Ranikhet cantonment area where the Ranikhet club is located has a large number of beautiful British Bunglows. Due to the strict cantonment laws this property still belongs to the army though the bunglows have been leased out to civilians during the British period and their third of fourth generation is now staying in them. These buildings cannot be tampered with or their structures altered and are maintained as such. Yesterday Prof. Anil Joshi took us around various Bunglows and he has their names and history on his finger tips. What was very interesting is that most of the hotels run during the British period and later on were operated by the women. Women like Dorothy Clarke, lady Norton, Miss Tripoli and Miss Furguson were involved in the hospitality industry here and some settled in Ranikhet after independence. I think Ranikhet is a beautiful hill station and one of my favourites for it is a living history of an era gone by and still maintains that old world charm and nature is unspoiled and grows in abundance. One can see miles and miles of jungles untouched by the modern world. There are Deodar, Pine, Oak trees in abundance and the Jungles are alive with the so many sounds of the chirping of birds.
