the most popular destinations over here where you can have quality time with your friends and family. If you’re looking for the perfect spiritual retreat, then Haidakhan Temple, Dunagiri Temple, Upat Kalika Temple, and Jhula Devi temple should be a must-visit on your list. Bhalu Dam is another popular attraction over here where you can witness nature in the most unadulterated form.
If you’re looking for a fun-filled experience, then you can try multiple activities over here. You can try fishing, paragliding, and trekking for the perfect adrenaline rush. You can also play golf over here at the Upat Golf course, which offers all the facilities for a memorable golfing experience. Camping is also the favourite activity of the tourists over here who wish to spend some time in the open sky gazing at the wilderness of nature.
Ranikhet experiences tropical
weather all year-round, and you can visit this place at any time of the
year. The best season to visit Ranikhet is between either March to June or
September to November when the weather remains neither too hot nor too cold.
The Name Ranikhet means the Queen's Land is an all-season tourist spot. The place Ranikhet reflects the best of the great Himalayas. It is said that the name Ranikhet has been named after Rani Padmini of Kumaon. She was pleased by her husband by building a palace at his hill station for the queen who had been enchanted by the place. Though the palace does not exist nowadays. Homegrown apples. Jams and other edible items of Ranikhet are well known amongst the tourists.
Places to visit near Ranikhet
A sprawling orchard of fresh and exquisite apples, plums, peaches, and apricots is the Chaubatia Garden. Located in the heart of the city, these gardens tend to be an ideal spot for outings and picnics. Also, this garden is best known for practising depleting step farming in the Himalayan regions. With a widespread of about 650 acres, it has a rich avenue spanning tall trees of oak, cedar, pine, eucalyptus, and rhododendrons. They have a dotting effect on the walking trails, giving you ample opportunities to sneak a glimpse of nature’s craftsmanship and spellbound beauty.
Once you are here, stop by for more sightseeing options in the nearby areas such as the Views of the Garhwal Himalayan Peaks of Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nilkanth. If you have a soft corner for adventure, try trekking at the Bhalu Dam. Exploring these dense verdant forests will captivate you with their magical allure, providing you memories for a lifetime to cherish.
It boasts of a rich diversity of flora as it contains more than 200 varieties of fruits and flowers. One can find a huge collection of seasonal fruits in the valleys as well. Home to the Government Fruit Research Centre, it is one of the must-visit places to see in Ranikhet.
10 km south of Ranikhet are the famous fruit-laden orchards of Chaubatia. These orchards are known for delicious apples of several exclusive varieties, apricots, peaches and various other alpine fruits. These can be directly procured from the growers themselves. There is also a state-run Fruit Research Centre. Situated nearby is Bhalu Dam in the background of a beautiful lake created by this dam, which attracts tourists round the year.
Situated nearly 6 kilometres away from Ranikhet is the little town of Upat. located in the lap of Garhwal Himalayas, this town is known for its 9-hole Golf Course maintained by the Indian Army. This Golf Course holds the honorary mention of being one of the highest in Asia. It has a high altitude of approximately 1830 metres above sea level and endows you with breathtaking views of the massive Himalayan ranges.
Another major tourist attraction near Upat The Golf Course is the ‘Kalika Temple’, which is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Located at a distance of 1 kilometre from Upat, in the town of Kalika, this temple is accounted to be one of the major tourist attraction in Ranikhet.
One of the highest golf courses famous in India is situated
close to the UpatKalika temple, It is an army golf course, but civilians can
also access it paying a nominal fee. It remains open round the year.
An ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, Lord Shiva and Radha-Krishna. This beautiful temple adjacent to Nar Singh The ground has been rebuilt by the soldiers of the Kumaon Regiment.
Tarikhet
8 km from Ranikhet. Gandhiji stayed here in the 1920s. His cottage is a major tourist attraction. The famous temple of the local deity, Golu can also be visited at Tarikhet.
Built roughly eight centuries ago, Jhula Devi Temple is located a few kilometres away from Ranikhet. The present temple complex, however, was reconstructed in the year 1935 and is dedicated to a form of the Goddess Durga. It is said that the main deity rests on a wooden ‘jhula’, which translates to swing, hence the name Jhula Devi Temple has been given.
Set amid the tranquil and serene atmosphere of the Kumaon Hills, this has paved the way for the livestock to roam freely in the area despite the area being home to a good population of tigers and leopards. Nonetheless, they would not attack due to the Goddess’ influence. According to local folk legends, the main idol of Goddess Durga was discovered by a shepherd on the guidance of Goddess Durga herself in his dreams, ever since then the temple is found at the very same spot where the idol was found. As per local beliefs, Jhula Devi safeguards and protects the villagers and their livestock from wild animals in the adjacent forests. It is also believed that whosoever ties a bell on the temple wall, is granted with his/her wish; therefore many tourists come to the temple to seek blessings of the Goddess and to get their wishes fulfilled.
While you are here, also see the famous Ram Mandir, which will be en route to the Chaubatia Orchard. One can also find a few monasteries dedicated to preaching holy texts and Vedas. If you wish to get connected with your spiritual self, this is your go-to.
7 kms from Ranikhet. A famous pair of temples dedicated to Goddess Durga and Lord Rama.
BEYOND RANIKHET
Dwarahat
37 km from Ranikhet on the road to Karnaprayag. Once the centre of Katyuri rulers, Dwarhat is of great historical and archaeological importance. Later it became associated with the Chand rulers. This place is famous for the cluster of ancient temples.
