Nainital

Nainital in Uttarakhand is one of the most popular hill stations of India. It is famous for its lake, after which it is named. The town has a population of 41,400 (2011 est.)

Understand
Set amidst the towering peaks of the Kumaon Hills, the lake resort of Nainital has a lot to offer. From boating to feeding animals at the zoo; from picnicking on the hills to exploring Jim Corbett's home, Nainital has all that you could hope for in a hill station.

Nainital is set in two parts, Tallital and Mallital, with the lake separating them. Tallital is the southern side of the lake, while Mallital consists of the northern upper reaches. The town was destroyed during the Landslip of 1880, and later rebuilt by the British. It is renowned for its lake, bird's-eye views, and prestigious educational institutions.

Nainital, also known as Lake District of Uttarakhand, is named after the goddess Naina Devi. It is located around Naini Lake in Uttarakhand. If you are planning to feel tourism of Nainital, the best time to visit there in between May to July, the summer time in India.

The weather in Nainital is quite pleasant. Summers are hot and temperatures may reach 32 °C. During winter, temperatures may be sub-zero. The town receives snowfall during December and January.
 * Nainital District website

By train
The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, 35 km away. Taxis charge ₹750-1000 to Nainital, you can also board taxis on sharing basis which would cost ₹150-200 per person. Most hotels will arrange for a pick up on prior request, ₹1000.

You can also walk out of Kathgodam station, the bus station is 100 m away, take a bus to Nainital, its only ₹60 per person.

Here are some useful trains to get to Nainital:

Also see Rail travel in India

By road

 * There are daily bus services from Delhi. The buses leave from ISBT Anand Vihar in Delhi and are run by Uttarakhand Roadways.
 * Driving to Nainital takes 7 to 8 hours from Delhi. The entire drive is on various highways. NH 24 connects Delhi to Rampur via Hapur. At Rampur, turn and head north on NH 87 all the way up to Nainital. En route halts include the Wonderland, Rwy crossing, Moradabad and The Cottage, Jeliokot.

Taxis don't work on a sharing basis and the whole taxi fare from Delhi to Nainital may cost ₹1500-2200.

By plane
Flying into Nainital is the fastest way to reach the hill station. Nainital is served by PantNagar Airport, located about 2 hours away. It is one of the least busy airports in the country, handling only 6 scheduled flights a week.

Pantnagar is another airport located 70 km away from Nainital. Delhi is nearest international airport which is 280 km and well connected to major cities in India as well as abroad.

Get around

 * Nainital is nicely connected with the different towns around the city with buses frequently running.
 * There are a few cycle rickshaws in town. Rates are fixed at ₹20 from one end of the mall to the other. They can only pick and drop passengers at the ticket booths of either end.
 * However, there is no better way to explore Nainital than on foot. The mall has smooth pavements, making it extremely pedestrian-friendly. During the summer season, entry is denied on the mall from 6 to 9PM, making the road a pedestrian's dream. The town is fairly small and there are some very interesting shops and emporiums in the mall, making the walk a pleasure.
 * The months of March, April, May and June starting are best to see the lake’s flora in full bloom and also the perfect time to enjoy a boat ride. Months of November and December are also popular with tourists who want to enjoy fresh snowfall and chilly weather.

See

 * Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, One and only Gurdwara Sahib situated at the heart of Nainital.



Do

 * Boating in Naini Lake is a must. Paddle boats can be hired by the hour. You can also hire a yacht from the Nainital Boat Club. Boating charges:
 * ₹160 for half round for row boat
 * ₹210 for full round for Rrw boat
 * ₹210 per hour for paddle boat, comes with a boatman, you can also have a self-paddle boat.


 * Feed the animals at the Nainital Zoo (Gobind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo), where you will find high-altitude species that are native to the region. Zoo entry fee: ₹30 and ₹10 for children ₹25 extra for a camera, closed on Mondays. The zoo also has an interesting sponsorship programme where you can sponsor the maintenance and food of the animal of your choice. The zoo is spread over a wide area and requires lot of walking, so visit only if you are comfortable with that.
 * Shopping - There are two main shopping areas, The Mall and Barra Bazaar. Traditional things to buy include shawls, scarves, cardigans and local jams. You can also buy wooden handicrafts which are good and cheap option for souvenirs.
 * Trek to Naina/China Peak, the highest point in the region . You can get scenic views of the whole region. Hiking there takes around 60 min and is not so strenuous. From September to November, you will be able to see a panoramic view of snow capped Himalayas further north. On the top of the mountain you can find a small tea shop serving bread omelet, some biscuits, tea and coffee for a reasonable price. Not many people go there making it a good option to escape from the buzz.
 * Trek to Tiffin's Top. It's a slightly touristy place where you can feel the rush. You can get on a horse to go to the top (₹300-₹1000). The Horse ride is an extremely nice experience, but ensure that ladies travel in front of the male members of the party. Its not so tough to hike there. On the top of this hill, one can find all kinds of shops, flocking with people.
 * Trek to Tiffin's Top. It's a slightly touristy place where you can feel the rush. You can get on a horse to go to the top (₹300-₹1000). The Horse ride is an extremely nice experience, but ensure that ladies travel in front of the male members of the party. Its not so tough to hike there. On the top of this hill, one can find all kinds of shops, flocking with people.

Learn
Nainital has a few good universities that offer short courses. Rock-climbing courses are another option.


 * 5-Day Youth Camp at Van Niwas, Bara Patthar. Apr-Jun, May-Sep. The camp activities include a basic rock-climbing course, Yoga and meditation in the mornings, trekking around Nainital, star-gazing and various cultural programs. The camp is educational, interesting and reasonably priced. However, the food is vegetarian and no alcohol is allowed. ₹2200, only ₹400 is non-refundable. To apply, contact The Convenor - Camps, Sri Aurobindo Ashram - Delhi Branch, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi - 110016. For more information regarding the accommodation and activities, call 235737, the Van Niwas phone number in Nainital. If you pay by cheque, it should be payable to Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch Trust.
 * Kumaon University is headquartered in Nainital, with a smaller branch in Almora. It offers numerous temporary courses.
 * Vipassana Meditation Course by Dr. Ravindra Deo. Aug 4-20. The courses are held in Hindi and English. There is no fixed centre, venues change every day, and the lessons are usually out in the open. The course focuses on relaxing the mind, body and soul through introspection and interaction with the outside environment. Contact Dr. Ravindra Reo at B.D. Pande Hospital, Tel: 2012/22.

Buy
Shopping in Nainital is awesome and it is truly enlightening experience to do so. Nainital is very famous for handicraft products such as handmade candles, ornamental pieces and Kumauni woolens for its excellent quality and warmness. Visitors come across range of choices with colorful cardigans, caps, sweaters and shawls available in different design.

Visitors can bring back different kinds of fruits such as blueberries, peaches, mulberries, strawberries, apples and fresh cherries. Nainital is also famous for its eco-friendly candlesticks for home decor.

Eat
Nainital, being close to Delhi, becomes the natural holiday destination for a lot of the capital's folks in the sweltering summer months. The eateries in Nainital reflect that with Punjabi staples being standard fare - most of the better eateries are in the Mall.



Drink
Nightlife in Nainital almost doesn't exist. Simply basking and dancing in front of bonfire is extremely enjoyable. There are hardly any pubs or bars in Mall and alcohol is served only in 5 star hotels which possess decent bars.


 * Tea is served in the dhabas of The Mall. Try the local Herbal Chai.

Sleep
There are plenty of hotels in Nainital. Visitors are spoiled for choice in the top end category. Mountain Quail and Jungle Lore offer tents. There are hotels on the mall road. There are hotels that are cheaper​ but reaching there by foot is a challenge.





Splurge


There are also a number of private villas offering accommodation in and around Nainital.
 * Balarampur House Nanital. Sherwani, Mallital, near Uttrakhand High Court, Nainital. 05942 236 236
 * Fagunia Farmstay, 4 BR villa homestay near Nainital. Near Bajoon, Nainital District. +91 85952 19857
 * Balarampur House Nanital. Sherwani, Mallital, near Uttrakhand High Court, Nainital. 05942 236 236
 * Fagunia Farmstay, 4 BR villa homestay near Nainital. Near Bajoon, Nainital District. +91 85952 19857

Stay safe
While driving your car on uphill, don't hit brakes very hard as the risk of jamming them may arise. Most of the petrol pumps close by 7PM, so keep an eye on your fuel meter and get tank of your car filled in time.

