Ranikhet
Template:Infobox Indian jurisdiction
Ranikhet is a hill station and cantonment town in Almora district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the home for the 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.
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 [1], though no palace exists in the area.
In 1869 [2], 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 [3]
Geography
Ranikhet is located at 29°39′N 79°25′E / 29.65°N 79.42°E.[4] It has an average elevation of Template:M to ft. The cantonment is spread across two ridges, first called the Ranikhet ridge is situated at an elevation of 5,983 ft. and the second, the Chaubattia ridge, is at an elevation of 6,942 ft. one beautiful village Thakulari is located in Ranikhet ramnagar motor marg.The Thakulari dist.from ranikhet 45 km. near of godi gate.
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.
Flora and Fauna
The pine, oak, and deodar forests host an array of wildlife including leopard, leopard cat, mountain goat, barking deer, sambhar, pine marten, Indian hare, red-faced monkey, jackal, langur, red fox, and porcupine [5].
Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[6] 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 Delhi, 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.
References
- ^ Ranikhet Official website of Nainital district.
- ^ History www.ranikhetcantonment.org.in.
- ^ Ranikhet The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 233.
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Ranikhet
- ^ Ranikhet - Hertiage Cantonment
- ^ Template:GR
External links
