Ranikhet
Encyclopedia
Ranikhet is a hill station
and cantonment
town in Almora district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand
. It is the home for the Military Hospital, Kumaon Regiment
(KRC) & Naga Regiment
and is maintained by the Indian Army
.
Ranikhet is at an altitude of 1869 metres above sea level and within sight of the western peaks of the Himalayas
.
In 1869, the British established the headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment
here and used the station as a retreat from the heat of the Indian summer. At one time during British Raj
, it was also proposed as the summer headquarters of Government of India, in lieu of Shimla
. In 1900, it had a summer population of 7,705, and its corresponding winter population was measured in 1901 as 3,153
The cantonment is spread across two ridges, the first, called the Ranikhet ridge, is situated at an elevation of 5983 ft (1,823.6 m) and the second, the Chaubattia ridge, is at an elevation of 6942 ft (2,115.9 m).
But all the rest month whether of Ranikhet remain very beautiful.
, Ranikhet had a population of 19,049. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%. Ranikhet has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 87%, and female literacy is 76%. In Ranikhet, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The local languages are Hindi and Kumaoni.
, well connected by road and railway. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam
, approximately 80 km from Ranikhet. Pantnagar Airport
is the nearest airport. Nearest hill stations are Almora - 50 km, Nainital - 60 km. There are some more places nearby which can be visited like Dwarahat, Jalali and Pali.
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
and cantonment
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
town in Almora district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
. It is the home for the Military Hospital, Kumaon Regiment
Kumaon Regiment
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world wars...
(KRC) & Naga Regiment
Naga Regiment
The Naga Regiment is the youngest Regiment of the Indian Army. In 1970, the First Battalion of the Naga Regiment was raised in Ranikhet.-Formation:...
and is maintained by the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
.
Ranikhet is at an altitude of 1869 metres above sea level and within sight of the western peaks of the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
.
History
Ranikhet, which means Queen's meadow in Hindi, gets its name from a local legend, which states that it was here, that Raja Sudhardev won the heart of his queen, Rani Padmini, who subsequently chose the area for her residence, giving it the name, Ranikhet, though no palace exists in the area.In 1869, the British established the headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment
Kumaon Regiment
The Kumaon Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world wars...
here and used the station as a retreat from the heat of the Indian summer. At one time during British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, it was also proposed as the summer headquarters of Government of India, in lieu of Shimla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
. In 1900, it had a summer population of 7,705, and its corresponding winter population was measured in 1901 as 3,153
Geography
Ranikhet is located at 29.65°N 79.42°E. It has an average elevation of 1869 m (6,131.9 ft).The climate of the village is very cool.The cantonment is spread across two ridges, the first, called the Ranikhet ridge, is situated at an elevation of 5983 ft (1,823.6 m) and the second, the Chaubattia ridge, is at an elevation of 6942 ft (2,115.9 m).
Climate
Ranikhet becomes very cold in the winters and remains moderate in summers, and is best enjoyed from March to October. Ranikhet gets snowfall in the winter season, mainly in the months of December, January and February.But all the rest month whether of Ranikhet remain very beautiful.
Flora and fauna
The pine, oak, and deodar forests host an array of wildlife including leopard, leopard cat, mountain goat, barking deer, sambar, pine marten, Indian hare, red-faced monkey, jackal, langur, red fox, and porcupine.Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Ranikhet had a population of 19,049. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%. Ranikhet has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 87%, and female literacy is 76%. In Ranikhet, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The local languages are Hindi and Kumaoni.
Transport
Ranikhet is situated at a distance of 279 km from DelhiDelhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, well connected by road and railway. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam
Kathgodam
Kathgodam is a town in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state of India. It is part of the twin township of Haldwani-Kathgodam , and is immediately north of Haldwani.-History:...
, approximately 80 km from Ranikhet. Pantnagar Airport
Pantnagar Airport
Pantnagar Airport is a domestic airport that serves the town of Pantnagar in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand that is operated by the Airports Authority of India. The airstrip was able to accommodate only small aircraft until 2008, when the length of the runway was increased to 4,500 feet to...
is the nearest airport. Nearest hill stations are Almora - 50 km, Nainital - 60 km. There are some more places nearby which can be visited like Dwarahat, Jalali and Pali.
Institutions / Schools
- Ashok Hall Girls’ Residential SchoolAshok Hall Girls’ Residential SchoolAshok Hall Girls’ Residential School was established in 1993 in memory of the Indian industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla by its founders Syt. B K Birla and Smt. Sarla Birla is a school situated in Ranikhet Ashok Hall Girls’ Residential School was established in 1993 in memory of the Indian...
- G D Birla Memorial SchoolG D Birla Memorial SchoolG D Birla Memorial School was established in 1987 in memory of the Indian industrialist Ghanshyam Das Birla by its founders Syt. B K Birla and Smt. Sarla Birla is a school situated in Ranikhet G D Birla Memorial School was established in 1987 in memory of the Indian industrialist Ghanshyam Das...