Ramnagar (
Kumaoni: ''Rāmnagar'') is a
town
A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city.
The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...
and
municipal board in the
Nainital district of
Kumaon in the state of
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It is located approximately from
Nainital
Nainital (Kumaoni language, Kumaoni: ''Naintāl''; ) is a town and headquarters of Nainital district of Kumaon division, Uttarakhand, India. It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand High Court, High Court of the state being ...
, the headquarters of the district.
Ramnagar is a gateway to the
Corbett National Park, the oldest
national park
A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...
and a famous
tourist destination
A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement.
Types
Places of natural beau ...
. The
Garjiya Devi Temple and Sitabani temple,
Sitabani Wildlife Reserve located nearby also attract many visitors.
Uttarakhand Board of School Education is headquartered in Ramnagar. The board was set up in 2001, and is responsible for administering courses of instructions, textbooks, and to conduct examinations for secondary school students of the state.
Geography
Ramnagar is located at 29.40°N 79.12°E.
It has an average elevation of roughly 345 metres (1,132 feet). Ramnagar is located at the
foothills
Foothills or piedmont are geography, geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range, higher hill range or an highland, upland area. They are a transition zone between plains and low terrain, relief hill ...
of the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya ( ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the Earth's highest peaks, including the highest, Mount Everest. More than list of h ...
on the bank of river
Kosi
KOSI (101.1 FM) is a commercial radio station in Denver, Colorado. KOSI is owned by Salt Lake City–based Bonneville International and airs an adult contemporary music format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December. ...
. The town is visited by many tourists due to its geographical location near
Corbett National Park. Its proximity to Nainital which is a famous hill station of Northern India makes it even more popular. There is a
Barrage on Kosi River in Ramnagar where many migratory birds such as
Ruddy Shelduck arrive in winter.
Demographics
According to the
2011 Indian Census, the town consists of 54,787 people. The state of
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...
has literacy rate of 87.6 percent, which is higher than
Nation
A nation is a type of social organization where a collective Identity (social science), identity, a national identity, has emerged from a combination of shared features across a given population, such as language, history, ethnicity, culture, t ...
's average of 74.04 percent.
History
The town is named after
British commissioner Sir Henry Ramsay who established it in 1850 during the British rule in India During the British rule tea gardens were developed in Ramnagar and nearby villages in Uttarakhand. But these tea gardens have been closed for a long time. Ramnagar is most visited for
Corbett National Park named after the hunter turned conservationist
Jim Corbett who played a key role in its establishment. It is the oldest national park in India which was established in 1936. And ancient temples like Garjia Devi Temple and Sita Bani Temple both carry a lot of myths and legends behind them, which attracts a huge number of visitors every year.
Ancient and Early History
Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that Ramnagar and its surroundings have been inhabited since ancient times. The village of ''Dhikuli'', located near Ramnagar, has been identified with significant ancient settlements.
According to Edwin T. Atkinson’s Himalayan Gazetteer (1882), Dhikuli contains ruins that suggest the presence of an early civilization. The village is believed to have been built from materials derived from the ruins of an earlier city. Scholars have identified this site with ''Vairāt-pātan'', the capital of an ancient kingdom, which was subordinate to
Indraprastha.
[Atkinson, E. T. *The Himalayan Gazetteer, Vol. 2, Part 1.* 1882] References in ''The Indian Historical Quarterly'' (1936) and ''The Indian Antiquary'' (1920) describe the area as having remnants of tanks and scattered buildings, hinting at a once-flourishing ancient settlement.
Moreover, the 7th-century Chinese traveler
Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) mentions visiting ''Govisana'', an ancient capital of the region. Some scholars, including Fuhrer (MAI, p. 49), have identified Dhikuli with Govisana, indicating its historical significance. The area contains ancient temple ruins, stone structures, and tanks, possibly dating back to the
Katyuri period (8th–12th centuries), further attesting to its antiquity.
