Nainital, Uttarkhand is a town of the newly formed Uttarkhand. It is an ideal lake resort, which rises to a height of nearly 1,938 metres or 6,358 feet above the sea level. It has a unique topography. It is placed in the midst of a valley, which contains a `pear-shaped lake`, with a perimeter of nearly 2 miles. Nestled in the lap od the central Himlayan ranges, Nainital belongs to the Kumaon region. On the northern side Naina (2,615 m (8,579 ft)), Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) lie on the west and south parts respectively.
Climate of Nainital, Uttarkahnd is significant to gain knowledge of this hill town. People experience temperate summer days with maximum of temperature rising to `+27 °C (81 °F)`. The minimum temperature that is recorded is `+10 °C (50 °F),`. Summer is the time when Nainital, Uttarkhand is crowded with all the enthusiastic tourists mainly from the plain lands of the northern part of the country. Winters in Nainital, are chilly with snowfall occurring between the months of December and February . At that time, maximum temperature is +15 °C (59 °F) . Minimum temperature can drop down to as low as ?3 °C (27 °F).
Demographical updates also acts as vital identifiable feature of any place. A special mentioning may be made of the Census report. It was published in the year 2001, which throws light on certain, facts like literacy rate, population status. As per this report, the total population of Nanital, Uttarkhand has showed a counting of 38,559. Out of it, male population constitutes 54 %. In comparison total population of female constitutes 46 %. In Nainital, children who are below six years of age constitutes 9 % of the total population.
As far as the average literacy rate of Nainital, Uttarkhand is concerned; it constitutes 81%, which is even higher than 59.5 %, India`s average literacy rate. Specifically male literacy rate also is quite high. It constitutes 86 %, while Nainital`s female literacy is 76 %.
Popular myth is common that is related to Nainital, Uttarkhand. In Indian mythology, nainital is regarded as one of the 64 ` Shakti Peeths`. Instance also can be cited. For example in the Manas Khand of the Skand Puranas, Nainital Lake is known as Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, which provides hint of the story of 3 sages (or rishis). They are namely Pulastya, Atri, and Pulaha. It is believed that when they did not find water in Nainital, they dug a huge hole at the site where this lake is presently located and fills it with water which has been brought from the sanctum lake of Tibet namely Manasarovar. If one takes a dip into this Naina lake one can get the same effect as they would accumulated from holy Manassarovar.
The happening places are the Mall road and the Ropeway. Snow capped mountains can be viewed from variuos vantage points like Laria Kanta, China Peak, Alma peak and Camel`s peak. There is another view point that is in the hill resort of Nainital. Hanumangarh temple, tSt.John`s Church, the State observatory, Sanjay park, a botanical garden and Gufa Nahadev and other places if interest. Nainital has several lakes close to BHINTAL, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal, Malwatal Harishtal and Lokhamtal.
How to reach Nainital, Uttarkhand
Nainital , Uttarkhand is placed in the lap of Mother nature with plentiful of mountainous ranges , beautiful lakes and green parks. Automatically it becomes a much-frequented spot of Indian tourists. Not only from local tourers from foreign lands too visitors visit Nainital, Uttarkhand. Access points of Nainital, Uttarkahnd too are quite developed and provide easy accessibility.
Airways are an important means of transport in Nainital. Closest airport is Pantnagar from where one can take direct flights for place like Delhi. It lies almost seventy kms from the hill station of Nainital ,Uttarkhand. Other airports like Delhi and Lucknow too serve the requirements and needs of people of Nainital ,Uttarkhand.
One also can commute to Nainital, Uttarkhand via roadways also. Nainital is linked to NH No. 87. In fact huge network of roads is built which establish connectivity of Nainital, Uttarkhand with the state as well with several other places of North India. For instance from Nainital Delhi and Dehradun lie 310 and 300 kms respectively away. Haldwani stretches to a distance of only forty kms from Nainital, Uttarkhand.
One can go to Delhi , Haldwani , Dehradun by roads. Bus services are available. Daily buses ply from Delhi, Agra, Dehradun, Haridwar, Lucknow, Kanpur and Bareilly to Nainital . Moreover luxury coaches are obtainable for Nainital from city like Delhi.
One can also avail the rail route in order to reach Nainital, Uttarkhand. Closest railway station of Nainitali is Kathgodam, which stretches to a distance of nearly thirty-five kms away. A well-placed network of `broad gauge railway` connects Nainital to other places like Kolkata, Delhi, and Dehradun.
