Our guides to places near Nainital
Kainchi Dham
Neem Karoli Baba's ashram on the Shipra river
Ranikhet
The 'queen's meadow': a clean, green cantonment town in Kumaon
Almora
The old Chand capital on a horseshoe ridge, with sweets, temples and snow views
Bagwal Mela, Devidhura
Eight minutes of shields, flying fruit and faith in the hills of Champawat
Jageshwar Dham
A valley of ancient stone temples in deodar forest
Kausani
Gandhi's 'Switzerland of India', with a 300 km Himalayan view
Places around Nainital
Viewpoints, temples, quieter lakes and hill towns, from a few kilometres to a couple of hours away.
| Place | Distance | What it is | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snow View | ≈ 2.5 km | Hilltop viewpoint reached by ropeway | Oct - Mar for views |
| Hanuman Garhi | ≈ 3 km | Hilltop temple, known for sunsets | All year |
| Tiffin Top and Lands End | ≈ 4 km | Forest viewpoints on Ayarpatta hill | All year |
| Khurpatal | ≈ 10 km | Small lake in a farming valley | All year |
| Pangot and Kilbury | ≈ 13-15 km | Forest villages for birdwatching | Oct - Mar |
| Kainchi Dham | ≈ 18-20 km | Ashram and temple of Neem Karoli Baba | All year |
| Bhimtal | ≈ 20-22 km | Larger lake with an island | All year |
| Sattal | ≈ 23 km | Cluster of forest lakes | All year |
| Naukuchiatal | ≈ 26 km | Quiet nine-cornered lake | All year |
| Mukteshwar | ≈ 50 km | Orchard hill town with Himalayan views | All year |
| Ranikhet | ≈ 56 km | Cantonment town with pine forests | All year |
| Almora | ≈ 62 km | Old Kumaoni town and market | All year |
Distances are approximate road distances from Nainital town.
Places Near Nainital: FAQs
What are the best places near Nainital?
Snow View, Tiffin Top, Kainchi Dham and the lakes of Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal are the most popular, all within about 26 km. Pangot is good for birdwatching, and Mukteshwar for Himalayan views.
Can I visit Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal in one day?
Yes. They are 20 to 26 km from Nainital and close to each other, so one loop by taxi covers all three, with time for boating at one of them.
How far is Kainchi Dham from Nainital?
About 18 to 20 km on the road towards Almora, usually 45 minutes to an hour, much longer on busy weekends.
