Naini Lake and Nainital town seen from a hilltop, surrounded by forested mountains

Nainital Itinerary: 2-Day and 3-Day Trip Plans

Two days in Nainital cover the lake, Mall Road, Naina Devi Temple, the Snow View ropeway, Tiffin Top and the zoo or Eco Cave Gardens. A third day adds Kainchi Dham and the lakes of Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal. Both plans are below, day by day.

Ideal stay2-3 days
Day 1Lake, Mall Road, Naina Devi
Day 2Snow View, Tiffin Top
Day 3Kainchi Dham, lakes

Nainital in 2 days

The essentials at an easy pace.

Day 1

Naini Lake, Mall Road and Naina Devi

Arrive by noon. Take a boat out on Naini Lake, visit the Naina Devi Temple at Mallital, and walk Mall Road to Tallital. In the evening, browse the Tibetan market and Bara Bazaar and try bal mithai.

Day 2

Snow View, Tiffin Top and Lands End

Take the ropeway to Snow View early, before the queues. Then walk or ride a pony to Tiffin Top and Lands End. In the afternoon, visit the High Altitude Zoo (closed Mondays) or Eco Cave Gardens.

Nainital in 3 days

Adds Kainchi Dham and the nearby lakes.

Day 1

Lake and Mall Road

Boating, Naina Devi Temple, Mall Road and the Mallital markets.

Day 2

Viewpoints

Snow View by ropeway, Tiffin Top and Lands End, then the zoo or Eco Cave Gardens.

Day 3

Kainchi Dham, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal

Leave early for Kainchi Dham to beat the crowds, then loop through Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal for boating and forest walks. Return to Nainital by evening.

Nainital Itinerary: FAQs

Is a weekend enough for Nainital?

Yes. Two days cover the lake, Mall Road, Snow View and Tiffin Top. Travel on Friday night by train or bus, as weekend traffic on the road up is heavy.

Can I combine Nainital with Jim Corbett?

Yes. Ramnagar, the base for Jim Corbett National Park, is about 65 km away via Kaladhungi. A 4 to 5 day trip can cover Nainital, the nearby lakes and a safari at Corbett.

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