Places of Interests of Nainital, Uttarkhand
Those who want to behold the beauty of nature in its full bloom, a trip to Nainital, Uttarkhand is a must. Majestic mountain peaks, beautiful lakes and greenery give one a feeling as if one is in dreamland. In fact in Nainital , Uttrakhand there is no paucity of locales enough to rejuvenate the spirits of tourers who are bogged with mundane problems of city life.
Most important place to visit is the Naini Lake. Some people also identify it as the Tririshi Lake. The tourists find it to be a wonderful place for holidaying. For the amusement of tourists special boating facilities have been offered to the tourists. In fact Nainital Boat Club has been formed with all these facilities. Annual Kingfisher Yachting Competition is held in the 3rd week of the month of June.
No visit to Nainital, Uttarkhand is fruitful unless and until one beholds the beauty of the Cheena Peak or the Naina Peak. It offers a captivating view of snow-clapped mountain ranges of Himalayas and also the Nainital Valley.
View Point that is another tourist place of Nainital, Uttarkhand. Watching the majestic peaks of Himalayan mountains and also the elongated borders of Tibet are the attractions of this place. For better viewing tourists are advised to carry instruments like binoculars. A tourist also can hire binocular as well. Traveling by ropeway from the Nainital Mall is real treat for the tourers.
Devotees also go to the Hanumangarh temple, which is located in Nainital, Uttarkhand. One can offer prayer and side-by-side gets the joy of watching sunset from this temple premises. Besides praying one might enjoy the sunset from the temple. Close to the temple is an observation tower. It is a structure commanding a wide view of its surroundings. From here at the time of night beholding the beauty of moon is truly a memorable experience.
The popular belief is that that
Naini Lake is one of the sixty-four religious places or Shakti Peeths. As per a myth, it is believed that in Shakti peeths, parts of the scorched body of Goddess Parvati or Sati. She is the wife of god Shiva and her body parts fell on earth when being transmitted by God Shiva. The place where her eyes or Nain fell is called Nain-tal . In English it signifies the lake of the eye.
There are other attractions of Nainital, Uttarkhand as well. The north end of Naini lake, an attractive locale of Nainital, is popularly known Mallital . Southern end is called Tallital which have a bridge . It is famous as Danth which house a statue of Mahatma Gandhi and also post office. Interestingly it is the only Post Office in the entire world which has been built on the lake bridge.
Just on the northern shore of the Naini Lake ,
Naina Devi Temple is constructed. Although it was dilapidated in the year 1880 due to a landslide it was again built in the later period.
The idol of Maa Naina Devi with 2 Netras or eyes is the principal goddess of the temple. By the sides of Naina Devi idol, paragon images of other deities like Lord Ganesha and Mata Kali are enshrined.
St. John Church is another place of interest in Nainital, Uttarkhand. The church is one of the ancient buildings of the place.
The church of St. John was formed in the year 1844. It has its location on the northern end of town (Mallital), which is nearly ½ a mile northwestern part of the Naina Devi temple. The church has derived its name from Daniel Wilson, the then Bishop of Calcutta. It was he who laid the foundation of this church. On its altar a brass plaque was engraved with the inscription of names of victims of the landslide that had occurred in this region in the year 1880.
Governor`s House, better known as Raj Bhavan is a landmark of Nainital, Uttarkhand. Previously it was called Government House. It was founded in the year 1899 . Famous architect F.W. Stevens planned its design in the Victorian Gothic domestic style. This majestic edifice comprises of a 2-storied house with near about one hundred and thirteen rooms, a huge garden, golf links and a swimming pool. This style also is recognized as "domestic Gothic". Since the days of its inception the house served as the summer dwelling of the `governor of the North West Province`. Afterwards it became the summer abode of the `Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces`. In the recent times it served as the `the official guest house` of Uttarakhand`s governor. Also the guests of the state also reside here. If a tourist wants to visit Raj Bhavan he needs to take permission before hand.
Snow View, another attraction of tourists of Nainital , Uttarkhand , rises to a height of nearly 2,270 m or 7,448 ft above the sea level. Lying at the top of the Sher-ka-danda Ridge ie. `north by north-east of the town center`, one can access the place by cable car. On clear day, it treats the tourers with the spectacles of the snow clapped lofty Himalayan Mountains like Trisul, Nanda Devi, and Nanda Kot. The suitable time of catching a clear view of these mountainous ranges is late October and November.