Nainital is a safe place but during high season a surge of visitors keep visiting this beautiful place and some people exploit this opportunity for their own benefit. So a note of caution is given while roaming around the city.

Internet cafes

 * Cyberia, Mallital. The fastest connections in town.
 * Cyber Zone (near Bank of Baroda Mallital, Nainital). It is a good place for your internet activities (like booking flight or train tickets or whatever for that matter).
 * Flattis, The Mall. This is Nainital's most popular cyber cafe and it houses a small restaurant as well.

Phones

 * STD/ISD booths are scattered throughout the city. The fare is calculated using a digital meter.
 * MTNL phonecards are not used.
 * Cell-phone coverage is fairly good. BSNL, Airtel vodafone; and idea! Cellular are the main operators.

STD code

 * The STD code for the Nainital region is 05942. If you are calling from a cell-phone or another town in the country, dial 05942-xxxxxx(x)
 * For international calls to Nainital, the calling code is +91 5942-xxxxxx(x)

Tourist offices

 * KMVN (Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam), Oak Park House, Mallital. Tel: 36356.
 * Tourist Office, The Mall. Tel: 35337.

Banks and post office

 * SBI, Mallital. Tel: 235645, 235087.
 * SBI, Tallital. Tel: 235579.
 * Punjab National Bank, Barra Bazaar. Tel: 235714.
 * National Bank Ltd, Tallital. Tel: 235414.
 * Kurmanchal Bank, Tallital. Tel: 235440, 236037.
 * Kurmanchal Bank, Barra Bazaar. Tel: 235427.
 * Post Office, Tallital. Tel: 235704.

Stay healthy

 * G.B. Pant Hospital, Ramsay Hospital Road, Tallital. Tel: 235388.
 * Vaccine Research Institute, Patwadangar. Tel: 241129.
 * Veterinary Hospital, Haldwani. Tel: 221014, 235636.
 * Tiwari Forest Hospital, Haldwani. Tel: 234423/30.
 * Sitapur Eye Hospital, Haldwani. Tel: 220209.

Go next

 * Bareilly - It is center of the furniture manufacturing and trading in sugar, cereal and cotton. Bareilly has got high recognition when its name was added into Counter Magnets of National Capital Region.
 * Hill stations - Almora, Ranikhet, Kausani - These hill stations are situated well above 6,000 feet on semi-circular shaped mountains. It is believed that these hill stations have a very long history and have existed since the Vedic age.
 * Jim Corbett National Park - It is first national park of India and is placed at foothills of Himalayas with height ranging from 1300 feet to nearly 4000 feet. The key attraction for wild life enthusiasts and tourists is the view of Tiger with its wilderness.
 * Lakes - Bhimtal, Sattal, Kamal Tal
 * Nanakmatta - It is one of the ancient towns named after Gurdwaara Nanak Mata Sahib, which is a Sikh pilgrimage site. Nanakmatta is associated with Guru Hargobind and Guru Nanak.
 * Pilibhit - There are various religious places located in Pilibhit and most famous among them are Ardhanarishwar temple, Jaisantri Devi temple, Dargah e Shahji Miyan, Gauri Shankar temple and Jama Masjid.
 * Pangot - Tiny hamlet 15 kms from Nainital and a favorite spot for tourists looking for offbeat place near Nainital. Offers a lot of Jungle cottages and camps as accommodation. Surrounded with dense Forrest of upper reaches of Corbett, place is famous for easy spotting of wildlife and birds. With more than 200 species of birds recorded here, Pangot attracts a lot of birders.
 * Mukteshwar - Located at around 1.5 hour drive from Nainital. The place offers fruit orchids and the famous Himalayan View, Muktehwar is famous for. Lot of local shops out here for handmade stuff and organic food. Place offers a peaceful stay and lush green surrounding. Visit Mukteshwar Temple, Chauli ki Jaali, Bhimtal and more. Tourists also opt to trek to Bhalugaad waterfall, it's a 30min trek through the jungle and the famous waterfall with a big pond is the reward for same.