Ranikhet Tour Packages

Most hill towns in Uttarakhand are famous for bustling lake promenades or jam-packed mall roads. Ranikhet, sitting at 1,869 metres above sea level in the Almora district of the Kumaon Himalayas, takes a refreshingly different route. 

Legend has it that Queen Padmini of Kumaon fell so deeply in love with this mountain valley that King Sudhardev built her a palace right here, forever crowning the spot Ranikhet, or "Queen's Meadow".

If you’re looking for hill stations that trade Instagram-friendly crowds for actual calm, Ranikhet is where that search ends. This guide covers everything: what to see, how to get there, when to go, what it costs, and how to make the most of every day on a well-planned Ranikhet tour package.

Why Ranikhet Stands Apart From Every Other Kumaon Hill Station

Ranikhet tour packages offer something the more crowded hill towns have largely traded away: genuine silence, clean mountain air, and views of the Nanda Devi range that do not require jostling for a spot on a viewing deck. 

While the ancient palace is long gone, the timeless tranquillity remains completely intact. Here is what makes this Himalayan gem worth choosing over the usual crowded suspects:

Unmatched Military Precision & Clean Air

Because a large section of Ranikhet operates as a Kumaon Regiment cantonment, strict military oversight has kept aggressive commercialisation, chaotic vehicle traffic, and high-rise clutter completely at bay. You get wide, pristine roads, zero rickshaw noise, and deep pine-scented air.

Front-Row Seat to Himalayan Giants

You don't have to fight crowds at a viewing deck to glimpse the snow-capped roof of India. Clear days in Ranikhet offer full-horizon panoramas of major peaks, including Trishul (7,120 m), Nanda Devi (7,816 m), and the Panchachuli range.

Tee Time in the Clouds

Home to the Upat Golf Course, a scenic 9-hole course managed by the Kumaon Regiment, Ranikhet boasts one of the highest golf courses in Asia. Playing a round framed by ancient deodar pines and snow peaks is an experience you won't find on standard mountain itineraries.

The Perfect Kumaon Basecamp

Ranikhet hits the geographic sweet spot. It sits just 60 km from Nainital, 45 km from Almora, and 90 km from Jim Corbett National Park, making it an ideal central hub for a relaxed circuit through Uttarakhand without constant packing and unpacking. Fixed departure tour packages for four nights and five days typically run from ₹18,000 to ₹30,000 per family depending on the hotel category.

Best Places to Visit in Ranikhet: What Every Itinerary Should Include

A solid trip is built around the town's core attractions, and there are enough of them to fill three to four days without any repetition. Here is a look at the key sites and what makes each one worth your time:

Chaubatia Orchards

About 10 km from the town centre, Chaubatia Orchards cover roughly 600 acres of government-maintained land planted with apple, apricot, peach, plum, and chestnut trees. Spring arrivals (March to April) catch the blossom season, while visitors in May and June can buy fresh fruit directly from the estate. 

The orchard sits at a slightly higher altitude than the town, and the Himalayan views from its upper paths are exceptional on clear mornings. The Fruit Research Centre here also sells preserves, jams, and juices that make excellent gifts.

Upat Golf Course

The nine-hole Upat Golf Course sits about 5 km from Ranikhet on the Almora road and is consistently listed among the highest golf courses in Asia. The Kumaon Regiment manages it, and the fairways are set against a backdrop of deodar pines and snow-capped peaks. 

Visitor memberships are available, so you do not need a pre-existing club membership to play a round. Even for non-golfers, a walk along the course perimeter is a genuinely pleasant way to spend a morning.

Jhula Devi Temple

Thousands of brass bells cover every surface of this roadside temple complex dedicated to Goddess Durga, each one placed by a devotee whose prayer was answered. When the mountain breeze moves through the surrounding pines, the whole place rings. 

It is one of the most visited temples in the Kumaon region, easily accessible by vehicle with no trekking required, and the morning hours, before the crowds arrive, give you the place almost entirely to yourself.

Army Museum (Kumaon Regiment Centre)

The Kumaon Regiment carries one of the longest and most decorated histories in the Indian Army, and this museum tells that story without flinching. Weapons, uniforms, medals, photographs, and campaign accounts stretch from the First World War through to modern operations, arranged chronologically so the narrative builds as you walk through it. You do not need any prior knowledge of military history to find it gripping.

Matching the Season to Your Travel Style: Best Time to Book Ranikhet Tour Packages

Ranikhet is genuinely a year-round destination, but each season gives you a different town. Knowing what each season actually offers helps you pick the right window for your Ranikhet tour package rather than simply following the crowd.

The table below gives a quick comparison across the four travel seasons: 

How to Reach Ranikhet: Getting There

The nearest airport is Pantnagar (PGH), about 115 km out, with limited connectivity that runs mostly on Delhi routes. A more practical option for most travellers is flying into Delhi and covering the rest by train or pre-booked cab. 