Medieval Period and Political Transitions
During the medieval period, the region came under the influence of various ruling dynasties. The
Katyuri dynasty controlled large portions of
Kumaon and
Garhwal, including Ramnagar and its surrounding areas. The Katyuris were known for their temple architecture, some of which are still found in the region.
After the decline of the Katyuris, the
Chand dynasty rose to power in the 13th century, establishing
Almora
Almora ( Kumaoni: ') is a municipal corporation and a cantonment town in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the administrative headquarters of Almora district. Almora is located on a ridge at the southern edge of the Kumaon Hills of the ...
as their capital. The Chand rulers extended their influence over the
Bhabar
Bhabar or Bhabhar is a region south of the Lower Himalayas and the Sivalik Hills in Garhwal and Kumaon, India. The Bhabhar region contains some of the largest cities of Kumaon and Garhwal: Dehradun, Haridwar, Haldwani, Rishikesh, Ramnagar ...
belt, including Ramnagar, and promoted trade and agricultural development. The strategic location of Ramnagar along trade routes made it an important center for commerce, facilitating the movement of forest produce, grains, and local goods to the plains.
British Era and the Formal Establishment of Ramnagar
The arrival of the British in the early 19th century marked a turning point for the region. Following the
Anglo-Nepalese War
The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816), also known as the Gorkha War or Nepal-Company War, was fought between the Gorkhali army of the Kingdom of Nepal (present-day Nepal) and the forces of the British East India Company ...
(1814–1816), the British
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
annexed Kumaon under the
Treaty of Sugauli
The Treaty of Sugauli (also spelled Sugowlee, Sagauli and Segqulee), the treaty that established the boundary line of Nepal, was signed on 4 March 1816 between the East India Company and Guru Gajraj Mishra following the Anglo-Nepalese War of ...
(1816), bringing the Bhabar belt, including the future site of Ramnagar, under their control.
The British administration recognized the region’s potential for agriculture and timber trade. In 1850,
George Ramsay, the British Commissioner of
Kumaon, formally established the town of Ramnagar by relocating a nearby settlement from Chilikya to the current site on the banks of the
Kosi River.
[Pande, Badri Datt. *Kumaun Ka Itihas* (Translated by C. M. Agrawal). Shyam Prakashan, 1993, P-35,36] The choice of location was strategic, offering fertile lands, access to water, and connectivity to existing trade routes.
Infrastructure and Development
The British promoted the expansion of agriculture and forestry around Ramnagar. A canal from the Kosi River was constructed, irrigating approximately 5–7 miles of farmland and boosting agricultural productivity.
The region became a hub for sugarcane, grain, and cotton cultivation, which were traded in nearby markets.
Ramnagar also emerged as a key transport link. The Ramnagar-Ranikhet cart road, constructed by the British, became the primary artery for transporting timber and agricultural goods. This road, covering approximately 10 miles, facilitated the movement of goods between the plains and the Kumaon hills. According to the Nainital District Gazetteer (1904), this road was one of the most critical routes for commercial traffic, linking Garhwal and Almora with the plains.
The Imperial Gazetteer of India
''The Imperial Gazetteer of India'' was a gazetteer of the British Indian Empire, and is now a historical reference work. It was first published in 1881. Sir William Wilson Hunter made the original plans of the book, starting in 1869.< ...
documented Ramnagar’s increasing importance, describing it as a vital trade post exporting timber, resin, and forest products to the plains. The expansion of roads and trade networks transformed Ramnagar into a prominent administrative and commercial center.
Post-Independence Era and Growth
Following India’s independence in 1947, Ramnagar remained part of
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
. During this period, the town witnessed gradual infrastructural growth, including the improvement of road networks, further enhancing its connectivity. In 2000, with the creation of the state of
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...
, Ramnagar became part of the new state. This administrative change brought increased development focus, with improvements in transport, education, and civic infrastructure.
Ramnagar’s proximity to
Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park is a national park in India located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand state. The first national park in India, it was established in 1936 during the British Raj and named ''Hailey National Park'' after Willi ...
