Ranikhet, which means Queen's meadow , 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. Ranikhet is a place related with the legends of Himalayas. Historical accounts tell us the Queen Padmini of Kumaon was enchanted by this tiny hill paradise. 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) and Naga Regiment and is maintained by the Indian Army . Ranikhet has a cool climate all through the year and can be visited any time of the year. But the best time would be from February to November avoiding the heavy snow months. Summer months are perfect for Ranikhet tourism. Tourists can enjoy sightseeing and outdoor activities. Winter season is ideal for
One of the main religious places among the four Char Dham pilgrimage areas, Gangotri, situated in Uttarkashi, is closely related to Goddess Ganga, the river that we know as Ganges. The history of Gangotri dates back to centuries when Goddess Ganga transformed herself into a river to dissolve the sins of King Bhagirath’s forefathers, following his penance. In order to reduce the impact of her fall, Lord Shiva gathered Ganga into his matted locks and has ever since been associated with Goddess Ganga.
The river is called Bhagirathi at the source and acquires the name Ganga (the Ganges) from Devprayag onwards where it meets the Alaknanda. The origin of the holy river is at Gaumukh, set in the Gangotri Glacier, and is a 19 km trek from Gangotri.
There are different places to visit near the Gangotri Temple like:
• Bhagirath Shila is believed to be the holy rock where King Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva.
• Pandava Gufa, located 1.5 km from Gangotri, is the place where the Pandavas are believed to have meditated and rested enroute Kailash. Pilgrims will have to trek up to the Pandava Gufa.
In the pilgrimage journey of Chota Char Dham, Gangotri is often visited after Yamunotri. Pilgrims generally make Uttarkashi as their base camp. The time taken from Uttarkashi to Gangotri temple is about 4 hours by road
Just the perfect destination to breath in a serene and pious atmosphere, Gangotri has the charm to attract people from all over. The striking presence of the snow-clad mountains in the vicinity and the pure crystal clear water of the Ganges flowing around add to the sanctity of the place. One feels close to God in the high altitude of Gangotri. Vegan food dominates the culture and is available in the local food joints or dhabas. Non-vegetarian food and alcoholic drinks are a strict no-no.
The best time to visit the holy city of Gangotri is from April to June and September to November.
Winter (November to March) is freezing cold with heavy snowfall which can disrupt your journey.
Summer (April to May) is very pleasant with observed maximum never crossing 30°C and can get very cold at night. This is the best season for pilgrimage and sightseeing trips.
Monsoon (late July - August) is accompanied by very heavy rainfall that makes it difficult to reach the temple
The mystical hill station of Gangotri is famous for the Shivalinga, which lies submerged in river Gangotri, during summer and visible only when winter comes. The temple is open from last week of April to second week of November. Snowfall can be enjoyed during winters, especially from end of November till mid of March.
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