Ranikhet. Review on Ranikhet

From Ramnagar we reached Ranikhet in the evening.  Had heard that it is a very beautiful place with fruit orchards where Raja Hindustani was shot.   Ranikhet is basically an army cantonement area and more like a small town.  The hotels here are quite expensive as they are very few in numbers and the area has severe water shortage.    We booked a hotel around 10 mts walk from the bus stand with restaurant as that is the only area where there are few hotels or there are few hotels on the way to Ranikhet but people not having their own vehicle would have tough time if booked in such hotels.

The weather in May was hot. This year there was no rains this time around and hence all the hill stations were hot and dry.  Second day morning we visited the shawl factory and the war museum which are just 10-15 minutes walk.   We could see for ourselves how looms are prepared and how patterns and designs are woven in shawls.  Just next to the shawl factory is the war museum which is a must see.   They charge you Rs.20/- per person as entry fee and a guide shows you around the museum and a 20 mts video is also shown to you explaining the various designations/groups of the army which is very informative.

We then hired a vehicle and visited Chaubhatia which is an apple orchard maintained by the government. No need to hire a guide.  At that time of the year there were very few apple trees  but they were fully laden with green apples.   Here you have to descend a little and then again climb a lot to reach till the top where many flowering trees are planted.   It may be a different sight when fully covered with fruit laden trees but at this time of the year it was not that great to take pains for the climb.  At the gate of chaubhatia they sell fruits at dead cheap rate but the counter is open only till 5 pm.    While returning we visited jhuladevi temple where thousands of bells of various sizes were tied all over by devotees for fulfilling their wishes.

In Ranikhet there is nothing like a mall road.  Small shops are there which tend to the locals and nothing great to shop or good restaurants. One can easily skip this place as in summer even to relax you require good climate which is not the case here.   Next day morning we hired a vehicle and  proceeded to Nainital which is 2 hrs journey from here.