Nainital, which is endowed with picturesque natural splendour and a variety of natural resources, shines like a jewel in the Himalayan chain.
Nainital - The Paradise City
A charming Himalayan lake town, it is a picture-postcard perfect hill-station in Northern India.
Nainital, also referred to as the “Lake District”, Uttarakhand, lies tucked away in the Kumaon Himalayas at a height of about 2,048 metres above sea level.
Seven hills—Ayarpata, Deopata, Handi-Bandi, Naina, Alma, Lariya-Kanta, and Sher-Ka-Danda—that are collectively known as “Sapta-Shring” surround this lovely hamlet.
The words Naina, which means “eye” and Tal, which means “lake,” are combined to form the name Nainital.
According to mythology, the lake is believed to have been created when the goddess “Sati’s” eyes fell here when Lord Shiva was carrying her body after she died.
The centre of Nainital is the eye-shaped Naina Lake, which is bordered by Mall Road on one side and Thandi Sadak on the other, and the bus stop is directly opposite it.
Best Time to Visit Nainital
Nainital is a year-round vacation spot, but the ideal months for travel are March through May and October. It becomes a snowy paradise in winter, making it a well-liked Christmas and New Year’s destination.
How to Reach Nainital
By Air: The closest airport to Nainital is Pantnagar Airport. From here, take the road to Nainital.
By Train: Kathgodam, popularly referred to as the “Gateway to Kumaon”, is the closest railway station and is located 35 kilometers from Nainital.
From Kathgodam to Nainital, the drive by car takes about 1.15 hours. Haldwani, another significant rail hub, is roughly 50 kilometres from Nainital and can be reached by car in 1.30 hours.
You can refer my customized itinerary for planning a Trip to Uttarakhand and Exploring Nainital.
Best Places to Visit in Nainital
Eco Cave Garden
It is a collection of undeveloped natural rock caverns that have been turned into a garden. Six caves in the yard can be seen majestically, each one shaped like an animal.
Some of the well-known caverns are Panther Cave, Tiger Cave, Bat Cave, Apes Cave, and Flying Fox Cave.
You wouldn’t want to miss the pleasure of walking into the caves, which are scattered around the road along with hanging plants that contribute to their attractiveness.
All of the caves have a one-time entrance cost of Rs. 60 per adult, Rs. 25 per child, and Rs. 25 per camera. Every day of the week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., it is accessible to tourists. This area can be explored in its entirety in about two hours.
Himalaya Darshan View Point
It is a beautiful tourist spot, from here one can have a glimpse of mighty Himalayan ranges, Lush Green Valley view of the Hills and lower forested ridges.
Himalayan View Point in Nainital offers a panoramic view of the Himalayas, all the way to Nepal. There is a telescopic here and some food stalls.
Naini Lake View Point
This is the view point of Nainital Lake, from here you can see the whole lake in Mango shape or Eye shape. You can also see the Panoramic view of the Nainital city.
There are many view points in Nainital including Tiffin Top (Dorothy’s Seat), Naina Peak (also known as China Peak or Cheena Peak). They more or less offer the same views from evry point.
Bara Pathar
It is the location from which one can see the valley, Khurpatal, and the surrounding lush forest in all directions as far as the eye can see in an unhindered and spectacular manner.
It is also known as the Land’s End because it is a cliff beyond which no land continues. You can reach the Land’s End by hiking a beautiful uphill trail. To get there, one can also pay to ride a pony or a horse.
There is no charge to enter the location. Every day of the week, including public holidays, from sunrise to sunset, is open for visits.
Raj Bhawan
A symbol of Nainital’s British heritage, the Governor House is named the Raj Bhawan. It is a two-story structure with 113 rooms that British people used in the summer.
One of India’s vintage and older golf courses is the one at Raj Bhawan. Every national holiday, as well as Sundays, it remains closed. There is a Rs. 50 entry fee per person and a separate entry fee for visiting the golf course.
Snow View Point
The Snow View Point, which is only 2 km from the heart of Nainital, provides visitors with a breathtaking view of the snow-covered peaks of Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot, and Trishul.
Visitors may get a closer look at the snow-covered peaks courtesy of a massive pair of binoculars that have been put at the top of the Snow View Point.
There is no entrance fee; however, using a cable car to get there will cost you money. Except for Saturday, every day of the week from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the snow view point is open.
Hanuman Garhi
The temple was built by Neem Karoli Baba and is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, who is regarded as the personification of tenacity, loyalty, and dedication.
It is ideally situated on a hill with a beautiful view of the sunrise and sunset. The temple is free to enter every day of the week, from 5:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Naini Lake
The freshwater lake in the shape of a crescent is encircled by snowy peaks to the north, Tiffin Point to the south-west, and Naini Peak to the north-west.
The lake is so large that it has been separated into two sections: Tallital (lower) and Mallital (upper). Naini Lake is free to visit, but there is a boating fee that varies depending on the type of boat. Every day of the week, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the lake is accessible to visitors.
Naina Devi Temple
The Naina Devi Temple, a well-known Indian shrine and one of India’s 51 Shaktipeeths, is situated on the northern end of the picturesque Naini Lake. A large, ancient peepal tree that is part of the temple’s grounds is guarding it and offering pilgrims shelter.
As you approach the temple’s centre, two nayans (eyes) signifying Naina Devi are in the middle, with Mata Kali to the left and Lord Ganesha to the right. The inner shrine is protected by two lion statues that stand in for the goddess “Vaahan”.
