Nainital Tour Highlights :

Nainital is one of the most popular hill station towns of India. Nainital is situated at an altitude of nearly 2000 meters from sea level in the Kumaon foothills of Himalayas. It is situated at a distance of 285 kms from the state capital of Dehradun. The lake town of Nainital is located in the valley formed by the Naini Lake which as the name suggests is like the shape of an eye. This beautiful lake town is also surrounded by seven hills known as ‘Sapta shring’.  Due to its magnificent views Nainital is flocked with tourists all year round. According to mythology it is believed that Lord Shiva carried Sati’s body all over the universe and when Vishnu with his Sudarshan Chakra cut Sati in 52 pieces one of her body part her Right eye fell and the spot where it fell is known as Nain Tal.

BEST TIME TO VISIT NAINITAL

The best time to visit Nainital is in summers from March to June where the temperatures are very comfortable ranging between 20 – 35 degrees Celsius as a result of which it becomes a favourite spot for the tourists to enjoy boating at Naini Lake and do the other sightseeing and adventure activities.

 Nainital in winters is from October to February where the temperature can fall as low as 0 to 3 degree C with the region receiving maximum snowfall in January making it appear as if a white blanket is all around and like a winter wonderland thus a perfect place to enjoy white Christmas and New Years.

June to September is where it receives moderate to heavy rainfall often prone to landslides which causes disruption in outdoor and other adventure activities.

PLACES TO VISIT IN NAINITAL

• NAINI LAKE: also known as Nainital Lake is a must visit place while in Nainital where one can do a wide variety of water activities like boating, kayaking, canoeing etc. One can also take in the natural beauty of the lake by visiting the NAINITAL BOAT HOUSE CLUB established by the British which is located at the edge of the lake.
• AERIAL ROPEWAY NAINITAL: A ropeway or cable car which goes on top of the hill from Malital gives a breathtaking view of Naini Lake. One you reach the top a small picnic or a short hike can be taken to further enjoy the beauty of this place.
• NAINA DEVI TEMPLE: Located at the north end of Naina Lake as the name suggests is devoted to Naina Devi or Goddess Sati wife of Lord Shiva and it’s denoted by just her two eyes. People from all over the region come to take blessing.
• NAINITAL ZOO: its one of India’s high-altitude zoos situated at 6900 ft above sea level atop Sher ka Danda Hill. Its home to Bengal Tigers, Himalayan Bear, Tibetan Wolves, Leopard Cat, Sambar, Deer’s, etc. Its also a popular place for bird watchers as they can explore and spot wide variety of birds popular in the area.
• TIFFIN TOP: Situated 4km from city centre, Tiffin top also known as Dorothy’s Seat became a popular spot to enjoy one’s lunch break hence the name Tiffin Top. One can take a short hike to reach the top or ride on horseback from Mall Road. It’s a paradise for photographers as they provide with breathtaking views of the entire Nainital town and Kumaon Region.
• ECO CAVE GARDENS: located close to Mall Road. Eco Cave Gardens is nothing but a cluster of several natural interconnected caves of various animals. One needs to hike, walk or crawl to explore the caves and so its an ideal place to visit with children.
• MALL ROAD: Located at one side of the Naina Lake it’s a famous local market to get souvenirs and other shopping items. At one end of the road you will also find the Tibetan market selling Tibetan speciality items.
• SNOW VIEW POINT: A short distance from the city centre is Snow View Point which offers mesmerizing views of the Nanda Devi peak and Trishul Peak. A perfect place to enjoy some time in nature.
• KILBURY: Home to Naina Devi Himalayan Bird Reserve, heaven for bird lovers. Tourists can enjoy sightings of wide varieties of bird species in their natural habitat.
• SAT TAL OR SEVEN LAKES: A group of 7 fresh water lakes approximately 22 kms from Nainital namely Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal, Malwatal, Harishtal and Lokhamtal. Bhimtal is the biggest lake of them and the most popular lake it is named after Bhima who visited the place during his vanvas. People can enjoy boating in the lake. Sattal is the most beautiful and least visited perfect for bird watchers as the provide with great sightings of migratory birds.
• KAINCHI DHAM: located 17kms from Nainital, this pilgrim centre was founded by the famous Maharaj Neem Karoli Baba inn1962. The serene background of mountains and trees and the regular chanting makes it a calm and positive place to be.
• BHOWALI RAMGARH TREK:  a moderate intensity trek starting from Bhowali gaon to Ramgarh and ending at Nainital. A 4-day trek amidst the lush green forests and surrounding Himalayan peaks making it a memorable experience for adventure enthusiasts.

