Nainital Tourism & Best Places to Visit

Nainital is located in Uttarakhand State in North India and is one of the most popular travel destinations of the country. Nainital is a small and peaceful hill station situated in a Valley; it has hills on both the sides with a lake in the middle. Nainital is best known for its pretty woodlands and boating opportunities. It is a popular place for Honeymooners. It is also famous for its boarding schools that age back to the British time; it has four famous schools - St Mary's Convent, All Saints, Sherwood and St Joseph.

Panoramic view of Nainital City

LOCATION:

63 km (39 mi) east of Corbett National Park, 277 km (172 mi) northeast of Delhi.

CLIMATE:

Nainital has beautiful weather all year round, with pleasant summers and snow covered winters. In the winters Nainital is covered with a white sheet of snow which will mesmerize you. Nainital has a moderate climate even in summers.  Winter is very chilly with an average temperature of 10° Celsius minimum temperature can dip below 0°. Therefore, Nainital is good place to visit all year around.

ATTRACTIONS OF NAINITAL:

Naini Lake:

Naini Lake

The Naini Lake is the main attraction for the tourists. The lake is in the shape of an 'Eye' or 'Nain' and that's where Nainital got its name from. You will see several colorful boats in the lake, with tourists singing and eating. Boats are easily available for rent; you can either rent a kayak or a paddle boat or enjoy the beautiful views of the hills on both the sides. The lake looks very nice at night when the lights fall on it, adding to its beauty.

Flats:

The Flats Nainital

The northern end of the town is built around flats, a large open field created by a landslide in the late 19th century. This area has an air of perpetual carnival, with magicians and acrobats performing while tourists munch away on snacks purchased from the many vendors by the lake. You can sit and watch cricket, basketball and various other games played by various schools and by the locals. You can even enjoy a Hindi movie at the old Capital Cinema Hall on the Flats.

Naina Temple:

Naina Devi Temple

Elusive to the eye but unavoidable to the ear is the busy Sri Ma Naina Temple on the Flats. Open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, this lakeside shrine is dedicated to many gods and goddesses, with Naina Devi as its focus. You can watch devotees making offerings to the large black lord Shiva lingam by the lake.

Mall Road:

Mall Road, Nainital

This road has the lake on one side and hotels, shops and restaurants on the other. You will love to spend hours on this road shopping, eating and at the same time enjoying the beautiful views of the lake. This is a good place for shopping consisting of both modern and traditional merchandise. It also has a variety of restaurants, cafes and pastry shops. You can get some of the best bargains on this road.

China Peak or Naini Peak:

Nainital from Naina Peak

A famous place to visit in Nainital is China peak, also known as the Naini peak. It is the highest peak in Nainital, at 2,611 meters (8,566 feet) and it is from here that you will be able to enjoy the fabulous views of the Himalayas. This peak can be reached on foot, rent a horse or by a Gondola ride.

Hanuman Garhi:

Hanuman Garhi, Nainital

This is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman; devotees believe that visiting and making offerings at this temple can lead to fulfillment of wishes and desires. This temple is situated about 2 Km (appx 1 mi) before the town of Nainital.

HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS:

Manu Maharani Hotel

Nainital consists of both expensive as well as economical hotels. The best way to enjoy your trip is by staying on the Mall Road facing the lake. Nainital also has a variety of restaurants serving Indian, continental, Chinese and several other cuisines. However, some of the good places to stay and eat are - Manu Maharani, Ritz, Ahar Vihar, Classic, Hotel Alka, Grand Hotel, Claridges Naini Retreat, and Mountain Quail Camp.

Tip of the Day

Try not to wear conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry to avoid being a target of crime. Do not carry excessive amounts of money or unnecessary credit cards. Try to search on the internet about what other people have experienced recently for the places you are visiting.