NEARBY EXCURSIONS

Ranikhet Golf Course:
Ranikhet Golf Course is one of the highest golf courses of Asia, located 5 kms from the main city. It is a 9-hole course making it one of the prime attractions of Ranikhet. The awe-inspiring greens have served as location for the hit 1970 Bollywood films ‘Kati Patang’, ‘ Dil Deke Dekho’, ‘Shikaar’ etc. You can even try your hand at golf as the club provides membership plans for outsiders as well.

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Jhula Devi Temple:
Jhula Devi temple is situated at a distance of 7 km from the town of Ranikhet near Chaubatia. The striking feature of the temple is the rows of bells offered by devotees. It is said that wild animals like leopards and tigers used to roam the dense jungle near the temple and would attack local villagers occasionally. The villagers prayed to Goddess Durga for protection, and one day she appeared in a shepherd's dream and asked him to excavate her idol.

The temple was constructed at the spot where the idol of Goddess Durga was found. Since then, devotees have thronged the temple to make a wish to the presiding deity, Goddess Jhula Devi. Once their wish is fulfilled, they return to thank Jhula Devi Mayya with the offering of a bell. The temple priests have to make room for the new offerings every day. In addition to bells, dried coconut and prasad is offered to the Goddess.

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Chaubatia Gardens:
Located about 10 km from Ranikhet, the Chaubatia gardens are famous for its apple orchards. They also include plantation of apricots, peaches, chestnuts and almonds. With a wide variety of Himalayan flora, the gardens also offer a picturesque view of the snow-capped Himalayas in winter months. Besides fruits, one can buy fresh juices and artisan honey from the garden store on the way out.

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Dunagiri Temple:
Dunagiri temple, located 50 kms away, is a Shakti peeth dedicated to Dunagiri devi. According to folklore, visiting sages found the place so serene that they established their ashrams here in the midst of nature. A cluster of six small villages forms the place that is variously known as Dunagiri, Drongiri and Doonagiri.

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Sitalakhet:
Situated between Ranikhet and Almora, this picturesque place not only affords a wide view of the Himalayan peaks but is also full of fruit orchards. Scouting camps are frequently held here and there is a beautiful temple of Syahi Devi around 3 Kms away on a lovely mountainous trail. Khunt, the birth place of the first chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant is situated nearby. Some years back, a centenary memorial was built at this place to commemorate the memory of this great son of the soil.

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