Nainital - The Lake District

Nainital - The beautiful lake resort nestles amidst seven hills in a lush valley at an altitude of 1938 metres. In 1841, the British first discovered Nainital as a holiday resort. Today, the town has emerged as one of the most important hill resorts of India.

The department of Tourism describes Nainital as, "A gem in perfect setting where graceful willows encircle and emerald mountains lake. During the day, the city with brightly coloured tiny villas and bungalows and ponies, rickshaws and sailboats beckon the visitors to discover the town in its real beauty. And as the sun sinks behind the mountains, the hill station turns into and enchanting alluring fairy land, reflections of the row of lights dancing in the water to weave many a mysterious fantasy." Nainital is a modem hill resort of northern India (336 kms from Delhi) connected by best-aligned and maintained roads from the railhead of Kathgodam. Railway line was laid upto Kathgodam in 1882. The road passes through forests where occasionally wild animals can also be seen.

A European merchant of Shajahanpur, Mr. Barron stayed in Nainital and he disclosed the beauty of Nainital through an article in 1839 which was immediately taken notice of by the British Government. They decided to develop Nainital into a modern hill station Mr. Baron was the first man to build a house which he named 'Pilgrims cottage' after his pen name 'Pilgrim'. Nainital has also been the summer residence of the Governor of the State Government of Uttar Pradesh. "Naini" is derived from the temple of goddess Naini which was built on the bank of the lake but later got destroyed due to land slides in the year 1880, The place is mentioned in Skand Puran as 'Trishul Sarover'. Tri Rishi (three sages Atri, Pulastiya and Pulha) had come there for pilgrimage while they were at Gagar range (now called China Peak), they felt thirsty and could not find any water. Thereafter, they thought of Man Sarover and dug a hole which at once got filled with water. The lake then formed was called Tri-Rishi Tal (The lake of three sages). Today it has an impressive lake surrounded by the hills from three sides with highest peak Cheena (2610 m) and the valley in between running from east to west. The lake is a little more than 3 kms in circumference.

Nainital remains packed from April to November with tourist for sight seeing as well as for seeking escape from the heat of the plains. Naini lake has facilities for boating and yatching. Facilities for horse riding, skating, golf and rock climbing are also available for the visitors. Fishing is also permitted with the permission of local authorities. Talli Tal and Malli Tal are the two main trading centre at Nainital.

General Information

Area: 11.73 kms. Population: 30951 (1991 census), Altitude: 1,929 ill. Tempertature : Summer 10.6° c to 26.7° c. Rainfall: Average 2794 mm.

Best season to visit: March to June and Mid-September to the end of October. Clothing: Summer - Light Woollen/Cottons, Winter: Heavy woollen. Language Spoken: Hindi, English and Kumaoni.

How to Reach

Air: Nearest airport is at Pantnagar (71 kms), connected by air service with New Delhi.

Rail: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam (35 kms). Kathgodam is connected directly by rail with Agra, Bareilly and Lucknow.

Road: Nainital is well connected with all major cities in northern India. Some of the road connections are Delhi via Hapur (316 kms), Delhi via Meerut (336 kms), Bombay (1729 kms), Calcutta (1465 kms), Madras (2690 kms), Almora (66 kms), Kausani (120 kms), Kausani via Ranikhet (138 kms), Ranikhet (59 kms). Corbett Park (128 kms), Badrinath via Almora (346 kms), Badrinath via Bhowali-Ranikhet (340 kms). Bareilly (140 kms), Haridwar (310 kms) and Dehradun (387 kms).

Taxies: Available at Kathgodam and Nainital.

Local Transport: Rickshaws, Dandies and Cycle Rickshaws are available at Nainital. Poneis are also available for joy rides and rates are negotiable.

What to See Around

Dorothy Seat: (2,292 m) (4 km). a memorial to an English lady believed to have been killed in an air crash stands here. The spot commands a partial view of the town and the nearby region.

Hanumangarhi : (1, 951 m) 3 km. A popular place for worship in the temple of lord Hanuman and its Sun-set view.

Khurpatal : (1,635 m) 5 to 10 kms. This is an angler’s paradise on Nainital-Kaladhungi-Ramnagar Road. It is here that the conifers belt merges and gives way to the Sal trees. Fishing permits ar,e available from Deputy Commissioner, Nainital.

Kilbury: (2,194 m) 10 kms. A wooded spot, ideal for a quiet and peaceful holidays, which is connected by road.

