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Nainital, located in the foothills of Kumaon in Uttarakhand is one of the popular hill stations of India. Sprawled around a pear-shaped lake, Nainital is perched at an altitude of 2084mt. With its exotic scenery and serene ambiance Nainital has become an ideal destination for honeymooning couples and vacationers. This scenic hill station is divided into two parts Tallital and Mallital by Nainital Lake. Tallital is located on the southern side of the lake and Mallital on the northern side. Apart from being a honeymooning destination Nainital is endowed with rich flora and fauna making it a popular destination for nature lover and adventurer. In Nainital tourists can indulge in various adventure activities like trekking, horse riding, boating and yachting. There are many nature bound places to visit in Nainital.
Nainital Lake enclosed by the daunting hills is an emerald green colored lake of Uttarakhand. Commonly known as Naini Lake, this pear shaped lake is one the major tourist attractions of Nainital. According to Hindu Mythology it is one of the 62 Shakti Peethas where emerald green eyes of Devi Sati (naina is Sanskrit for eye) had fallen after her act of self-sacrifice. A temple called Naina Devi dedicated to Goddess Sati has been erected where the eyes are said to have fallen. The picturesque Nainital Lake provides tourists with opportunities of boating and yachting during their visit of this serene lake.
Perched at an altitude of 2610mt Naina Peak is the highest point of Nainital. Commonly known as China or Cheena Peak Naina Peak is one of the vantage viewpoints in Nainital which offer a panoramic vista of Himalayan snow capped mountains like Nanda Devi, Bandarpunch, Api and Nari along with the Tibetan Plateau. Naina Peak is located at a distance of 6km from Nainital. Sprawled with lush forest of rhododendron trees, Naina Peak is a favored trekking destination. Mountain Biking, horse riding are the famous in Naina Peak.
Established in 1844 by a bishop of Calcutta, St John in The Wilderness Church is one the oldest colonial era monument. It is located in the northern part of Nainital. Surrounded by dense forest of cypress and conifer, St John in The Wilderness Church of Nainital has a brass memorial for the victims of famous landslip. The church has a graveyard for the British who lived and died in Nainital. The old stained glasses and ancient wood pew of St John in The Wilderness Church makes it one of the favored tourist attractions of Nainital.
Perched at an altitude of 2270mt Snow view is one of the favored viewpoints of Nainital. Connected with the aerial ropeway from Mallital Snow View of Nainital is famous for offering a panoramic vista of Nainital with the backdrop of snow capped mountain range. It is located at a distance of 3km from the main town of Nainital. Visitors can either trek towards this pictorial view point or take a ride in the cable car or ropeway from Mallital. There is a quaint temple on the hill top of snow view along with few souvenir shops.
Tiffin Top also known as Dorothy Seat is a famous picnic spot of Nainital. It was built in the loving memory of the English artist named Dorothy Kellett by Col J.P. Kellett. Reckoned for offering an astounding view of Nainital flanked around the pear shaped lake, Tiffin Top is located in Ayarpatta Hill. Enclosed by alpine forest of Cher, Oak, and Deodar trees Tiffin Top is the hub of adventurer who wants to indulge in adventure activities like repelling and rock climbing in Nainital. Tiffin Top is located at a distance of 4km from Nainital and can be reached through trekking or one can opt for riding on a horse.
Eco Cave Garden is a new developed tourist attraction of Nainital. It is a cluster of six underground cave interconnected with each other. The caves of Eco Cave Garden are formed in the shapes of various animals. The hanging garden, rocky caves and musical fountain of Eco Cave Garden has made it one of the popular places to visit in Nainital. Eco Cave Garden is located at a distance of 1km from Mall Road of Nainital. The caves are lighted up by using petroleum lamp which forms a mysterious ambiance and makes the visitors feel like an explorer.
Eco Cave Garden Timings: 9:30am to 5:30pm
Entry fee of Eco Cave Garden: Rs 20 for Adults| Rs 10 for Children (Additional Rs 25 for Camera)
Established in 1984 is Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo of Nainital. Situated at an altitude of 2100mt it is commonly known as Nainital Zoo. Officially opened for visitors on 1st June 1995, Nainital Zoo is one of the three high altitude zoos of North India. It is located at a distance of 2km from Tallital Bus Stand. Home of many endangered species like Himalayan Black Bear, Royal Bengal of Tiger, Tibetan Wolf and Japanese Macaque, Pt. G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo has become a favored tourist destination in Nainital for wilderness lover. This Zoo also houses a vast collection of Himalayan avifauna.
Nainital Zoo Timings: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Entry Fee of Nainital Zoo: Rs 50 for Adult| Rs 20 for children (Extra Rs 25 for camera and Rs 200 for Professional video camera)
How to Reach Nainital: Visitors can easily traveler towards Nainital to relish its surreal beauty. Being a popular hill station in India, Nainital is well connected with major cities like Delhi, Lucknow and Howrah via state bus network. The distance between Nainital to Delhi is 300km. The closest railway station of Nainital is located in Kathgodham at a distance of 34km. This serene hill station does not have its own airport. The nearest airport is located at Pantnagar, which lies at a distance of 65 km from Nainital. So tourist might either board a flight/ train towards Pantnagar/Kathgodham or directly get on a bus towards Nainital.
Best time to visit Nainital: Nainital is a place which experiences a pleasant climate all around the year. So, it can be visited at any time of the year. But summer season (March to May) is known to be the best time to visit Nainital to escape the scorching summer heat of plain region. To catch the unhindered view of snowcapped mountains October to December is the best time to visit Nainital.