(established in 1936) further boosted its significance. The park’s growing popularity drew tourists, turning Ramnagar into a gateway town for wildlife tourism. The influx of visitors contributed to the expansion of hotels, guesthouses, and local businesses, but the town’s historical identity remained tied to its colonial foundations and strategic location.
Visitor attractions
Corbett National Park
Corbett National Park is 10 km from Ramnagar. It is spread across 86 km north of Ramnagar. Established in 1936 as the Hailey National Park, Corbett National Park is the oldest and one of the most sought after national parks in
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It is India's first sanctuary to come under
Project Tiger
Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation movement initiated in India to protect the endangered tiger. The project was initiated in 1973 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of the Government of India. As of March 2025, there ...
. The park was named after the hunter-naturalist turned author and photographer,
Jim Corbett who lived in the region and contributed in setting up this park. Visitors can move about in vehicles (only local gypsies with the permit) inside the park area after making entries at the respective gates. Tourists now cannot drive their own cars inside Corbett. They have to hire gypsies with permits from Ramnagar. Permits are necessary for entering Corbett Tiger Reserve. Permits are issued at the CTR Reception Office in Ramnagar. Other places worth visiting in the region are the Crocodile Pool, Dhikala Machaan, Getheryo Library (Dhikala), Corbett Museum (Dhangadi gate), Corbett falls.
Garjiya Devi Temple

Garjiya Devi Temple is located in the Garjiya village near Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India. It is a sacred Shakti shrine where Garjiya Devi is the presiding deity. The temple is situated over a large rock in the Kosi River and is one of the most famous temples of the Nainital district visited by thousands of devotees during Kartik Poornima, a Hindu holy day celebrated on the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik (November – December). It is also known as the festival of lights of the gods.
The Kartik Purnima festival also coincides with the Sikh festival of Guru Nanak Jayanti.
Sita Bani Temple
Sita Bani Temple is dedicated to Devi Sita, consort of Lord Rama. It is believed that she entered into the lap of Mother Earth here. Every year, a fair is held here during
Ramanavami. It is located at a distance of 20 km from Ramnagar.
Tumaria Dam
The Tumaria Dam is located about 17 km from Ramnagar in
Maldhan village on Kosi river bank and is a major tourist attraction.
Demographics
Hinduism is the majority religion in Ramnagar with 55.91% followers
Islam is second most popular religion in city with 42.92% following it. In Ramnagar, Christianity is followed by 0.35% and Sikhism by 0.73%.
Cuisine
The local Kumaoni food includes Bhatt ki Churkani, Jholi-Bhat, Gaahat ke Dubke, Channe ke Dubke, Ras-Bhat, Manduwe ki Roti, Paalak ka Kaapa, Bhang ki Chutni, singhodi, Aloo Ke Gutke, Thechwani, Bal Mithai, Singal, Bichoo Saag.
Accommodation
Ramnagar is also popular for having so many resorts for the tourists to accommodate. More than 100 resorts are located here.
Transportation
Air
The nearest airport is
Pantnagar Airport,
81.6 km away via UT SH 41 and 77.3 km away via NH 87 in the town of
Pantnagar
Pantnagar is a town and a university campus in Udham Singh Nagar District, Uttarakhand. Nainital, Kashipur, Uttarakhand, Kashipur, Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, Rudrapur, Kiccha and Haldwani are the major cities surrounding Pantnagar.
The town is hom ...
in
Udham Singh Nagar district
Udham Singh Nagar is a district of Uttarakhand state in northern India. Rudrapur is the district headquarter. The district consists of nine Tehsils named Bajpur, Gadarpur, Jaspur, Kashipur, Khatima, Kichha, Nanakmatta, Rudrapur, Sitarg ...
. However
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport is the primary international airport serving New Delhi, the capital of India, and the National Capital Region (NCR). The airport, spread over an area of , at
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
is the nearest international airport which is 255 km away.
Another major airport from Ramnagar is
Bareilly Airport which is located around 145 km and connected to cities like Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru.
Rail
In 1907, during the
British Raj
The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent,
*
* lasting from 1858 to 1947.
