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Nainital Hill Station, Uttarakhand

Nainital is a beautiful hill station derived its name from the Naini Lake. It is located in Nainital District of Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand, India. This hill station maintains an average elevation of 1940 meters in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. The Naini peak or the China peak is the highest in Nainital with a height of 8578 feet. Nainital is surrounded by Naina peak (8578 feet) by the north, Deopatha peak (7998 feet) by the west, and Ayarpatha peak (7473 feet) by the south.

Nainital Hill Station, Uttarakhand

(Nainital Hill Station, Uttarakhand)

Nainital is a perfect place to traveling during summers season (March to June) when temperature stay at the temperature around 26°C and the winter season is uncomfortable for tourist when the average temperature stay around 6°C but some regions of upper hill during the month December and February snow fall is very common where the temperature fall bellow 0°C. According to Indian census 2001 about 38560 people reside at Nainital. 

According to Hindu mythology, Nainital Lake was created by three sages namely Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha. Legend tells that these sages were thirsty and finding water in Nainital, as they were unable to find out water, so they dug a large hole at the location of the present day lake and filled it with water of Manasarovar in Tibet. Hindus believe that the Naini Lake is one of the 51 Shakti Pithas where Sati's eyes (Nain) fell while her dead body is being carried by Lord Shiva.

How to reach Nainital?

Travel by Airways
There have no airport in Nainital. The nearest airport to the city is at Pantnagar located about 69 km away. It is a domestic airport provides regular flights from Delhi. After reaching to this airport you have to travel with a car or by trains. 

Travel by Railways
There have no railway station in Nainital city. The nearest railway station to the city is located at Kathgodam, about 34 km away from the city hub. You will get regular train services to this station from New Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkatta. Other closer railway station to the city is located at Lalkuan, about 61 km away from Nainital Hill. 

Travel by Roadways
The best option to reach Nainital is to travel by roadways. This hill station is well connected to other major parts of north India with a well maintain hilly road network. Delhi is about 311 km away from Nainital city and it takes about eight hours to reach by bus. Many private and government bus services are available here.

Tour spots in and around Nainital

Nainital or Naini Lake is placed at the heart of the hill station. It is a eye-shaped lake attracts thousands of tourists round the year. You can hire a boat to enjoy the surrounding beauty of the lake. The northern side of the lake is known as Mallital, while the southern side is known as Tallital. There have a Bridge over the lake which connects the two banks of the lake. 

Naini Devi Temple is placed by the north bank of Nainital Lake. This temple is dedicated to Mata Naina Debi represented by two eyes. You will found some more temples like goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha around the Naina Devi Temple. It is believed that the time of Mahatandab of lord Shiva, the eyes (Naina) of the Goddess Sati are assumed to have fallen here. 

St. John in the Wilderness church was founded by Daniel Wilson in 1844. It is located at Mallital about one km away from the Naina Devi temple. Daniel Wilson, the Bishop of Calcutta, came here to establish the church. But he fell ill and had to stay in an incomplete house close to a forest. Hence, the church came to be known as the St. John in the Wilderness. The church serves as a memorial for the victims of the landslide of 1880. 

Governor’s House or Raj Bhavan was constructed in 1899 by the British Ruler. It was designed in the Victorian Gothic domestic style by the architect Stevens. It was used as the summer residence of the British Governor. Now it is the official guest house for the governor of the state Uttarakhand. The complex consists of a two-storied mansion with 113 rooms, a large garden, a swimming pool, and golf links. 

Snow View is situated at an altitude of 7448 feet and located atop the Sher-ka-danda Ridge. It is about 3 km away from Nainital and easily accessible by Rope Way. Snow View point provides you an enchanting view of Nainital and 350 km long range of the Glittering Mighty Himalayas. Charges for ropeway are Rs. 150 per adult and Rs. 75 per child. The best times to visiting here is start from late October and continue to end of November. 

Naini or China Peak is the highest in Nainital with an elevation of 8578 feet. It is located about 6.1 km away from Mallital Town. You will get not only a bird eye view on the top of the peak but you also see a broad swath of the snow clad high Himalaya and a panoramic view of Nainital town itself. 

Tiffin Top or Dorothy's Seat is a lovely place located about 4.2 km away from Nainital City center and it maintains a height of about 7521 feet above mean sea level. There has a stonework picnic perch built as a memorial to an English artist, Dorothy Kellet, by her husband and admirers after her death. 

Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo is a high altitude (6901 feet) zoo located at Sher Ka Danda hill in Nainital, Uttarakhand. This zoo was established in 1984 and opened to public in 1995. It covers an area of 4.6 hectares. It houses various animals like Kaleej Phesant, Siberian Tiger, Snow Leopard, Goat Antelope-Ghooral and Serao etc. 

There have some more interesting tour spots in and around Nainital like The Jim Corbett National Park, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal Lake, Sattal, Gurney House, Hanumangarhi, Pangot, Laria Kanta, Land's End and Sukhatal.

Hotels in Nainital

Kumaon Restaurant
Grassmere Estate, Nainital-263001
Phone: 05942-237342
Laxmi Restaurant
The Mall, Nainital-263001
Phone: 05942-37476
Panorama Restaurant
Mallital, Nainital-263001
05947-237342
Shervani Restaurant
Mallital, Nainital-263001
Phone: 05942-233800
Shivalik Restaurant
The Mall, Nainital-263001
Phone: 05942-37476
Heritage Restaurant
Mallital, Nainital-263001
Phone: 05942-237038
Machan Restaurant
The Mall Road, Nainital-263001
Phone: 05942-236672
Embassy Restaurant
Mall Road, Nainital-263001
Phone: 05942-235597

General info of Nainital Hill Station

Country India
State Uttarakhand
District Nainital District
STD Code 05942
ISD Code 00915942
Languages Hindi and Kumaoni.
Climate Minimum Temp: 2°C (January) and Maximum Temp: 37°C (June)
Best season to visit Any time (summer season (March to November) is best)
Targeted Railway Station Kathgodam Railway Station
Airport Pantnagar domestic Airport