Nainital
General Information
"The city of Lakes",
Nainital is the largest hill settlement
in the Kumaon region of Himalayas is
the lake town of Nainital. A dramatic
climb of 1,300 metres over a 40 km route
from the railhead at Kathgodam takes
the visitor through winding river valleys,
alongside terraced farms, lush green
alpine forests and over mountain ridges,
right up to Nainital. Vantage points
around Nainital offer a panoramic view
of Himalayan peaks on one side and the
plains rolling down on the other. Narrow
wooded lanes through forests of oak,
pine and deodar are excellent for short
refreshing walks. The older parts of
Nainital also retain colonial vestiges,
including sprawling bungalows, public
schools, church and the British cemetery.
On reaching the head of the town where
the highway from the plains meets the
main Mall at Tallital, you get a dramatic
view of the beautiful Naini Lake nestling
in its cocoon of hills. brightly coloured
sails of yachts dot the calm waters
of the lake while crowds of holidaymakers
throng the Mall at its edge. Boating
in the lake is just one of the favourite
activities of the tourists who come
to Nainital. Others come here for trekking
in the still forested mountains that
surround the town.
Angling is or was once a favoured past
time of those who came to Nainital for
a bit of recreation and respite. Unfortunately,
the prosperity and development that
tourism has brought to Nainital is also
the bane of this hill resort. Due to
pollution and increased construction
activity, Naini Lake is shrinking in
size, there are less fish in the waters,
the Lake has lost much of its depth
because of siltation caused by erosion
of the slopes thanks to widespread deforestation.
Nevertheless, Nainital remains a popular
haunt for travellers, and a base into
the beautiful mountain sites of Kumaon,
where tiny hamlets still retain their
traditional life pattern..
Main
Sightseeing of Nainital
Naini Lake or Taal :
The mountain resort of Nainital spreads
along the sides of the mountains that
surround the deep blue waters of the
Naini Lake situated
just in the middle of the city. The
lake is fringed by the Sapta
Shring or string of seven
hills.
The Mall : The waters
of the lake reflect the changing hues
of the mountains and enhance the attractions
and the popularity of this hill station.
The lake is the centre of much of
the holiday activity in Nainital with
the Mall with its shops, stalls, pony
rides and swings stretching to one
side. The older colonial areas are
around Mallital, on the northern edge,
while Tallital is the transport centre.
Boats and yachts can be hired for
tours of the lake from the boat club
at Mallital. Near the boat club is
the Temple of Naina Devi, the presiding
deity of Nainital.
A relatively recent construction,
there steps leading down from the
temple to the lake. Around the lake
there are several colonial bungalows
that reflect the town’s British
history.
The Church of St. John
in the Wilderness, built in 1846 and
one of the earliest colonial structures,
is just beyond Mallital. The Secretariat
Building was designed in
1899 by F.W. Stephens, the architect
who also designed the grand VT and
Churchgate railways stations of Mumbai.
The Ropeway to Snow View
Point : A ropeway from the
Mall leads to the vantage point of
Snow View, at a height of 2,270 metres.
It is also possible to reach the peak
by a 2 km hike along steep mountain
trails or hire a pony from the Mall.
At the top there is a viewing area
offering a vista of Himalayan peaks.
You can amble along the promenade
and sit back to enjoy the view at
the cafes on the summit. A further
6 kms up and you reach the
Naina Peak at 2,611 metres.
On the fringes of Nainital and around
town are some interesting tourist
spots which can be covered by short
walks. Dorothy’s Seat
is dedicated to a British lady who
died in a tragic accident. From here
you can get a panoramic view of the
town below. At Land’s End, 2,881
metres high to the south of the lake
is a vantage point for a view of the
Khurpa Tal.
The State Observatory
about 3 kms from the lake is open
to the public in the evening and an
ideal place to watch the sun setting
over the plains. Hanuman Garhi,
a small temple off the Haldwani road
also offers a good view of the valley.
Go to Top
Excursions
from Nainital
Sat Tal (approx
21 kms) : At short distances
from Nainital there are some smaller
hill settlements that have grown into
quick getaways. In addition, pine forests
and wooded walks provide a good break
from the tourist traffic at Nainital.
21 kms from town are Sat Tal or the
seven lakes, including the Garud Tal,
Rama Tal and Sita Tal. At these secluded
lake destinations, you can do kayaking,
rock climbing and even mountain biking.
You can stay either in the tented accommodation
provided to tourists or at rest houses
at Sita Tal.
Bhimtal (approx 23 kms) : This
beautiful lake was named after one of
the Pandava brothers in the epic Mahabharata,
is coming up as good holiday resort.
Surrounded by hills, this fairly large
lake with a central island is a popular
picnic spot. There are boating and fishing
facilities as well as a restaurant.
Naukuchiyatal (approx 26 kms) : This
is another beautiful lake having nine
corners which gives meaning to the name
of this place. Secluded and still untouched
by tourist traffic, the lake has great
opportunities for bird watching and
boating. Both these tiny hamlets have
tourist rest houses where you can stay
overnight.
Kilbury and Jeolikote : With
its beautiful oak, pine and rhododendron
forests, is an amazingly unspoilt retreat
to spend the day. A private agency provides
tented accommodation for those who want
to spend the night. Jeolikote, 18 kms
south of Nainital, is a quiet hamlet
away from the main road. With its privately
run cottages, Jeolikote is a lovely
secluded retreat. .
How
to reach Nainital?
By Air : The nearest
airport is at Pantnagar, 72 kms from
Nainital.
By Rail : The nearest
railway station is at Kathgodam at a
distance of around 40 kms. Trains connect
Kathgodam with Agra, Bareilly, Lucknow
and Delhi.
By Road : Good road
network for all major cities of Northern
India.
