Ranikhet – a few new Eco-tourism destinations (Ranikhet Nature Awareness center & camping site)

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Ranikhet – a few new Eco-destinations

(Ranikhet Nature Awareness center & camping site)

The view of the entry gate to the Nature awareness center & camping site

A counter set up at the entry gate - colorfully decorated with animated figures

Panoramic view of the camping site in the center

            I have posted several blogs in the past about the various tourist destinations in Ranikhet, although they too did not contain details of all the destinations.  However, of late Ranikhet is being developed as an eco-tourism destination and in this series the second such center to be developed by the Almora Forest Division is the ‘Ranikhet Nature Awareness Center & Camping site’.  This center has been developed near the famed temple of Binsar Mahadev and this region is a notified forest area, with a British era ‘forest rest house’ situated in the vicinity and me alongwith some of my office friends had stayed there way back in December, 2013 (am sharing a few of those photos to give a visual feel of the area about ten years back).  This center as has been set up now, was inaugurated by the local MLA Shri Karan Mahra on 12^th August, 2021.

The British era forest guest house in the vicinity of the Nature awareness camp

A silhouette of the Binsar forest in early morning

A Verditer flycatcher in the Binsar forest

            This center is situated near village Sauni, which is about 12 Kms. away from Ranikhet on the Ranikhet-Ramnagar State Highway.  On this Highway itself, as one traverses towards Bhatraujkhan, the road bifurcates from a point called Soni daat (about 1 Kms. from Sauni village) leading towards the famed Binsar Mahadev temple and other villages beyond like Devlikhet, Chamarkhan etc. and after traversing a distance of about 600 odd meters, one comes upon the entry gate of the said ‘Ranikhet Nature Awareness Center & Camping site’.  The site has been developed along a small rivulet flowing through the forest and there are about 09 (Nine) riverside camps that have been set up with several common toilets placed alongside for facilitating the visitors during their stay.  In order to provide proper security, within the environs of the forest, this area is properly fenced all around, to protect it from encroachment by the wild animals.  The place has a big dining space cum restaurant, where the resident visitors as well as the other daytime visitors can order some food and drinks.  The cost of stay per tent for two persons is Rs.1500/- per night.  The region boasts of a plethora of birds and for adventure tourism lovers there is mountain bike trail with cycles being provided (at a nominal cost) to the visitors alongwith treks within the forest also being organized through trained guides.  A 3D small movie theater with a seating capacity of about 15 (Fifteen) persons is also operational for the visitors at a nominal fee.  The entire complex has been tastefully decorated with paintings of birds and animals painted on the buildings within the complex.  It is a must visit destination for nature lovers (I have placed a copy of the pamphlet of the complex for contact purpose.) and here is a link to the inaugural function of the camp -                   https://ne-np.facebook.com/theproductionpronews/videos/199782995512894/

Nature awareness center and camping site, Soni village,  Ranikhet is on Facebook also (may check out the photos) - https://www.facebook.com/sonitourism/

A copy of the information bulletin of the center

Here is a link to my video of the destination –

© S Roy Biswas

Nondescript destinations of Kumaon – Tarikhet

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Nondescript destinations of Kumaon – Tarikhet

A panoramic view of main road & market of Tarikhet

          Tarikhet is a big hamlet, which is the Block headquarters that goes by the same name and comprises of 134 village Panchayats.  The STD code of the destination is – 05966 and PIN code is – 263663.  It is at a lower elevation of about 1500 odd meters above mean sea level and apart from the Block Development Office, it houses banks, ATMs, a Primary Health Centre, Govt. Inter College et al.  With Indian independence struggle movement in its credit, Tarikhet is a charming, verdant and beautiful cute village nearby Ranikhet on the way to I have been away from writing blogs for a long time and as I am struck down because of the pandemic, while searching for smaller destinations in the region of the internet, I could find only some scanty and scattered information.  Accordingly, I decided to gather information and put them on the internet in form of blogs for the readers and hence starting this series as ‘Nondescript destinations of Kumaon’.  In this series, I am starting with Tarikhet being the nearest township from my village.

A panoramic view of Tarikhet from Gandhi Kutir

 Tarikhet is a charming, verdant and beautiful cute hamlet nearby Ranikhet on the way to Ramnagar. It is a rather big hamlet, which is the Block headquarters that goes by the same name and comprises of 134 village Panchayats.   It is perched at a lower elevation of about 1500 odd meters above mean sea level, but has salubrious climate the year round.  Being the block headquarters, apart from housing the Block Development Office, it also has two banks and their ATMs, a Primary Health Centre, many private run as well as Government run schools, Govt. Inter College et al.  The STD code of the destination is – 05966 and PIN code is – 263663.

Outside view of the Gandhi Kutir

Close up of the pillar commemorating visit by Gandhi ji

A plaque indicating the Gandhi kutir

Tarikhet is well known for its association with the Indian independence struggle movement in its credit.  The recognition of Tarikhet and its association with freedom struggle is attributable to the famous ‘Gandhi Kutiya', a small hut where Mahatma Gandhi stayed for three days in June, 1929. Tarikhet was the nerve center for all the activities related to the freedom struggle. This is a must place to be visited to get the feeling of the history of India and its independence.  This prime attraction is now in a rather neglected state here, which is the small hut known as Gandhi Kuti, where Mahatma Gandhi, the great symbol of peace and tranquility and Father of our Nation, stayed once during the freedom movement. This place is thus, a symbol of India’s freedom struggle against the British Raj.  However, as you approach this venerated place, the government apathy is palpable & noticeable straight away.  The condition of the approach road is atrocious, with no maintenance whatsoever.  Even more so is the actual Kutir, which is ceremonially spruced and decked up during the Gandhi Jayanti etc., as informed by the local residents, or else in case when some local leaders troop in and make tall claims, only to disappear later.  The staircase is in bad shape, the place where Gandhiji stayed was converted into a school but the same is now in a state of total disrepair and the locals have even removed the doors & windows from the building, that sans any kind of security or periphery wall whatsoever.  The statute of Ghandhiji that was placed inside the Kutir and was on verge of being vandalized, has been kept in safe custody by the Principal of the local school of Prem Vidyalaya, Tarikhet. 

The statue of Gandhi ji kept in Prem Vidyalaya in Tarkhet

 The place bristles with activities all round the year, with people moving to and fro in the market or visiting Government offices for their works.  The market is spread across both sides of the State Highway that connects Ranikhet with Ramnagar and is the main market for local villagers for sourcing their requirements, be it clothes or other day to day sundry requirements.  It houses some quaint little sweetmeat shops and a few restaurants that cater mainly to local cuisine.  There is a small hotel or rather a home stay that goes by the name of ‘Pine grove Hotel’ and is situated in the outer vicinity of the township.  The place also offers an opportunity to visit a temple housing the famed Golu Devta, the reverend deity of the region and also is home to a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman inside the temple complex. 

             Thus, this destination known as Tarikhet, although may not be a destination of great tourist attraction, but is definitely a quaint and tranquil little destination, where the nature lover traveler can spend a few days in solitude.

Here is a link to a short video of the destination