Queen of hearts

HIT THE ROAD

According to legend, a Kumaoni queen called Rani Padmini was so enamoured of the green valleys and meadows here that her husband built her a nifty palace and called the place 'Ranikhet', or queen's meadow.

As you drive into this fabulous little hill-station, you'll realise the Rani had impeccable taste. Now home to the Kumaon regiment, and therefore kept spotlessly clean by the army, Ranikhet is possibly the best hill getaway in the north. The drive here is part of the experience, with grand views of the mountains and forested slopes.

A trip to the Chaubatia orchards is de rigeur, both for the fruit you can buy and for the walks through the orchards. The Army Golf Club is five km away, and you can have a swing if you want. If you want to do nothing, well, that's fine too "� breathe deeply and draw in lungfuls of fresh mountain air.

Ranikhet is 366 km from Delhi via Moradabad, Kathgodam and Bhowali and the drive is a very pleasant one. It has a number of charming hotels, among which Holm Farm (Ph: 05966-220891, Rs 1,200 onwards) and West View Hotel (Ph: 05966-220261, Rs 1,500 onwards) are particularly nice.

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