What to Wear in Ranikhet

March to June

Days are mild to warm, and the sun at this height burns quickly. A cotton shirt or T-shirt is fine at noon, but carry a sweater or fleece for the evening and for early starts to Majkhali. Add a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen for the open golf meadow and the orchards.

July to September

This is the monsoon. Rain can be heavy and last for days, and forest paths turn slippery. Pack a proper rain jacket, quick-drying trousers and shoes with a firm grip. An umbrella helps in town but not on the steep path to Bhalu Dam. Leeches can appear on wet forest trails, so long socks are useful.

October to February

Autumn days are crisp and bright; by November, evenings are cold. From December to February nights can drop to freezing or below. Bring thermals, a warm jacket, a woolly hat and gloves. Snow falls on the town only in some winters, usually for a day or two, but frost and icy patches are common in shaded spots.

Shoes

Much of Ranikhet is best seen on foot: the Chaubatia orchards, the forest walk to the dam, the cantonment roads. Wear walking shoes or light boots with a good sole. Leave heels and smooth-soled shoes behind. You will take shoes off at Jhula Devi and the other temples, so shoes that slip on and off easily save time.

Temples and the cantonment

At temples, cover your shoulders and knees. There is no dress code for the cantonment roads, but plain, tidy clothes suit an army town. Avoid clothes in camouflage patterns, which can cause awkward questions near army areas.

Buying woollens locally

Shops in Sadar Bazaar sell shawls, caps and sweaters, including hand-knitted Kumaoni woollens. Check the label or ask if it is real wool; acrylic is common. Almora, about 50 km away, has a bigger choice of shawls. For festival clothes, look out for the pichhora, the yellow and red wrap Kumaoni women wear at weddings and pujas.