Lariakanta : (2, 481 m) 6 kms. This is the second highest peak of Nainital and commands a glorious view of the lake region.

Land's End: (2,1l8 m) 4.08 kms. One can have magnificent view of Khurpatal and the terraced fields on the hill side.

Naini Peak: (2,611 m) (Cheena Peak) 6 kms. Most favoured picnic spot of the town. One can view the distant plains and snow clad Himalayas from the peak. A bird's eye view of the lake is also obtainable from here. One can either trek or go on a horse back upto Naina Peak.

Naini Lake: The boat club overlooking the lake offers sailing facilities and also boating. Fishing is allowed with the permission of Executive Officer, Municipal Board, Nainital.

Snow-View: (2270 m). 3 km. This is the nearest easily accessible peak on Sher-ka-Danda hill connected by Ropeway. A powerful telescope is fixed here which enables one to view the Himalayan ranges.

State Observatory: (1951 m). 4.4 kms. Devoted to astronomical studies and optical tracking of artificial and earth satellites.

Nainital Ropeway : Kumaon MandaI Vikas Nigam has since installed the most sophisticated ropeway at Nainital which is the first of its kind in India. The ropeway covers a distance of 705 metres with an altitude gain of 300 metres. Carrying a maximum load of 825 kgs or 12 persons in each of its two cars, the ropeway travels at a maximum speed of 6 mts/ sec. It also has the unique adaptability to travel at a speed as low as 0.5 mts/sec. The ropeway can be operated both electronically and mechanically and in case of emergency by the cabin attendent too.

Excursion Visits

Bhimtal : (1,371 m) 22 kms away from Nainital. Bhimtal is named after Bhim, one of the five Pandavas of 'Mahabharata'. The lake at Bhim Tal is larger than Naini lake at Nainital. Boating, swimming and fishing are the main attractions. An island in the centre of the lake is an excellent spot for picnic. Fishing permits can be obtained from the fishing Inspector of Bhim Tal. Tourist Bungalow and private lodges are available here.

Jeolikot : (1,219 m) 18 kms, on Nainital-Haldwani highway. A health resort and is an excellent spot for those who are interested in floriculture and butterfly catching. The bee-keeping centres are the added attraction.

Naukuchia Tal: (1,219 m) 27 kms.This is a lake known for its nine comers. Area around the lake is an ideal place for bird watching. Fishing permits can be obtained from Fishing Inspector of Bhimtal.

Sat Tal: (1371 m) 21 kms. away from Nainital. This is a charming spot and the venue of the famous Kohinoor Camp in summer. There is an Ashram run by Dr. E. Stanley Jones of United States Missionaries, where religious, educational and social youth camps are held every year. Nearby, there are several small lakes, numbering seven, from where the name Sat Tal is derived. The lakes include Panna, Nal Damyanti and Sita. Sukha Tal is located in the middle of thick pine and oak trees. There are excellent facilities for swimming, boating and fishing. A small World Life sanctuary is another spot of tourist attraction.

Ram Garh : (1,789 m) 26 km from Nainital. Ram Garh is yet another beauty spot on Bhowali-Mukteshwar road which is famous for Himalayan fruits. Rabindra Nath Tagore stayed here and immensely liked the place, commanding the view of the Himalayas. He composed his poems 'Sandhya Geet' and 'Geetanjali' at Ramgarh. Government Fruit Processing Factory is also located here. Ram Garh had been the Headquarters of All India Bee Keepers Association for several years.

Mukteshwar : (2,286 m) 51 kms from Nainital. Another scenic beauty spot in the region where the govt. of India Veterinary Research Institute was established in 1898 and since then it is rendering valuable services to the nation in the field of veterinary medicine and research work. A short visit to this fascinating hill station is very useful. Mukteshwar offers a remarkable view of the surrounding valleys and of the mountains gradually rising upto their snow cap glory. There is also a temple at the height of 2000 m which attracts devotees during festivals.

Bhowali : (1,706 m) 15 km from Kathgodam and 11 km from Nainital. Bhowali is a small health resort with excellent climate for the patients of Tuberculosis and it has King Edward Sanitorium. It is an export centre for the Himalayan fruits i.e. Apples, Apricot, Plums, Pears and Peaches. Some of the highest peaks of the Himalayas are visible from Bhowali. Ghorakhal is 3 km away known for a temple of Lord Golla and the Sainik School.

Click here for Nainital Photo Gallery

Sponsored Links