HOW TO REACH NAINITAL

Nainital is located in the Kumaon foothills of Himalayas at a distance of 276 km from Dehradun and 314 km from New Delhi. 

BY AIR: Pantnagar airport is the nearest airport to Nainital situated at a distance of 70kms from city centre taking about 2 hrs to reach.

• The nearest international airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, about 300 kilometres from Nainital.

BY RAIL: The nearest railway station to Nainital is Kathgodam Railway station about 34 kilometres from city centre. This railway station has good connectivity of trains from Indias major railway stations like Delhi, Lucknow etc.

BY ROAD: Nainital is a perfect road trip destination for travellers as it is well connected by motorable roads with all major cities of Uttarakhand and nearby states. 

• From Delhi Nainital is about 290 kms by road and can take about 5-6 hrs to reach. 
• From Dehradun Nainital is about 290 kms by road and can take about 5-7 hrs to reach.

One can easily get busses and shared or private taxis to reach Nainital.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CARRY –

CLOTHING:

• Travelling during winters one will require to be dressed in warm yet comfortable clothing. Layering your clothes hence becomes important and practical.
• Wearing thermal tops and bottoms is a must esp. when travelling during winter months along with some woolen or thermal socks. Over the thermals one can wear layers of other clothing items to keep warm.
• A woolen cap or a beanie will keep one warm especially when winds are strong.
• A waterproof jacket, gloves and shoes are very important while undertaking outdoor activities like skiing, trekking etc.

ESSENTIAL DOCUMENTS: A government id proof such as Aadhar card, passport or driving license is required at all hotels or guest houses while you check in. additionally some permits might be required while visiting some national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

MEDICINES: If you are on any lifelong medicines definitely carry those. Along with it one can carry a few basic medicines for fever and pain relief and some basic first aid stuff like band aids, antiseptics and ointments.

MISCELLANEOUS: Other items like umbrella, raincoats, sturdy backpack to keep some skiing gears and sunscreen can be carried too.

FAQs ABOUT NAINITAL?

Q1: HOW MANY DAYS ARE IDEALLY REQUIRED TO VISIT NAINITAL?

Ans: A 3-day trip is sufficient to see all the sightseeing’s in and around Nainital. But for a more wholesome trip one can combine it with Corbett National Park or with Rishikesh and Mussoorie. Another offbeat destination which can be done along with Nainital is Ramgarh a quaint little hill station famous for its various fruit orchards like apricots, peaches and apples.

Q2: DOES NAINITAL RECEIVE SNOWFALL?

Ans: Nainital receives snowfall in last week of December and in January where the entire region is covered in white blanket of snow.

Q4: FOR ADVENTURE LOVERS WHAT ACTIVITIES CAN BE DONE?

Ans: Apart from Paragliding, rock climbing and boating, one can hike to nearby peaks or take a nature walk. There are various trek options too according to the difficulty of your choosing a popular one being Bhowali Ramgarh Trek.

TESTIMONIALS –

Says Mr Khan – I visited Nainital and Mussoorie with my family from Lucknow and it was memorable week-long vacation break for us.

Says Ms Rita – we came with a group of college friends to Nainital during a long weekend break from Delhi and the weather in March was amazing.

BOOKINGS –

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For read more: 12 Best Treks for Family