Nainital City Travel Guide - Uttranchal

General Information Of Nainital

• Area 11.73 sq. km
• Population 29,837
• Altitude 1938 metres above sea level
• Languages Hindi, Kumaoni, English
• STD Code 05942
• Best time to visit Between March and June and mid-September to October

Introduction to city Nainital - In Uttranchal

Set around a tal or lake, this small town with cottage-like houses and steep mountains covered with green forests is one of the most sought-after summer destinations of India. This charming hill station of Uttaranchal (former Uttar Pradesh), situated at an altitude of 1,938 metres, has many villas, bungalows, and a number of other sites of tourist importance.
Many legends are associated with how the town came to be called Nainital. It is said that the name of the place has been derived from the Naini Lake that lies just in the middle of the town. Legend also has it that after Sati, Lord Shiva’s consort, committed suicide at the yajna of Daksha Prajapati, Lord Shiva roamed across the universe carrying her dead body. During that period, Sati’s eye fell near the lake, where the Naina Devi temple now stands. The waters of the lake are therefore considered sacred and the Naina Devi temple is the venue of an annual autumn fair.
However, legends apart, it was in 1841 when an Englishman named Barron chanced upon the lake. Fascinated by the scenic beauty of the lake and thickly forested hills, he constructed a house here. By 1858, Nainital became a well-known hill station, and within a few years it became the summer seat of the provincial government.
The climate of Nainital is cool and pleasant. The best season to visit this place is during summer between March and June. However, the monsoon season that lasts from June to late August is best avoided.

Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination - Nainital

The hill station of Nainital offers a wonderful retreat from the hectic life of towns and cities. The high-rising Himalayas, the tree-covered hillsides, beautiful walks and enchanting lakes mesmerize all those who visit this place. Though overcrowded in summer, exploring the resort in off-season can also prove to be an interesting experience. Some of the interesting spots that one can visit here are Snow View, Naini Peak, Dorothy’s seat, Land’s end, Hanuman Garhi, State Observatory and the Mall.

Excursions : Places nearby city - Nainital

Moving around Nainital can prove to be an equally interesting experience. One gets to see the region’s finest flora and fauna besides getting a closer view of some of the highest peaks of the enchanting Himalayas. A major attraction around Nainital is the Corbett National Park, one of the finest national parks in the country. Besides Corbett, one can visit Mukteshwar, Sat Tal, Almora, Ranikhet, Kasauni, Ramnagar and Naukuchiya Tal.

Almora

Nestled in the Kumaon hills, the hill station of Almora has fascinated travellers from far and wide. It is one of the very few hill stations not developed by the English. Geographically, Almora is bound by the district of Pithoragarh in the east, the district of Garhwal in the west, the district of Bageshwarin in the north and in the south by Nainital district. Almora is placed over a picturesque horseshoe-shaped ridge of a mountain. Some of the major attractions here are G. B. Pant Museum, Chitai Temple, Kasar Devi Temple and Udyotchandesvar Temple (also Nanda Devi Temple).

Corbett National Park

Set up in 1936, the Corbett National Park is India\’s first and the finest national park. Situated in the foothills of the western Himalayas in the districts of Nainital and Pauri Garhwal, the park spans across some 920.9 square kilometres at an altitude of 600 to 1,100 metres. Today the park has grown considerably in size and now includes the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary as a part of its 1,319 sq. km of reserved forest area.

The park comprises mainly the valley of the Ramganga River. It has a varied topography which abounds with a variety of wildlife. The wildlife includes a large number of mammals, birds and reptiles. The river teems with mahseer, gharial, mugger and flocks of cormorants.

The park is quite popular for its tigers. Apart from tigers (90 in number in 1984), leopards as well as jungle cats and fishing cats are also found here. The sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, dhole, jackal, yellow-throated marten, Himalayan palm civet, Indian grey mongoose, common otter, porcupine, and black-naped hare are the other attractions of this area. Elephants can be seen all over the park.

Kasauni

All mountain lovers who want to get a closer look at the Himalayas can head for Kasauni, which is situated at about 51 kilometres north of Almora. From here you can have a superb view of Trishul (7120 m), the twin peaks of Nanda Devi (7816 m), and Panchchuli or the Five Chimneys (6904 m).

Mukteshwar

Set atop a high ridge, at about 51 km from Nainital, is one of Kumaon\’s beautiful resorts, Mukteshwar. The resort is full of fruit orchards and dense coniferous forests. You can also have a fine view of the majestic Himalayas as well as of Almora from here. Mukteshwar is also home to the famous Indian Veterinary Research Institute.

Ranikhet

Situated some 103 km from Dhikala, Ranikhet, as the name suggests, is a beautiful and quiet hill station at an altitude of 2,000 metres above sea level. It has a pleasant climate with mild summers and chilled winter. This is one of the few unexplored destinations in the country where you can find a serene environment, traffic-less streets, and hospitable people.

Sat Tal

About 21 kilometres from Nainital lies Sat Tal, one of the most picturesque resorts of Kumaon. The resort has seven interconnected lakes. Accommodation facilities here are provided by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam.