Ranikhet, widely known as the ‘Queen's Meadow’, is a scenic hill station of the Almora District. According to a folklore, Padmini, the beautiful queen of Kumaon region visited Ranikhet and was awe-stricken by the beauty of this place. Therefore, her husband King Sukherdev constructed a palace at this place and named it 'Ranikhet'. Though there is no archaeological evidence for this palace, the story is still alive in every nook and corner of Ranikhet.
Ranikhet spreads over 21.76 sq km at an altitude of approx 1830 meters from sea level. It is surrounded by lofty green thick lofty green forests of pine, oak, cedar and deodar trees. The river Kosi, Ramganga and Gagas flows throughout the valleys of Ranikhet. Ranikhet also offers a spectacular view of the Kumaon Himalayas peaks of Nandadevi, Nandaghunti, Trishul etc.
The population of Almora district according to the 2011 census was 6,22,506 in which Ranikhet town has 18,886 which 11,412 are males while 7,474 are females with a sex ratio of 843 female per 1000 male. The literacy rate is about 95.21 percent.
Hindus form the majority of people in Ranikhet and Hindi and Kumaoni and the major languages spoken by the people. Other languages spoken in the region are Garhwali and English. People of all religion live together in peace and close harmony with each other.
Almost all Hindu festivals are celebrated here in Ranikhet. As it falls in the Kumaon region Fuldeyi, Bikhauti, Harela, Ghee Sankranti, Khatarua, Holi Uttaraini are most celebrated throughout the region.
Ranikhet is around 341 km from Delhi and 310 kms from Dehradun. The city is divided into 7 small sub areas known as wards and elections are held every 5 years. The major occupation of the people here is Agriculture and Horticulture.