It is open to tourists every day of the week from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. It takes about 30 minutes to cover this area completely.
Mall Road
In Nainital, the Mall Road is a metaphor for the entire city. The 1.5-kilometre-long Mall Road, which connects Mallital and Tallital, the two extremities of Nainital town, runs parallel to the lake.
You can find some of the best restaurants, hotels, and street cuisine on Mall Road. A large range of candles, woollens, wooden objects, and aromatherapy products are also available for purchase.
Nainital Zoo
The Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo is one of three high-altitude zoos in India, the other two being in Sikkim and Darjeeling.
It is home to various endangered species like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Sambar, Tibetan Wolves, Leopard Cat, Barking Deer, Japanese Macaque, and the Himalayan Bear. The zoo is also home to a variety of birds.
The zoo is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day of the week except Mondays. There is a one-time entrance fee and further fees for the camera.
Major Excursions of Nainital (Places near Nainital)
Golu Devta Temple
One of the primary attractions in Ghorakhal is the temple, which is dedicated to Golu Devta, who is thought to be an avatar of Lord Shiva.
Shyamkhet Tea Garden
Lying on the vicinity to Golu Devta temple, the Shyamkhet Tea Garden produces wide range of tea leaves including organic tea which are also exported to the world. Around 11,000 kilogram of tea is produced every year here.
Mukteshwar
This breathtaking location is all about nature’s beauty, peace, and bird chattering. Short walks can be taken by those who wish to explore more, and they will be rewarded with a 360-degree panorama of the formidable Himalayan Peaks.
The 350-year-old Mukteshwer Dham temple, which houses Lord Shiva as its resident deity, is where Mukteshwar derives its name. A wonderfully carved Shivling is surrounded by the idols of Vishnu, Brahma, Ganesh, Parvati, Hanuman, and Nandi in the Mukteshwar Temple’s minimalist architecture.
The Chauli Ki Jaali’s mesmerizing view is a thing of beauty. The energizing view of the alluring valleys of the Kumaon region is located just on the cliff behind the Mukteshwar temple, leaving you spellbound.
Adventurers love to stroll along the lovely path that leads to the valley. The temple’s natural journey can be enjoyed.
Sattal Lake
As the names suggest, it is a mysterious interconnection of seven freshwater lakes: Nal-Damyanti Tal, Lakshman Tal, Purna Tal, Sita Tal, Sukha Tal, and Garud Tal, located in the Lower Himalayan Range close to Bhimtal.
At the Sattal Lake area, people engage in activities like boating, fishing, mountain biking, rappelling, and rock climbing. Bird watching is a popular pastime in this area.
Bhimtal Lake
One of the well-known lake cities in the Kumaon region is named Bhimtal in honour of the mighty Bhima from the Mahabharata. The big attraction at this location is a small island in the middle of the lake that is also home to a sizable aquarium.
It is one of the most desirable locations because of the clear blue lake and several temples scattered throughout the highlands.
Naukuchiatal Lake
At an elevation of 1220 metres above sea level, it literally conjures up the image of a lake with nine corners. The lake is about a kilometre long, and it is around 40 metres deep.
The lake is the deepest in the larger Nainital region. You may engage in a variety of sports, including fishing, boating, and paragliding.
This tour is collectively called as the Lake Tour.
Shopping (Where and What to Purchase)
Handmade candles, decorative wax candles, wooden sticks, products manufactured from pine seeds, home-made jams, squashes, Buransh, juice concentrates, and fruit preserves are among Nainital’s most popular products and can be found on the Mall road shops.
Bhotia Bazaar is the place where the local Kumaon females sell their hand-knit products along with other varieties. Another well-known market is the Tibetan (or Bhoti) Market, which is particularly known for its shawls, women’s clothes, and scarves.
Eating (Where and What to Eat)
On the mall road, there are quite a few vegetarian dining options. One of the choices among the several Maggie varieties, such as the unique masala Maggie, is cheese Maggie. Try the vegetable momos as well.
North Indian, Chinese, Continental, Italian, Thai, Tibetan, and the regional cuisines of Uttarakhand are just a few of the delectable cuisines available in Nainital.
Ras (a dish made with many dals), Baadi, Bhatt ki Churkani, Aloo ke Gutke (a spicy preparation of boiled potatoes), Arsa (a sweet dish), Gulgula (a sweet snack), and many other delectable dishes can be found in the local cuisine of Nainital.
Accommodation (Where to Stay)
My suggestion would be to pick a hotel bang on the mall road. This will help you to enjoy the city as much as you can. However, if you prefer to have relaxing and a peaceful stay, you can choose location far from the city centre or even can check Mukteshwar.
Below are the few recommendations from my end for hotels on the Mall Road in Nainital: –
Hotel Krishna, Mall Road (The hotel I chose for my stay and they have hotels in other locations in Uttarakhand as well)
Useful Tips for Travellers
- Please be aware that during the months of May, June, and October, heavy traffic is prohibited from entering the Mall Road between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., light cars are prohibited from entering between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., and cycle rickshaws are prohibited from entering between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
- Light woollens in the summer and heavy woollens in the winter. In the rainy season, an umbrella and raincoat are essential.
- Paragliding is enjoyable in and around Nainital, especially at Kotabagh and along the Bhimtal-Jangli Gaon road.
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