*
* It is also called Crown rule ...
the railway line in Uttarakhand was extended from Moradabad to Ramnagar.
Ramnagar railway station is under the administrative control of the Izzatnagar division of the
North Eastern Railway zone of the
Indian Railways
Indian Railways is a state-owned enterprise that is organised as a departmental undertaking of the Ministry of Railways (India), Ministry of Railways of the Government of India and operates India's national railway system. , it manages the fou ...
. The station is located about 65 km from
Nainital
Nainital (Kumaoni language, Kumaoni: ''Naintāl''; ) is a town and headquarters of Nainital district of Kumaon division, Uttarakhand, India. It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand High Court, High Court of the state being ...
. It has direct rail links to
Kashipur,
Moradabad
Moradabad () is an industrial city, commissionerate, and municipal corporation in Moradabad district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on the banks of the Ramganga river, at a distance of from the national capital, New Del ...
,
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
,
Bareilly
Bareilly () is a city in Bareilly district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is among the largest metropolises in Western Uttar Pradesh and is the centre of the Bareilly division as well as the historical region of Rohilkhand. The city ...
,
Lucknow
Lucknow () is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the largest city of the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is the administrative headquarters of the epon ...
,
Haridwar
Haridwar (; ; formerly Mayapuri) is a city and municipal corporation in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. With a population of 228,832 in 2011, it is the second-largest city in the state and the largest in the district.
The city is s ...
,
Chandigarh
Chandigarh is a city and union territory in northern India, serving as the shared capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. Situated near the foothills of the Shivalik range of Himalayas, it borders Haryana to the east and Punjab in the ...
,
Gurgaon
Gurgaon (), officially named Gurugram (), is a satellite city of Delhi and administrative headquarters of Gurgaon district, located in the northern Indian state of Haryana. It is situated near the Delhi–Haryana border, about southwest ...
,
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
,
Agra
Agra ( ) is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about south-east of the national capital Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the ...
,
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer , nicknamed ''The Golden city'', is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, located west of the state capital Jaipur, in the heart of the Thar Desert. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Jaisalmer district ...
and
Varanasi
Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.*
*
*
* The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...
. Code of Ramnagar railway station is RMR.
Road
Ramnagar bus station is located near to the Railway station. There are regular buses from Ramnagar to
Nainital
Nainital (Kumaoni language, Kumaoni: ''Naintāl''; ) is a town and headquarters of Nainital district of Kumaon division, Uttarakhand, India. It is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand High Court, High Court of the state being ...
,
Ranikhet,
Haldwani
Haldwani (Kumaoni language, Kumaoni: ''Haldvānī'') is the largest city of Kumaon division, Kumaon. It is also the second List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Haldwani is said to be ...
,
Tanakpur,
Haridwar
Haridwar (; ; formerly Mayapuri) is a city and municipal corporation in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. With a population of 228,832 in 2011, it is the second-largest city in the state and the largest in the district.
The city is s ...
,
Dehradun
Dehradun (), also known as Dehra Doon, is the winter capital and the List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Dehradun district, d ...
,
Kashipur,
Moradabad
Moradabad () is an industrial city, commissionerate, and municipal corporation in Moradabad district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on the banks of the Ramganga river, at a distance of from the national capital, New Del ...
,
Meerut
Meerut (, ISO 15919, ISO: ''Mēraṭh'') is a city in the western region of the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Located in the Meerut district, it is northeast of the national capital, New Delhi, and is ...
and
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
. Bus services are also available to
Jaipur
Jaipur (; , ) is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the List of cities and towns in Rajasthan, largest city of the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had ...
.
National Highway 121 which starts from
Kashipur and ends at Bubakhal,
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...
passes through Ramnagar.
References
External links
Official website of Nainital districtJim Corbett National Park official website for online booking and more* https://www.bing.com/search?q=census+2011&cvid=b74c855d7a5f419ca9a6a79458dc69c5&FORM=ANAB01&PC=U531
{{Uttarakhand
Cities and towns in Nainital district
Tourism in Uttarakhand