Dorothy`s Seat at the Tiffin top is a special attraction. One can trek upto four kms or nearly 2 miles from the center of the town . The panoramic view of the country serves as an added attraction.
For the tourists of Nainital, Uttarkhand, Gurbey House is an interesting place to visit. In fact Gurney House is the former abode of the famous hunter - writer Jim Corbett. It is posited on the Ayarpatta Hill. Presently it has been transformed into a museum, which preserves valuable things of this famous hunter. In the backdrop one also can see plantations like deodar, oak, pine and rhododendron adding on to nature`s glory.
Zoo: Around one Km. away from bus stand at an altitude of 2100 meters in sprawling open area there is Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo. This is a place of interest, which lies at a distance of nearly 1 km away from bus stand. It rises to a height of near about 2100 meters with extensive open space area. It is an ideal abode of animals like Leopard, monkeys, Himalayan black bear, Siberian Tiger, Palm civet cat, Wolf, Silver Pheasants, Rose ringed Prakeet, Ghoral, Hill Fox, Sambhar, Barking Deer. The zoo is closed for public viewing on Monday every week. Besides on all the National holidays and also on festivals like Holi and Diwali no one is allowed to visit the zoo.
Caves Garden: In the recent times Caves Garden has drwn the admiration of tourists who visit Nainital , Uttarkhand . It is positioned in Sukha Tal, which is almost 1 Km from Mallital lying close to Kumaun University Campus.
There are several other tourists` locales that have built in and around Nainital. Tourists from Nainital town pay visit to these places with lots of vigor and enthusiasm.
Jim Corbett National Park , positioned at approximately 29°32?N 78°56?E / 29.533, 78.933 is a part of the district of Nainital district . It is the most ancient national park of the country. Animals like elephant, tiger, chital, Sambar Deer, nilgai, gharial, King Cobra, muntjac, wild boar, hedgehog, common musk shrew (White-toothed shrew), flying fox (pteropus, megabat), Indian Pangolin live there in peace haven. One also finds almost six hundred bird species, which fill the air with their chirping and tweeting.
Indian Veterinary Research Institute is a place of interest. People from Nainital, Uttarkhand also visit there. The beautiful snow-capped lofty mountainous ranges of West Himalaya like Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Nanda Kot can easily enthrall the mind of a tourist.
Tourists also go to the Bhimtal Lake. It got its name from Bhima, the 2nd Pandava brother of great Indian epic Mahabharata. He was known for his strength and courage. The lake, stretches to a distance of approximately twenty-two kms or 14 miles away from Nainital. It also rises to a height of 1,370 m or 4,495 ft above the sea level. In this lake an island has been built and a famous restaurant has been built on it. Also Bhimeshwar, an ancient temple complex was found by the side of a dam which is as high as forty ft or 12 m built at an end of the lake. Temple was constructed during the seventeenth century.
Lying almost 23 km from Nainital in the Lower Himalayan Range, Sattal is an interesting place. Sattal signifies seven lakes. Its height is approximately1, 370 m or 4,495 ft. As the name suggests it is a clustering of tiny interconnected lakes lying amidst old oak forest region. Lakes are all interconnected. After arriving at the place firstly one encounters the Nal-Damyanti Lake; then comes Panna or Garude Lake. Finally one finds 3 lakes, namely Ram, Laxman, and Sita lakes.
Khurpa Tal is a beautiful lake, which rises to a height of approximately 1,635 m or 5,364 ft above the sea level. It has literal meaning. Khurpa Lake means `Trowel Lake`.This lake is widely visited by the strollers. It is also encircled by terraced farms. From Nainital One can reach the place by traveling near about ten kms via road. Trekking takes nearly five kms.
Naukuchia Tal is situated at a distance of nearly twenty six kms from Nainital rising to a height of approximately1,220 m or 4,003 ft. It means `Nine-Cornered Lake`. The length of the lake is nearly one km, width is 0.5 km or 0.3 mi . Also it is approximately 40 m or 131 ft deep. In the whole of Greater Nainital area it is the `deepest` lake. The common saying is that if one looks at all nine corners at one glance, one can vanish in a cloud of smoke.
