Complete Nainital Travel Guide
Top Places & Activities
Naini Lake boating (₹150–₄₀₀/30 min): The centerpiece of Nainital — a pear-shaped lake 1.4 km long and 0.5 km wide. Rowboats, pedal boats and sailboats available for hire at the Mallital and Tallital ghats. The lake is stunningly clear in March–April.
Mall Road: The promenade along the northern shore of Naini Lake — hotels, shops, restaurants and horse rides. Mall Road is the social hub of Nainital and busiest on summer evenings. Horse rides from Mall Road to Cheena Peak (2,611m): ₹300–₅₀₀.
Snow View Point (2,270m) — cable car: A cable car (ropeway) ascends from near the lake to Snow View at 2,270m — offering Himalayan panorama views including Nanda Devi (7,816m), the highest peak in India outside Kashmir. Cable car: ₹150–₂₀₀/person round trip. Best in October–November and March–April for clear views.
Naina Devi Temple: A Shakti Peeth temple on the northern shore of Naini Lake — according to legend, the eye (naini) of Goddess Sati fell here. The temple is especially thronged during Nanda Ashtami in August–September. Entry: free.
Nainital Zoo (2,100m): A high-altitude zoo with Himalayan wildlife — snow leopard, Himalayan bear, red panda, Himalayan wolf, hill fox, sambhar deer. Entry: ₹60 adult, ₹25 child. Open: 10 am–5 pm (closed Mon).
How to Reach Nainital
| Origin | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 311 km | 6–7 hrs via Moradabad |
| Kathgodam (railhead) | 35 km | 1.5 hrs |
| Mukteshwar | 50 km | 2 hrs |
| Almora | 68 km | 2 hrs |
How to Reach Nainital
311 km from Delhi (6–7 hrs). Nearest railway: Kathgodam (35 km). Frequent Shatabdi and express trains from Delhi to Kathgodam. Taxis from Kathgodam: ₹600–₈₀₀. Private vehicles are restricted inside Nainital — park at the designated areas and walk or take a horse/e-rickshaw.
Budget, Hotels & Travel Tips
- Best time: October–November (post-monsoon, clearest Himalayan views, comfortable weather). March–April (spring, lake pristine, before summer crowd). Avoid May–June peak season — extremely crowded, hotels 3x price.
- Traffic restriction: Nainital has a vehicle quota system — private vehicles are restricted from entering the town during peak season. Arrive early morning to avoid being turned away; or park at Tallital and take a horse.
- Budget tip: Stay at Tallital (the southern end of the lake) rather than Mallital (northern end) — same access to the lake and Mall Road, significantly cheaper hotels (₹800–₁,₅₀₀/night vs ₹3,000–₆,₀₀₀ at Mallital).
FAQs
- How many days to spend in Nainital?
- 2 days is ideal for Nainital itself. Day 1: Naini Lake boating, Mall Road, Naina Devi temple. Day 2: Snow View Point cable car, Nainital Zoo, Tiffin Top (Dorothy Seat, 2,292m). With Mukteshwar, Bhimtal and Sattal nearby, a 4-day Kumaon Lakes circuit is one of the best itineraries in Uttarakhand.