NAINITAL
Crowded around a deep, green volcanic lake, Nainital is Kumaon’s largest town and favourite hill resort. It occupies a steep forested valley around the namesake lake Naini and was founded by homesick Brits reminded of the Cumbrian Lake District.
Plenty of hotels are set in the forested hills around the lake. There’s a busy bazaar and a spider’s web of walking tracks covers the forested hillsides to viewpoints overlooking the distant Himalayan peaks. For travellers, it’s an easy place to kick back and relax, eat well, and go horse riding or paddling on the lake.
In peak seasons – roughly May to mid-July and October – Nainital is packed to the gills with holidaying families and honeymooners, and hotel prices skyrocket.
Tallital (Lake’s Foot) is at the southeastern end of the lake where you’ll find the bus stand and the main road heading east towards Bhowali.
The 1.5km promenade known as the Mall leads to Mallital (Lake’s Head) at the northwestern end of the lake. Most hotels, guest houses and restaurants are strung out along the Mall between Mallital and Tallital. You'll most find shops, including pharmacies, in Bara Bazaar.
Activities in Nainital:
Tranquility Treks
Experienced guide Sunil Kumar leads hikes and focuses on bird- and wildlife-watching. He can take you on day walks (?1500), overnight hikes where you stay in local villages (?2000) and two-week all-inclusive nature trips (from ?75,000).
Rock Climbing & Trekking
The enthusiasts at Nainital Mountaineering Club offer rock-climbing courses on an artificial tower and at the rock-climbing area, a 15m-high rock outcrop to the west of the town.
Snout Adventures is a recommended outfit offering treks in the Kumaon and Garhwal mountains, rock-climbing courses (?600 per day) and adventure camps.
Snout Adventures
A recommended outfit offering treks in the Kumaon and Garhwal mountains (from ?2200 per day, all inclusive). It also conducts rock-climbing courses (?500 per day) and organises adventure camps
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Horse Stand
Mangy horses can be hired for one-hour rides to the popular nature spot, Tiffin Top (2292m), or a longer trip to Land’s End (2118m), through a forest of oak, deodar and pine.
Transport in Nainital
Train Booking Agency
The train booking agency, next to the Tallital bus stand, has a quota for trains to Dehra Dun, Delhi, Moradabad, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Kolkata.
Travel options:
By Air
Being a hill station, Nainital does not have direct air connectivity. The nearest airport is located at Pantnagar, which lies at a distance of 65 kilometres from Nainital. Most of the air traffic to Pantnagar airport includes private chartered flights. There are no commercial flights operational to and from here.
By Bus
Nainital enjoys excellent bus connectivity to important destinations in North India. Several tour operators operate daily bus service from New Delhi to Nainital, which includes options like air-conditioned, non-air-conditioned, sleeper and Volvo buses. Boarding an overnight bus is the most convenient way to head to Nainital, although some buses operate during the daytime as well.
By Train
The nearest railway station is located at a distance of 34 kilometres at Kathgodham, at the foothills of the Kumaon hills. Kathgodam railway station enjoys good connectivity to important places such as Delhi, Lucknow and Howrah, with daily trains running to New Delhi.
Nainital Hotels:
Bhawanipur Greens, A Sterling Holiday Resorts Rs. 4999
Aamari Resorts Ramgarh Rs. 7700
The Palace Belvedere Rs. 5750
Hotel Maharaja Rs. 3672
Traveller's Paradise [Nr. Naini Lake-200 mtr. Rs. 4950