Nainital Travel Guide
The lake town at the centre of Kumaon, and the base for Mukteshwar and Ranikhet.
- Altitude
- 2,084 m
- Best season
- Year round
- From Dehradun
- 295 km
- Category
- Kumaon
Why visit Nainital
- The Naini Lake — a naturally formed crescent lake at 2,084 m — is the defining experience of Kumaon hill tourism
- Seven sacred hilltops surround the town — the Saptachal — each with temples offering valley views
- Ideal hub for Kumaon: Bhimtal, Sattal, Mukteshwar, Pangot, Ranikhet and Corbett all within 65 km
- Snow Hill (Snow View) via ropeway gives a Himalayan panorama accessible to non-trekkers
- Colonial-era architecture along the Mall Road and boating on the lake make it genuinely year-round
Nainital curls around the Naini lake beneath Naina peak — the classic Kumaon hill station with boating, the Mall Road and the Naina Devi temple.
It works best as a hub: Bhimtal, Sattal, Mukteshwar, Pangot and Ranikhet all sit within day-trip range, and Corbett's Ramnagar gate is about 65 km away.
Explore around
Places near Nainital
Highest point around Nainital at 2,611 m; best Himalayan panorama including Nanda Devi
2,270 m viewpoint; ropeway from Mall Road makes it accessible to all; best in morning
One of the 51 shakti peethas; sits at the north end of the lake on Mallital
Wooded hilltop with wooden bench-viewpoint; pleasant morning walk or horse ride
Quieter, larger lake with island aquarium; good half-day or overnight side-trip
Pangot14 kmVillage in Cheena Peak forest; one of North India's best birdwatching sites
What to do
Activities at Nainital
Boating on Naini Lake
Paddle boats, row boats and motor boats are available at Mallital and Tallital jetties from morning until sunset. Rowboats for two cost around ₹200/30 min; rates are fixed at the government boat counter.
Ropeway to Snow View
The cable car from Mall Road (Mallital end) to Snow View at 2,270 m gives panoramic Himalayan views without trekking. Runs from 10 am to 5 pm; closed on certain maintenance days.
Naini Peak trek
A 6 km trail from Cheena peaks road goes to Nainital's highest point at 2,611 m. Clear days reveal Nanda Devi, Trishul and over a hundred km of snow peaks. Allow 3–4 hours round-trip.
Eco Cave Gardens
A series of interconnected natural caves with animal replicas inside — primarily for families with children. Located at Sukhatal, 1 km from the lake.
Book with us
Tours covering Nainital
Before you go
Nainital travel tips
- Nainital gets extremely crowded from May to June (school holiday season) and during Christmas–New Year — book hotels 2–3 months ahead and expect peak pricing
- Vehicles are banned beyond the entry barrier during peak season (May–June) — use the KMOU parking lots and walk or take a rickshaw
- The ropeway does not run in high winds; don't plan your entire trip around Snow View on a single day
- Mallital and Tallital are the two ends of the lake — the Mall Road runs between them and is the main pedestrian promenade
- Avoid visiting during heavy rain in July–August — landslides close the main approaches and the lake can flood parts of the Mall Road
Getting there
How to reach Nainital
Pantnagar Airport (65 km, 1.5 hrs). Connected to Delhi (IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet — check current schedule). Taxi from Pantnagar to Nainital takes around 1.5 hours.
Kathgodam (34 km) is the rail terminus for Kumaon. Shatabdi Express from Delhi (5.5 hrs), Ranikhet Express overnight — both terminate at Kathgodam. Taxi to Nainital: ₹600–800, about 1 hour.
Delhi → Moradabad → Rampur → Rudrapur → Haldwani → Kathgodam → Nainital (310 km, 6–7 hrs). Volvo and ordinary buses from Delhi ISBT to Haldwani, then local bus or taxi.
Where to stay in Nainital
- Budget: Hotel Arif Castles, Snow White Hotel (both near Mallital)
- Mid-range: The Manu Maharani, Country Inn & Suites, Vikram Vintage Inn
- Heritage: Rokeby Manor (colonial-era property on the hillside)
- Peak May–June and October: book 6–8 weeks ahead; prices double
Food & dining
- Zubair's (kebab rolls, near Tallital), Sonam's Kitchen (Tibetan at Ram Jhula), Embassy Restaurant (north Indian)
- Local speciality: bal mithai (dark fudge with white sugar pearls), singori (cone-leaf sweet) and kafal (wild berries in summer)
- The Mall Road has multiple fast-food stalls, corn roasters and street chai — good for grazing while walking
Background
History of Nainital
Nainital was "discovered" by a British sugar trader, P. Barron, in 1841 — he came upon the lake, declared it a perfect hill station site and the British administration developed it rapidly through the 1840s. The first European house (Pilgrim Cottage) was built the same year, and by 1846 a proper summer colony had taken shape.
The lake has a geological origin in a natural depression — a maar or tectonic collapse — rather than a river dam. Ancient texts mention the lake as Tri-Rishi-Sarovar (the three-sages' lake) and place the Naini Devi temple among the shakti peethas, where the left eye of Goddess Sati is said to have fallen.
The 1880 landslide remains the town's most traumatic event — a section of the hillside above the Victoria Hotel collapsed onto the Assembly Rooms building on the flats, killing at least 151 people in minutes. The disaster shaped all subsequent construction rules in Nainital, which banned new buildings on steep hillsides.
Plan your trip
Suggested Nainital itinerary
- Day 1Arrive Kathgodam by train. Drive to Nainital (1 hr). Evening boating and Mall Road walk.
- Day 2Morning ropeway to Snow View. Afternoon Naina Devi temple and Eco Cave Garden. Sunset from Tiffin Top.
- Day 3Drive to Bhimtal (22 km) and Sattal (30 km). Return by 4 pm. Depart Nainital toward Corbett or Ranikhet.
Common questions
Nainital FAQ
- Is Nainital suitable for families with young children?
- Yes — boating, cable car, Eco Cave Garden and flat Mall Road make it very child-friendly. Avoid school holiday peak (May–June) if possible for lower crowds.
- Does Nainital get snow?
- Some winters — usually January — bring light snowfall. It is not guaranteed but happens often enough that January visitors have a reasonable chance of seeing snow.
- What is the best time to visit Nainital?
- October–November (post-monsoon clarity, moderate crowds) and March–April (spring flowers, mild weather) are the most consistently pleasant months.
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