A beautiful place in the Kumaon Mountains is Dwarahat, an ancient town full of endearing temples and enchanting sceneries. Situated in the Almora district of Uttarakhand, it houses so many odd ancient temples built in the medieval ages by the Katyuri Kings. Of them, Ratan Deo, Gujar Deo, Kacheri, Maniyan, and the Mrityunjaya group of temples are known for their exceptional architecture and significance. These temples follow the ideologies of both Hinduism and Jainism. Apart from being historically significant, it is representative of the regions great past and its architectural prowess.
Dwarahat literally translates to ‘Gateway to Heaven’. Perched at a high altitude of nearly 2000 metres, it provides amazing views of the mighty Himalayan peaks such as Kailash Mansoravar, Dunagiri, and others.
It is well known as one of the most powerful Shakti Peethas, as this temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is located on a small hillock amidst the Kumaon Hills. Visitors need to climb a stairway having 500 steps to reach the temple. From the temple, you can see an aerial view of the city and the surrounding valley.
You can also drop by and visit the ‘Pandavkholi’, which is one of the secret places where Pandavas of Mahabharata spent some time. Located in the Dronagiri Hill ranges, Pandavkholi Caves offers awesome and amazing views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. To reach Pandavkholi, you need to do a small trek from Kukuchina that can be reached through a taxi from Dunagiri.
Yet another tempting attraction in Dwarahat is the ancient ‘Vimandeshwar Temple’, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Vimandeshwar Temple is the second home to Lord Shiva after the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, as mentioned in the Puranic legends. Many pilgrims who are not capable enough of travelling to Kashi for the divine darshans of Lord Shiva, come to the Vimandeshwar Temple to seek blessings of the Lord.
Apart from the aforementioned prominent places, Nanda Devi Mela held in Ranikhet during the month of September is a special get together which is a must-visit for everyone who wants to be a part of the religious festivity.
35 km from Ranikhet, Sitlakhet is a very scenic spot, with unparalleled views of the Himalayas, amid luxuriant forests and apple orchards. The famous temple of Syahi Devi is located nearby.
Ramnagar
This village is located in the Kumaon region
and Nanital District also this is the get away to the Jim Corbet National park.
Tourists also visit Sitaban temple and Garjiyadevi temple.
The town is
named after British commissioner H. Ramsay who established it in 1856–1884
during the British rule in India During the British Rule, tea gardens were
developed in Ramnagar and nearby villages in Uttarakhand. But these tea gardens
have been closed for a long time. Ramnagar is most visited for Corbett National
Park named after the hunter turned conservationist Jim Corbett who played a key
role in its establishment. It is the oldest national park in India which was
established in 1936. And ancient Hindu temples like Garjia Devi Temple and
MaaSitaBani Temple. Both of them carry a lot of myths and legends behind them,
which attracts a huge number of visitors every year.
Corbett National Park is 10 km from Ramnagar. It is spread across 86 km north of Ramnagar. Established in 1936 as the Hailey National Park, Corbett National Park is the oldest and one of the most sought after national parks in India. It is India's first sanctuary to come under Project Tiger. The park was named after the hunter-naturalist turned author and photographer, Jim Corbett who lived in the region and contributed to setting up this park. Visitors can move about in vehicles (only local gipsies with the permit) inside the parking area after making entries at the respective gates. Tourists now cannot drive their own cars inside Corbett. They have to hire gipsies with permits from Ramnagar. Permits are necessary for entering Corbett Tiger Reserve. Permits are issued at the CTR Reception Office at Ramnagar. Other places worth visiting in the region are the Crocodile Pool, DhikalaMachaan, Getheryo Library (Dhikala), Corbett Museum(Dhangadi gate), Corbett falls.
Garjiya Devi Temple is located in the Garjiya village near Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India. It is a sacred Shakti shrine where Garjiya Devi is the presiding deity. The temple is situated over a large rock in the Kosi River and is one of the most famous temples of the Nainital district visited by thousands of devotees during Kartik Poornima, a Hindu holy day celebrated on the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik (November – December). It is also known as the festival of lights of the gods. The Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Sikh festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti.
SeetaBani Temple is dedicated to Devi Sita, consort of Lord Rama. It is believed that she entered into the lap of Mother Earth here. Every year, a fair is held here during Ramanavami. It is located at a distance of 20 km from Ramnagar.
Initially built by the Cantonment Board for
the sole purpose of rainwater harvesting, Rani Jheel is a vast artificial lake
that is located in the natural ridges and woods. The pristine lake can be
found at an altitude of almost 7500-feet above sea level, and is a prime
tourist destination in Ranikhet that attracts tourists for boating, and is well
known for the silence and tranquillity that it exuberates. Once you are here,
you can also plan for a picnic with your friends or family members. It has all
the needed facilities to ignite a quick picnic destination in one go.
Majkhali is Known for its immersive and scenic natural beauty, Majkhali is known to be one of the most peaceful villages in the state of Uttarakhand. Situated on the Almora Road, approximately 10 kilometres far from the central city, it is a quaint and picturesque hamlet.
Majkhali is widely well-famed amongst the tourists for being the spot where you can view the Himalayan peaks, particularly Trishul. This place is a natural habitat for rich varieties of flora and fauna and also popular for a vintage Kali temple. You can also steal some of its enchanting vistas of Nanda Devi as it can be best seen from here. If you truly are a nature lover and if sublime panoramas give you a feeling of inner peace and satisfaction, then Majkhali is really an ideal place for you.
Being a bewitching hill station, this is where you can feel nature in its best form. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags right away and let Ranikhet welcome you with all the love and beauty.
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