Nainital Between Lakes, Mountains and Culture

Surrounded by hills, Naini Lake, views of the Himalayan range and religious sites give Nainital a multifaceted character. You can plan your stay around water activities, a trail to the summit or cultural discoveries. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore worth considering which of these aspects of the destination interests you most.

Lakes with a range of activities

Naini Lake is the most important lake in the district. There are opportunities for sailing, boating and paddling. Naukuchiatal also offers a range of water activities: rowing, paddling and sailing. The lake is 983 metres long, 693 metres wide and 40.3 metres deep. There are also opportunities for fishing and birdwatching.

Sattal is a group of lakes nestled in an oak forest. It includes Nal-Damyanti Lake, Panna or Garude Lake, and the lakes Ram, Laxman and Sita. Bhimtal Lake, which is larger than Naini Lake, has an aquarium on an island that can be reached by boat. The lakeside destinations described here differ not only in their scenery, but also in the interests they cater to: water sports, nature watching or a visit to the aquarium.

Mountain views and trails around Nainital

At 2,611 metres, Naina Peak is the highest peak in the city. From there, you can enjoy views of the Himalayan range and a bird’s-eye view of Nainital. The six-kilometre trail to the summit starts in Mallital. If you would like to experience Naina Peak differently, you can hire ponies or horses from Snow View or Barapathhar; horse rides are also available at Barapathhar.

Snow View offers views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains. It can be reached by cable car and via a motorable road. The cable car starts in Mallital and connects Nainital with Snow View Point near the Flats. When planning your holiday, you can therefore distinguish between a summit visit involving a trail and other mountain views at Snow View, without this implying a specific route.

Culture, science and discoveries

The 17th-century Bhimeshwar temple complex is located in Bhimtal. In Mukteshwar, an ancient Shiva temple stands on a rock; the area is also surrounded by orchards and dense coniferous forest. Ghorakhal is known for its temple dedicated to the god Golu, who is worshipped by the mountain communities. Kaichi Dham is a modern pilgrimage centre associated with the ashram of Neem Karoli Maharaj. Hanuman Garhi is a religious centre known for its sunset views.

Science and nature watching are also among the possible interests: ARIES offers planetarium shows to the general public and private groups. At the campus on Manora Peak, a science centre provides the general public with information about astronomy. The Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo is home to monkeys, Himalayan black bears, leopards and Siberian tigers, among other animals. A shuttle runs from Nainital bus station for visits to the zoo.

The Nandashtami festival is celebrated in the district; fairs are held at Naina Devi Temple in Nainital and in Bhowali. Naina Devi Temple is situated at the northern end of Naini Lake and attracts worshippers and tourists. Other historical and religious attractions include Raj Bhavan, built by the British as the residence of the Governor of the North West Province.

Choose the focus that suits your trip

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Nainital, you can use the experiences described here to help decide what to focus on during your holiday: water activities and lakes, mountain views and the trail to Naina Peak, or temples and culture. Those who enjoy combining different interests will also find options for a variety of day trips—from birdwatching to planetarium shows. In May and June, Mall Road is closed to vehicle traffic in the evenings, allowing people to take walks there.

Nainital offers, among other things, handmade candles, homemade jams, squash drinks, juice concentrates and fruit preserves. Places to shop include Bara Bazaar, Mall Road, Bhotia Bazaar and Mallital. Discover more places: Ramnagar, Nainital, Mukhani, Bail Parao, Harigarh Dalipsingh, Harinagar Chanddeva, Mukteshwar, Sukha, Dhikuli, Kotabagh, Dogadda Range, Chaukhuta, Gethiya, Jeolikote, Gair Banelia, Bhowali Range, Bohragaon, Bhujiyaghat, Naukluchiatal, Suriyagaon, Pangoot and Ramgarh.

For the broader travel overview: Uttarakhand.