Ranikhet Hill Station or Queens Meadow is a mesmerizing place falling under the state of Uttaranchal, and located at the height of 1829 m with a sprawling are of 21.76 Sq. Kms. As the story goes, Queen Padmini of Kumaon was desperately in love with this splendid hill paradise, and to oblige the aspirations of his queen, King Sudhardev made a palace built here, and named it Ranikhet or Queens field.The pleasing hill station was out of worlds touch for quite some time, until it was rediscovered by the Britishers in the year 1869, and who later transformed the tiny hill station into headquarters of the Kumaon Regiment. The hill station was used as an ideal retreat against the hot weather of the plains. At present, Ranikhet is a cantonment town and place for Kumaon Regimental Centre (KRC) and Naga Regiment. The hill station is being maintained by the Indian Army.
Ranikhet is known for its delicious apples, apricots, peaches and various other alpine fruits.