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 mountain entirely within India. 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 |
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).
A Short History of Nainital
Nainital was "discovered" for the British in 1841 by P. Barron, a sugar trader from Shahjahanpur, who was so taken with the lake that he had a boat carried up the hills to sail on it. Within a decade it had become the summer seat of the United Provinces government, and the colonial buildings you still see — Raj Bhavan (1900, modelled loosely on Buckingham Palace), St. John in the Wilderness church (1847) and the boarding schools on Ayarpatta hill — date from that era.
In September 1880 a massive landslide on the slopes above Mallital buried the Victoria Hotel and the original Naina Devi temple, killing around 150 people. The debris filled the lake's northern edge and created The Flats — today the open ground used for football, cricket and evening strolls. The temple was rebuilt on its present site soon after.
Beyond the Lake: Lesser-Known Things to Do
- Naina Peak (Cheena Peak, 2,615m): The highest point around Nainital — a 6 km walk from Mallital through oak and rhododendron forest. On clear October mornings you can see a 200 km stretch of the Himalaya, from Bandarpunch to Nanda Devi.
- Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat, 2,292m): A 4 km walk from the lake, named after an English painter whose husband built a bench here in her memory.
- ARIES Observatory, Manora Peak: The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences runs one of India's major optical telescopes. It occasionally opens for public night-sky sessions — check the institute's website before you go.
- Kainchi Dham (17 km): Neem Karoli Baba's ashram on the Almora road. It draws huge crowds, especially on the 15 June foundation day, so go early on a weekday.
- Pangot and Kilbury (15 km): Quiet forest villages that are among the best birdwatching areas in Kumaon — over 200 species, including the cheer pheasant and the Himalayan griffon.
Sample 3-Day Kumaon Lakes Itinerary
- Day 1 – Nainital: Early boat ride on Naini Lake, Naina Devi temple, ropeway to Snow View, and an evening walk along Mall Road.
- Day 2 – Peaks and forest: Walk to Naina Peak or Tiffin Top in the morning; spend the afternoon birding at Pangot or visiting Kainchi Dham.
- Day 3 – The lake circuit: Bhimtal (22 km), Naukuchiatal and Sattal, then return to Kathgodam for the evening train to Delhi.
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.