All About Nainital
Nainital is a popular hill station located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand Situated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, Nainital is nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is approximately 335 kilometers northeast of Delhi, the capital city of India. Nainital is renowned for its picturesque beauty, with its scenic landscapes, lush greenery, and the beautiful Naini Lake, after which the town is named. The lake is surrounded by hills, making it a popular tourist attraction.
Speciality Of Nainital :
A popular hill station in India, Nainital has several unique features and specialties that make it a popular travel destination. Some of Nainital’s signature dishes are listed below.
1. Comfortable climatic conditions:
Climate: Nainital enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year, with summers being mild and winters moderately cold. The monsoon season (July to September) brings moderate to heavy rainfall, enhancing the natural beauty of the region.
2. Adventure activities:
Paragliding:Enjoy paragliding in and around Nainital, especially on the Bhimtal-Jangli Gaon road and Kotabagh.
Trekking:
There are several trekking and hiking trails around Nainital. One of the most frequented treks in the area, the Naini Peak-Pangot trek, is the perfect two-day adventure for trekking enthusiasts. The trek starts at Mallital in Nainital and goes through the famous Snow View hill to reach Naini Peak (also known as Cheena Peak). The easy to moderately challenging three-day trek from Nainital to Betalghat offers magnificent views of rolling greens, dense forests and snow-capped peaks. The first stop is Binayak and then Kunjkharak. Another popular and easy route is the Nainital to Khurpa Tal Trek, a walk of around 6.7 km.
Water Sports:
The Naini Lake offers several water sports options, including kayaking, canoeing, yachting and boating. Kayaking and paddle boating are the two most popular activities here. You can also opt for a relaxing trip around the lake in a luxurious gondola. Also visit the British-era Nainital Boat House Club, sitting pretty at the edge of the water, for exclusive views of the lake, great food and its heritage ambience. The Nainital Yacht Club located at the Boat Club organises several annual boating events at the lake.
Hot Air Ballon:
Hot-air ballooning is another adventure attraction in Nainital. Hot-air ballooning camps are setup in and around Nainital, mainly at Sukhatal. Ride a colourful balloon as it takes you up above the hills and valleys.
3.How to reach:
By Road
If you are starting fromNew Delhi,the 300 kms road route has to be covered by a Bus. You can take a bus from Delhi kashmiri Gate ISBT and cover this journey in 7 hours approx.
By Train
You can reach Kathgodam Railway Station by train and it is 23 km away from Nainital. Any Major city of India has trains to Kathgodam railway station.
By Flight
Pantnagar Airport is the nearest airport to Nainital. After that 70 kms distance has to be traveled by road through a bus or cab. People can also reach Delhi IGI Airport and travel another 300 kms by road.
Places to visit in Nainital:
A popular hill station in India, Nainital has several unique features and specialties that make it a popular travel destination. Some of Nainital signature dishes are listed below.
Mall Road
Built by the Britishers to connect the two ends of Nainital city, Mallital and Tallital, the iconic Mall Road is a must on most tourist's to-do list in Nainital. Running along the lake, the busy road, which is officially called Govind Ballabh Pant Marg, is a hub of multi-cuisine restaurants and shops selling knick-knacks.
Naini Lake
The beautiful, crescent-shaped Naini Lake is at the heart of Nainital. The most popular attraction in the town, the shimmering lake is surrounded by seven panoramic hills, snowy peaks, and rows of willows. An all-year round destination, the lake is well-known for boating, yachting and other water sports, and colourful boats dot the water along with quacking ducks.
Kainchi Dham
On the Nainital to Almora Road, 9 km from Bhowali and 17 km from Nainital is the popular pilgrimage centre Kainchi Dham, a Hanuman Temple and ashram founded by the sage Neem Karoli Baba, in 1962. It is located between two hills that cut and cross each other to create the shape of a pair of scissors (scissors in Hindi is kainchi). The place gained more recognition owing to a visit by Apple founder Steve Jobs, and the founder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg. There is a cave near the Kainchi temple, which is said to be the place where Baba Neem Karoli used to meditate and pray.
Kilbury
The quiet Kilbury hamlet is the ideal place for a serene holiday. Located just 12 km from Nainital town, you can come here for walks around forests and for breathtaking views of the Himalayas. It is famous for its flora and fauna and bird watching. The Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary here is home to around 600 species of birds.
Khur Patal
Sitting at 1,635 m above sea level, the emerald blue-green lake of Khurpatal is just 12 km away from Nainital. Surrounded by pine forests, it's a serene picnic spot.
Sariyatal
At a distance of 5 km from Nainital, Sariyatal is an almost heart-shaped lake located on Kaladungi Road in Nainital district. It is fed by a mountain stream and sits amidst a lush green landscape. The Himalayan Botanical Garden is also located here.
Naukuchiatal
Situated at a distance of just 25 km from Nainital, the crystal-clear Naukuchiatal lake with its nine corners is a captivating sight. Enjoy angling and bird watching, and also rowing, paddling and yachting.
Tiffin Top
A popular picnic spot in Nainital, Tiffin Top (also known as Dorothy's Seat) is located on Ayarpatta hill, and offers a panoramic view of the Nainital town and surrounding hills. A delight for photographers, many tourists also like to trek up to the place, which is just 4 km away from the town.
Snow View Point
One of the most beautiful spots in Nainital, the Snow View Point, located at 2,270 m above the sea level, offers stunning views of the snow-covered mountain peaks of the Great Himalayas. A large pair of binoculars is installed here to let visitors take a closer look at the peaks. Spend an hour or so to enjoy the views, as children can play in the amusement park. There are food and tea stalls here as well.
