Nainital: Ropeway, Lake and Culture

Nainital combines distinctive urban landmarks with views, markets and religious sites. In the wider Nainital destination, lakes and forest landscapes offer additional highlights in their own right. When planning your holiday, it is therefore worth distinguishing between experiences in the city and regional nature themes.

Ropeway and viewpoints

The Aerial Ropeway connects Snow View Point, at an altitude of 2,270 metres, with Nainital near The Flatts, and starts in Mallital. From Snow View, you can see the snow-capped Himalayan mountains. In the wider Nainital destination, Naina Peak, at 2,611 metres, is the city’s highest peak; from there, you can see the Himalayan range and Nainital from above. The six-kilometre path to Naina Peak also starts in Mallital. This makes it possible to plan different viewpoints: mountain views from Snow View and a view of the city from Naina Peak. These are two separate destinations, not two stops at the same viewpoint.

The Flatts, markets and places of worship

The Flatts is on the northern shore of Naini Lake. Chat Bazar and Bhotia Market are in this area; the playground there is also used for sports games and cultural activities during festivals. The Naina Devi Temple in Nainital is a revered place of worship. Nandashtami is celebrated in the wider Nainital destination, and fairs are held at the Naina Devi Temple in Nainital and in Bhowali. These places combine a market visit with religious and cultural experiences, without requiring you to plan around a specific festival date.

The Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo is also in Nainital. A zoo shuttle for trips to the zoo is available at the bus station. Check the current departure times before your visit so you can plan your outing accordingly.

Lakes and landscapes in the wider Nainital destination

Naini Lake is considered the district’s most important lake and is surrounded by hills. Sailing, boating and paddling are available there. Naukuchiatal offers additional water activities: rowing, paddling and sailing, as well as fishing and birdwatching. The lake is 983 metres long, 693 metres wide and 40.3 metres deep. These details give it a distinct regional identity alongside the activities on Naini Lake.

Sattal is a group of lakes set amid an oak forest. It includes Nal-Damyanti Lake, Panna or Garude Lake, and the lakes Ram, Laxman and Sita. Bhimtal, meanwhile, is larger than Naini Lake. An aquarium on an island in the middle of Bhimtal Lake can be reached by boat; Bhimtal is also home to a 17th-century Bhimeshwar temple complex. Those looking to compare lakes will find different points of interest here: water activities, birdwatching, forest scenery or a visit to an island.

The landscapes beyond the lakes are also varied: Kilbury lies in green forests and offers views of the Himalayas. Mukteshwar is surrounded by orchards and dense coniferous forest; an old Shiva temple stands on a rock there. These regional nature and culture themes complement Nainital’s urban landmarks, but are separate destinations within the wider area.

Science and finding the right holiday apartment

For a different kind of outing, ARIES has a science centre on its Manora Peak campus that shares astronomical knowledge with the public. ARIES also offers planetarium shows to the public and private groups. As the visitor programme may change, check the latest show information before making plans. This gives families with different interests a range of themes to enjoy together: viewpoints, markets and places of worship, nature observation or astronomy.

If you would like to focus mainly on the city’s landmarks, The Flatts and the ropeway, you can search for a holiday apartment in Nainital. For water and forest experiences, the highlights described for Naukuchiatal, Sattal, Bhimtal and Mukteshwar can help you narrow down your choice of location in the wider destination. This way, your decision starts with the holiday mix you want: city, water, culture and landscape.

Discover more destinations: Sukha, Jeolikote, Suriyagaon, Ramgarh, Gethiya, Dhikuli, Chaukhuta, Mukteshwar.

Back to the destination overview: Nainital.