Nainital Tourist Attractions

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The most popular tourist attractions of Nainital are -

# Naini Lake: This captivating lake, also called Tririshi Lake, provides facilities for boat rides and yachting.

# Naina Peak: Also known as Cheena Peak, this lofty hill offers spectacular sights of the snow-clad Himalayas and the scenic Nainital Valley.

# Snow View: Situated at height of 2270 meter above sea level, this vintage point offers mesmerizing views of the Himalayas and the Tibetan borders. You can reach here by ropeway or the ponies available at the Mallitaal.

# St. John Church: One of the oldest buildings of Nainital, this church was built in 1847 AD after the British turned Nainital into a hill resort.

# Hanuman Garh: Established by Baba Neem Kiroli, this place is perched at a height of 1951 meters, offering stunning views of sunset. There is a grand Hanuman temple at the top of Hanuman Garh.

# Astronomical Observatory: Situated near Hanuman Garh, this is one of the most modern observatories in India, aided with binoculars and telescopes. The entry in the observatory is by permission and timings of visit are fixed.

# Zoo Gardens: The small and beautiful Zoological garden at Nainital houses many animals including tigers, bears, deer, etc.

# Fairs and Festivals: In the month of September the annual festival takes place in honor of Goddess Naina Devi. The Kumaon Festival is celebrated in October and November.

# Adventure Sports: The adventure lovers can participate in the Kingfisher Yachting Competition that takes place in the Naini Lake every year in the third week of June.

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Nainital is a town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and headquarters of Nainital district in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Situated at an altitude of 1,938 metre above sea level, Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (2,615 m) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m) on the south. From the tops of the higher peaks, "magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas."

Population according to the 2001 sensus was 38,560. Pincode - 263001/263002. Telephone - +91 - 5942. Vehicle Registration - UK 04.

Nainital has temperate summers, maximum temperature 27 °C minimum temperature 10 °C, during which its population increases more than fivefold with an annual influx of tourists predominantly from the plains of Northern India. In the winter, Nainital receives snowfall between December and February with the temperatures varying between a maximum of 15 °C and a minimum of -3 °C.

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The Naina Devi Temple was destroyed by the landslip of 1880 and later rebuilt. It is located on the northern shore of Naini Lake. The presiding deity of the temple is Maa Naina Devi represented by two Netras or eyes. Flanking Naina Devi are the deities of Mata Kali and Lord Ganesha.

The church of St. John in the Wilderness was established in 1844 and is located on the north end of town (Mallital), about half a mile north-west of the Naina Devi temple. The church was so named by Daniel Wilson, the Bishop of Calcutta, who, after falling ill during a visit to Nainital in 1844 to lay the foundation of the church, was obliged to sleep in an unfinished house on the edge of the forest. A brass plaque on the altar is inscribed with names of the victims of the Landslip of 1880.

Governor’s House also known Raj Bhavan and formerly, Government House was built in 1899 and designed in the Victorian Gothic domestic style (also called "domestic Gothic") by the architect F.W. Stevens. Originally built as the summer residence of the governor of the North West Province, it later became the summer residence for the Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces. Currently, Raj Bhavan is the official guest house for the governor of Uttarakhand and for visiting state guests. The complex consists of a two-storied mansion with 113 rooms, a large garden, a swimming pool, and golf links. Obtaining prior permission is must for visiting.

Snow View is situated at an altitude of 2,270 m and located atop the Sher-ka-danda Ridge, is easily reachable by cable car. On a clear day, it offers spectacular views of the snowbound high Himalaya, including Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Nanda Kot. The best time of the year for viewing the mountains is late October and November.

Naina Peak also known as China or Cheena Peak. Naina peak is the highest peak in the town, with an altitude of 2,615 m. and at a walking distance of 6 km from the north end of the town (Mallital). From atop the peak, one can not only see a broad swath of the snow clad high Himalaya, but also obtain a panoramic view of Nainital town itself. The summit is an invigorating hike from Nainital town; in addition, for the less energetic visitors, ponies can be hired in Mallital or on Snow View.

Tiffin Top also known as Dorothy's Seat. This terraced hill top (2,292 m) on Ayarpatta hill is a 4 km hike from the town centre and commands a nice view of the neighbouring country side. Dorothy's Seat is a stonework picnic perch on Tiffin Top built as a memorial to an English artist, Dorothy Kellet, by her husband and admirers after her death in a plane crash.

The High Court of Uttarakhand formerly known as The Old Secretariat.