Here is how to plan the journey across the main modes of transport:

By Train

Kathgodam is the nearest railway station to Ranikhet, roughly 75 km away and widely considered the gateway to the Kumaon region. Several trains connect Delhi to Kathgodam directly, including the Ranikhet Express, the Uttarakhand Sampark Kranti Express, and the Shatabdi Express. 

If you are planning a trip from Delhi, the overnight Ranikhet Express is a practical option: you board in the evening and arrive in Kathgodam fresh in the morning.

By Road

Delhi to Ranikhet runs approximately 350 km via NH-9 and NH-109, taking eight to ten hours depending on traffic. The stretch from Haldwani onwards more than earns its reputation: the road climbs through the Kumaon foothills with views that make you forget you have been sitting in a car for six hours. 

Uttarakhand Roadways and private operators run buses from Anand Vihar ISBT at ₹500 to ₹800 for a regular seat, with direct Volvo services on the same route for those who want the overnight option with a bit more legroom.

Things to Do in Ranikhet Beyond Sightseeing

Ranikhet is not only for sightseers. The surrounding forests and trails give active travellers plenty to work with across different fitness levels. 

Most adventure tour packages now include at least one of these activities in their itineraries, particularly for groups and families:

• Trekking: The trail from Chaubatia Orchards to Bhalu Dam is a popular 6 km round trip through a dense pine forest. More experienced trekkers head toward Binsar Mahadev (around 40 km away) for a full-day forest trek with temple visits en route.
• Bird Watching: Ranikhet sits within a productive birding zone. The deodar and pine forests around Chaubatia and Bhalu Dam are particularly good for Himalayan species, including laughing thrushes, minivets, and treecreepers. Early mornings are the best window.
• Golf: The Upat Golf Course offers visitor access for a fee. At approximately 5 km from town, it is one of the easiest ways for non-trekkers to spend a full morning in fresh mountain air.
• Chocolate Factory Visit: Oona, a cacao and chocolate factory in the Ranikhet hills, has become a notable stop for food travellers. The factory offers tastings and tours, and the dark chocolates are particularly well regarded by visitors.
• Local Market Shopping: Sadar Bazaar and the adjacent Zaroori Bazaar are the town's main commercial areas. Kumaoni handicrafts, woollens, local honey, and the much-loved bal mithai (a dark fudge-like sweet native to Kumaon) are worth browsing for.

Nainital sits close enough to Ranikhet that most travellers fold both into a single Uttarakhand circuit without any logistical strain, and EaseMyTrip's Nainital tour packages cover the lake town in full, from boating on Naini Lake to the cable car at Snow View Point, so you arrive knowing exactly how to spend each day. Travellers who plan to extend their trip will find our 3-day Nainital itinerary a useful companion for planning that leg of the circuit.

What to Eat & Drink in Ranikhet: Dish & Spot Pairings

Ranikhet or Kumaoni cuisine is deeply tied to the rugged terrain and seasonal climate of the Kumaon Himalayas. Born out of cold winters and high-altitude living, this is a cuisine built on black soybeans, coarse grains, wild herbs, and enough ghee. 

Here is where to find the best of it in Ranikhet:

• Bhatt ki Churdkani at Swad Restaurant: Bhatt ki Churdkani is a thick, protein-rich dark gravy made from black soybeans (bhatt) that are dry-roasted in a heavy iron wok, simmered with a rice flour slurry (biswar), and flavoured with wild garlic, coriander, and dried red chillies. 
• Aloo ke Gutke at Negi Restaurant: A quintessential mountain comfort dish, Aloo ke Gutke features Pahadi potatoes, which are denser and naturally sweeter than their plains counterparts. These get cut into thick chunks, fried in mustard oil, and tempered with jakhya, a wild Himalayan mustard seed that adds a crunch and a bite that no other spice replicates.
• Artisanal Coffee & Herbal Infusions at Foresta Cafe: Foresta sits along the pine-covered slopes of Chaubatia Road and serves artisanal coffee and herbal infusions made from locally sourced ingredients. Sip freshly brewed espresso, wild-berry herbal infusions, or iced teas paired with wood-fired pizzas and eat light mountain snacks while surrounded by deep greenery.
• Elevated Kumaoni Specialities at West View Hotel Dining Room: Regional comfort dishes include Kafuli (a velvety green spinach and fenugreek curry thickened with rice flour), Chainsoo (a creamy, roasted black-gram gravy), Dubuk (a stone-ground legume porridge), and Gahat ki Dal (a warming horse-gram soup). 

Book Your Ranikhet Tour Package Today

Ranikhet simply lets you breathe. Free from the usual scramble of tourist queues and packed photo spots, the town moves at a gentle, unhurried pace. It takes only a few hours in its quiet, pine-scented air to realise that doing nothing here is actually everything you need.

Whether you are planning a solo escape, a family holiday, or a romantic getaway, Ranikhet tour packages on EaseMyTrip Holidays give you the structure to plan any of these versions properly with zero booking fee on flights. Book your trip today and let Queen Padmini's meadow earn its name all over again.