Ranikhet – Its Brown And Rustic Vibe In Summer

My visit to Ranikhet in summer made me realize that there’s never a bad time to visit a place. There are a variety of good times. We (it was a trip with family) got to see a ‘brown and beautiful’ Ranikhet in the month of May. Tea gardens, orchards and trees – all were painted brown. There was barely any green.

To see the burgeoning lush beauty of Ranikhet, a spring visit would be an ideal choice. A summer visit would show you a different side of this quiet hill station, which is enchanting in its own way!

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James

Although summer is despised by most of us in India, the season has its own charm. There’s a feeling of lull and nothingness, which is quite fascinating. When there’s nothing to do, you get inspired to just be and admire the things that you otherwise ignored.

That’s what Ranikhet is all about.

Ranikhet – Its brown and rustic vibe in summer

Well, there are many interesting things to experience in Ranikhet as long as you have the spirit to explore. It’s not one of those obviously stunning hill stations. It has its own vibe. You got to be sorted with your travel choices.

Embrace the slow life.

If you want to have a relaxed and laid-back holiday, you can find a comfortable spot where you can just sit and gaze the lovely mountains. I believe if you haven’t given in to the slow life of the mountains then you haven’t really experienced the mountains.

We would get up early and enjoy tea followed by breakfast on the lovely rooftop of our guest house. It was such a joy!  

Also read: My Solo Travel Guide To Kumaon

Go for hikes. Explore the wildlife.

For those who love to hike and seek some adventure, there are some beautiful trails to explore in Ranikhet. You can go deep into the forests and probably have an encounter or two with wild animals. Who knows, you may spot a leopard!

You can also visit places like Sattal, Bhowali and Nathuakhan in Kumaon. 

Visit the golf course.

The highlight of Ranikhet is definitely its golf course, which is huge and spectacular. As I mentioned earlier, making a summer visit in Ranikhet gives you a whole new perspective of it. The golf course is all brown in summer. It’s worth taking a walk.

Explore the orchards and the tea gardens.

To be honest, I didn’t really enjoy the orchards of Ranikhet much during summer. I guess the better time would be when the fruits and flowers are in full bloom. We visited Chaubatia Gardens, which is a terraced orchard of apples, plums, and peaches. I’m sure it’s another experience to visit it in season.

Walk the quiet roads. Visit the temples.

I don’t think your trip to a hill station is complete without visiting its small and modest temples and taking in their mystical vibes. Also, make it a point to walk leisurely on the quiet roads of Ranikhet. There are little things that you discover like a small tea and Maggie shop – such experiences make the most precious travel memories.

Also read: Where The Kumaoni Village Life Embraces You

Ranikhet is ideal for families as well as for solo travellers.

I visited Ranikhet with my family and I loved the experience. But I’d like to explore it solo in the future, whenever possible. Such ‘do nothing much’ places are always on my wish-list.

Ranikhet is still quite unspoiled.

Thankfully, Ranikhet is still quite devoid of city bustle and commercialisation, which makes it enjoyable. It’s a destination that gives you a true break from your usual hurried life. It’s unlike a typical holiday destination, where tourists throng the place and there’s an array of shops to cash in on the opportunity of making money. Rather, the place is quiet and very unassuming. It made me feel grateful that there are places, which are still unspoiled.

So yes, the pines and cedars of Ranikhet are waiting for you.

Also read: Binsar – Where You Succumb To The Mountains

How to reach Ranikhet?

You got to take an overnight train from Delhi to Kathgodam. It takes around one and a half hours by car to reach Ranikhet from Kathgodam station.

Where to stay in Ranikhet?

There are quite a few cute homestays and resorts in Ranikhet, where you should be able to relax and simply soak in the joys of the mountains.

Have you been to Ranikhet?

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