Nainital is a hill station at about 2,000 m in the Kumaon region and the headquarters of Uttarakhand's Nainital district. The town wraps around Naini Lake, an eye-shaped lake about 1.4 km long at 1,938 m, with Mallital at its northern end and Tallital at the southern end, joined by the Mall Road.
It is the most visited hill station in Kumaon and the usual base for the lakes of Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal and the temple of Kainchi Dham. Weekends, long holidays, May-June and October are very busy; weekdays are much calmer.
Why go to Nainital
Naini Lake
Rowing boats, paddle boats and yachts on a lake ringed by forested hills, with the Naina Devi Temple on its northern shore.
Himalayan viewpoints
Snow View, Tiffin Top and Naina Peak look out to snow peaks such as Nanda Devi and Trishul on clear days.
A lake district around it
Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Kainchi Dham and Mukteshwar are all within about one to two hours by road.
Things to do in Nainital
Boating on Naini Lake
Hire a rowing boat or paddle boat from the booths at Mallital or Tallital. Rates are fixed and posted.
All year, mornings quietestSnow View by ropeway
A short cable-car ride from Mallital to a hilltop at 2,270 m with views of the high Himalaya.
Oct - Mar for clear viewsTiffin Top and Lands End
Two neighbouring viewpoints on Ayarpatta hill, reached on foot or by pony through oak and deodar forest.
All yearNaina Devi Temple
The town's main temple, on the lake shore at Mallital, from which Nainital takes its name.
All yearDistances from Nainital
Before you go
- Weekends, long holidays, May-June and October bring heavy traffic. On the busiest days police stop tourist vehicles without a hotel booking at Rusi Bypass or Narayan Nagar and run shuttles into town.
- Coaches and tempo travellers are not allowed into town. If you drive, carry your hotel booking and confirm parking with the hotel.
- Vehicles pay a toll at the town entry. Parking on Mall Road is not allowed; use the lots at The Flats in Mallital or near Tallital.
- In season, Mall Road is closed to vehicles in the evening so people can walk.
- Snow is not guaranteed in winter. Check forecasts before planning a snow trip.
- In the monsoon (July to September), landslides can block the roads up from Kathgodam and Kaladhungi.
More about Nainital
History
Legend links the lake to the goddess Sati, whose eyes (naina) are said to have fallen here, and the Naina Devi Temple on the northern shore is counted among the Shakti Peethas. The British developed Nainital as a hill station from the 1840s, and it later became the summer seat of the government of the United Provinces. In 1880 a huge landslide at Mallital destroyed the old temple and buried part of the town; the flat ground it left is today's Flats. St John in the Wilderness, one of the town's oldest churches, dates from 1844.
Landscape
The lake sits in a bowl of forested hills. The highest is Naina Peak (also called China Peak), at about 2,615 m. Snow View (2,270 m), Tiffin Top on Ayarpatta hill (about 2,290 m) and Sher ka Danda, home of the high-altitude zoo, rise around it. Oak, deodar, pine and rhododendron cover the slopes, and on clear days, mainly from October to March, the snow peaks of the Kumaon Himalaya fill the northern horizon.
Culture
Nainital is a Kumaoni town with a long school and colonial history; the Uttarakhand High Court and the Governor's residence, Raj Bhawan, are here. Its biggest local festival is the Nanda Devi Mahotsav, usually held in September around Nanda Ashtami, when the goddess's image is carried through town with Kumaoni music and dance.
Nainital FAQs
Is Nainital worth visiting?
Yes, for an easy lake-and-hills break with plenty to do. It is very crowded on weekends and holidays, so visit midweek if you can, or stay at a nearby lake such as Bhimtal or Sattal.
How many days are enough for Nainital?
Two days cover the lake, Mall Road, Naina Devi Temple, Snow View, Tiffin Top and the zoo or Eco Cave Gardens. Add a third day for Kainchi Dham and the lakes of Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal.
Does it snow in Nainital?
In some years, mainly between late December and February, but not every winter. Higher points such as Naina Peak and Snow View get snow more often than the lakeside.
Can I take my car into Nainital?
Yes, but on busy days vehicles without a hotel booking may be stopped outside town and visitors sent in by shuttle. Coaches and tempo travellers are not allowed in. Confirm parking with your hotel before you go.
