A quiet hill village and viewpoint on the Ranikhet–Almora road, 12 km from Ranikhet at about 1900 metres altitude. Known for wide Himalayan panoramas of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti, the hilltop Kalika Devi Temple, pine forests and apple orchards. No entry fee — visit as part of your Ranikhet tour package with Tour Venture India.
Majkhali is a scenic hill village and Himalayan viewpoint on the Ranikhet–Almora road, 12 km from Ranikhet at about 1900 metres. It offers views of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti and has the hilltop Kalika Devi Temple. No entry fee. Best time: October–March for clear mountain views.
Majkhali is a small hill village and viewpoint in Almora district, Uttarakhand, located 12 km from Ranikhet on the Ranikhet–Almora road. At an altitude of roughly 1900 metres, it sits on an open ridge that gives one of the widest Himalayan panoramas near Ranikhet — on a clear day Nanda Devi (7816 m), Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and neighbouring peaks line the northern horizon.
Unlike busy Ranikhet town, the village is quiet — pine and oak forests, terraced fields, apple orchards and a handful of homestays and guesthouses. The hilltop Kalika Devi Temple adds a spiritual stop to the trip. Most travellers visit it as a short stop on the drive between Ranikhet and Almora, or as a half-day outing combined with the Ranikhet Golf Course and Upat Kalika Temple on the same road.
About this guide: Tour Venture India runs sightseeing trips on the Ranikhet–Almora road, which passes through Majkhali. Road distances and travel times below are approximate and can vary with traffic and weather. Peak heights are as published by the Survey of India.
The Kalika Devi Temple at Majkhali is a hilltop shrine dedicated to Goddess Kali and is visited by devotees from the surrounding villages. It is a small, simple shrine in the typical Kumaoni style, so plan it as a short stop rather than a long temple visit.
What makes the temple special for visitors is its setting — the shrine stands on high ground, so the walk up rewards you with an uninterrupted view of the snow peaks to the north. Early morning, when the air is still and the peaks are lit by the first sun, is the best time to visit both for darshan and photography.
Do not confuse it with the Upat Kalika Temple next to the Ranikhet Golf Course — that is a separate Kali shrine a few kilometres back towards Ranikhet on the same road. Many travellers visit both on the same trip.
The main reason to come here is the view. From the open ridge you can see a long stretch of the Himalaya — Nanda Devi, Trishul, Nanda Ghunti and other peaks — especially on clear mornings between October and March.
The snow peaks turn gold and pink at sunrise and sunset. If you stay overnight in a local homestay or guesthouse, the sunrise view is the highlight of the trip.
Short walks through pine forests, terraced fields and apple orchards give a feel of everyday Kumaoni village life. Spring (March–April) brings orchard blossoms; the apple season runs roughly from August to October.
The mix of open ridge, pine forest and orchards makes the area good for landscape photography, and the quiet forest roads are pleasant for an early-morning birding walk — carry binoculars.
Majkhali is a hill village and Himalayan viewpoint on the Ranikhet–Almora road in Uttarakhand, about 12 km from Ranikhet at roughly 1900 metres altitude. It is known for panoramic views of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti, the hilltop Kalika Devi Temple, and quiet pine forests and apple orchards. There is no entry fee.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 12 km from Ranikhet on the Ranikhet–Almora road, Almora district, Uttarakhand |
| Altitude | Approximately 1,900 metres |
| Famous For | Panoramic Himalayan views, Kalika Devi Temple, apple orchards |
| Peaks Visible | Nanda Devi (7,816 m), Trishul I (7,120 m), Nanda Ghunti (6,309 m) and nearby peaks — heights: Survey of India |
| Entry Fee | Free (open village and viewpoint) |
| Time Required | 1–2 hours (overnight stay for sunrise views) |
| Best For | Photography, temple visit, day excursion, quiet stay |
| Nearest Railway Station | Kathgodam (~90 km via Ranikhet) |
| Nearest Airport | Pantnagar (~120 km via Ranikhet) |
| Distance from Delhi | ~360 km (about 10 hours via Moradabad) |
The village can be visited year-round, but the Himalayan view — the main attraction — depends on clear skies. Plan around the season using our Ranikhet tour packages, and extend the trip to Kausani or Binsar for a longer Kumaon circuit.
| Season / Month | Weather | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| March – June (Spring/Summer) | 12–26°C, pleasant | Orchard blossoms in spring; comfortable weather; peaks visible in the mornings, hazier by afternoon |
| July – September (Monsoon) | 15–24°C, rain | Lush green forests; peaks mostly hidden by clouds; check road conditions before travel |
| October – November | 8–20°C, clear | Clearest Himalayan views of the year; crisp air; highly recommended |
| December – February (Winter) | 0–12°C, cold | Sharp mountain views on sunny days; possible snowfall; carry heavy woollens |
| From | Distance | Travel Time | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranikhet Town | 12 km | 25–30 min | Taxi / Bus / Shared jeep |
| Chaubatia Garden | 14 km | ~35 min | Taxi via Ranikhet |
| Kathgodam (Railway) | ~90 km | ~3 hrs | Taxi via Ranikhet |
| Pantnagar (Airport) | ~120 km | ~3.5 hrs | Taxi |
| Delhi | ~360 km | ~10 hrs | Road via Moradabad |
Nearest airport: Pantnagar. Taxi to Ranikhet in about 3 hours, then 12 km more on the Almora road to Majkhali.
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam. Regular trains from Delhi and Lucknow. Taxis available at Kathgodam for Ranikhet and onward.
Ranikhet–Almora buses and shared jeeps pass through Majkhali. Ask the driver to stop at Majkhali market.
From Delhi: NH9 via Moradabad–Haldwani–Kathgodam–Ranikhet, then 12 km on the Almora road. The road is paved but narrow with hairpin bends.
The Golf Course and Upat Kalika Temple lie on the same road between Ranikhet and Majkhali — cover all three in one half-day outing.