Gurney House is the former residence, of Jim Corbett, is located on Ayarpatta Hill. The house is now a museum of Corbett memorabilia. The surrounding hillside is rich with deodar, oak, pine and rhododendron.

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The Jim Corbett National Park (India's oldest national park) is 63 km from Nainital, contains a wide variety of wildlife including elephant, tiger, chital, Sambar Deer, nilgai, gharial, King Cobra, muntjac, wild boar, hedgehog, common musk shrew (White-toothed shrew), flying fox (pteropus, megabat), Indian Pangolin, and nearly 600 species of birds.

Mukteshwar (2,286 m) is a picturesque town 52 km north-east of Nainital, is home to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. It also offers an unhindered view of the high mountains of the western Himalaya, including Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Nanda Kot.

Bhimtal Lake is named after the second Pandava brother Bhima in the Mahabharata who was known for his prodigious strength. The lake, which is larger than Naini Lake, is approximately 22 km from Nainital at an altitude of 1,370 m. There is an island in the lake with a popular restaurant on it. There is also a 17th century temple complex, the Bhimeshwar, alongside a 12 m high dam at one end of the lake.

Sattal, literally Seven Lakes, is at a distance of about 23 km from Nainital in the Lower Himalayan Range at an altitude of 1,370 m. It is a cluster of small interconnected lakes in the midst of an old oak forest. On approaching Sattal, the first lake encountered is the Nal-Damyanti Lake; next it is the Panna or Garude lake; and finally there is a cluster of three lakes: Ram, Laxman, and Sita lakes.

Khurpa Tal, literally Trowel Lake, is an attractive lake about 10 km by road (or a 5 km hike) from Nainital at an altitude of 1,635 m. It is popular with anglers and is surrounded by terraced fields (or farms), from which it presumably gets its name.

Naukuchia Tal, literally, Nine-Cornered Lake, is 26 km from Nainital and 4 km from Bhimtal at an altitude of 1,220 m . The lake is almost 1 km long, 0.5 km wide and approximately 40 m deep. It is the deepest of the lakes in the greater Nainital area. According to legend, if one takes in all nine corners in one glimpse, one can disappear in a cloud of smoke.

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Railways

Kathgodam 35 km away is the last terminus of broad gauge line of North East Railways connecting Nainital with Delhi, Dehradun & Howarah.

Ranikhet express departs from Old Delhi railway station at 10:45 pm daily, it reaches Kathgodam at 6:05 am. Extra coaches for Ramnagar are attached with this train, arriving Ramnagar at 5:00 am. Uttaranchal Sampark Kranti Express is also running between Kathgodam & Delhi, it start from Kathgodam at 8:50 am in the morning and reaches Delhi at 3:20 pm and on the same day return from Delhi at 4:00 pm and reaches Kathgodam at 10:45 pm.

Bagh Express connects Kathgodam directly to Howarah via Lucknow. Lalkua Junction 56 km from Nainital is another terminal point of meter gauge line of North East Railways. Nainital Express connects Lalkua with Lucknow while Kumaun Express connects Lalkua with Mathura via Bareilly. Ramnagar 65 km away acts as an alternative outlet for Delhi & Lucknow.

Train No. 4319 / 4320 runs daily in between Kathgodam and Dehradun via Moradabad.

A new weekly train Garib Rath introduced between Kathgodam and Jammu Tawi. This train runs from Kathgodam on Tuesday & from Jammu Tawi on Sunday.

Tourist coming by rail mode can take Taxi or Buses from Kathgodam or Haldwani. Taxis are available on shared seat basis at Haldwani Taxi stand & as well as at Kathgodam, Haldwani & Lalkua railway stations. While most of the buses starts from Haldwani roadways bus stand.

Computerized railway reservation counter is situated near Bus Stand at Nainital. This facility is also available at Kathgodam, Haldwani & Lalkua railway stations.

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Nainital is connected by NH 87. Regular roadways buses run from Delhi, Agra, Dehradun, Haridwar, Lucknow, Kanpur & Bareilly daily. Beside this luxury coaches are available from Delhi for this place.

Distances (in km) of some nearby cities from Nainital are as follows.


Almora - 64
Pithoragarh - 186
Ranikhet - 62
Champawat - 160
Kausani - 117
Kathgodam - 34
Haldwani - 40
Lalkua - 60
Ramnagar - 65
Bareilly - 140
Lucknow - 400
Agra - 403
Delhi - 310
Dehradun - 300
Haridwar - 245
Badrinath - 334

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Pantnagar, 70 km from Nainital, is the nearest air port.