Other places of interests in the surrouding are Sanjay Park, Cheel Chakkar,Birla Mandir Peak, Alma Peak, Naukuchiatal(27Kms). One can reach beatuful cities in the nearby like Bageshwar, Almora, Kausani, Pithoragarh .
Accomodation in Nainital, Uttarkhand
The beautiful town of Nainital, Uttarkhand is thronged with multitudes of hotels providing modern amenities to all the lodgers. In other words accommodation of Nainital , Uttarkhand is superb which make the stay of tourists here quite exciting as well as easy going . In fact Nainital, Uttarkhand enables the tourists to take pleasure in all aurae and admirations of Jaipur to their hearts content.
Accommodation in Nainital, Uttarkhand ranges from luxurious hotels to those hotels, which can be easily affordable. Some of the significant hotels of Nainital, Uttarkhand are as follows:
Nainital Luxury Hotels:
The Naini Retreat, Nainital
Manu Maharani, Nainital
Some of the delux hotels in Nainital, Uttarkhand are as follows:
Shervani Hilltop Inn, Nainital
Hotel Alka, Nainital
Alka "The Lake Side Hotel" , Mall Road
Ph no 235220,236626-29
Arif Castles, Nainital
Arif Castles , Mallital
Ph no 236005,235801-03,236901-04
Elphinestone Hotel, Nainital
Elphinstone, Mall Road
Ph no 235534
Dynasty Resort, Nainital
Dynasty Resorts, Khurpatal. 240120
Fairhavens (Chevron Hotel & Resorts), Nainital
Hotel New Pavilion, Nainital
The Ramgarh Bungalows , Nainital
Cedar Lodge , Ramgarh Nainital
Shikha Inn Resort Bhimtal.
Nainital Standard Hotels
Hotel Krishna , Nainital
Manu Maharani Lodge
Radha Continental , Nainital
Balrampur House, Nainital
The Hermitage Kailash , Nainital
Dolmaar Resort, Nainital
Nainital Budget Hotels
James Cook`s cabins, Nainital
Other hotels of Nainital are as follows:
Balrampur House, Mallital , Ph no . 236236
Belvedere Palace, Awagarh Estate,Mallital , Ph no 235082,237434,235083
Channi Raja, Mall Road , Ph no 235643,235624
City Heart, Mallital , Ph no 235228
Classic, Mall Road , Ph no 235173
Earlcourt, Mallital , Ph no 236381,237128
Everest, Mall Road , Ph no 235453,236648-51
Evelyn, Mall Road , Ph no 235457,235467
Chevron Fairhavens, Near GPO, Mallital , Ph no 236057,236604
Grand Hotel,Mall Road , Ph no 235406,235008,237057
India Hotel, Mall Road , Ph no 235517,239017
Krishna, Mall Road , Ph no 231639,231646
Lake Side Inn,Mall Road Ph no 235777,236827
Manu Maharani(Holiday Inn), Mallital , Ph no 235530,237341-8,237350
Shervani Hilltop Inn, Mallital , Ph no 236128,237418,236304,236281
Swiss Hotel, Mallital , Ph no 236013,235972,235493,235988
Calaridges Naini Retreat , Ph no 235105,235108,235103
Radha Continental,Near Head Post Office,Mallital Ph no 236267 , 236465, 236466,235341
Royal Hotel , Mallital , Ph no 236007,235357
Silverton , Ph no 235249,235493,235007,235549
Welcome Park, Ramsay Hospital Road,Tallital , Ph no 235552,235852,235493
Other Hotels , Ankur Plaza , Ph no 235448
Anamika Ocean , Ph no 231176
Archana,Tallital , Ph no 235884
Armadale , Ph no 235855
Aroma, Ayarpata, Mallital , Ph no 235354,236824
Ashok , Near Bus Station, Tallital , Ph no 235721
Atithi, Near Bus Station, Tallital , Ph no 235080
Basera, Mallital , Ph no 235885
Broadway Hotel, Mallital , Ph no 09837278498
Capri, Near Flatts, Mallital , Ph no 235690
Gurdeep,Mall Road , Ph no 235528
Himalaya, Near Bus Station,Tallital , Ph no 235258,235587
Hotel Hill View , Ph no 235361
Kalpana,Near Nainital Club,Mallital , Ph no 236357,236530
Konark Hotel , Ph no 235912
Lake View Hotel, Tallital , Ph no 236489,235632
Langdale Manor , Ph no 235447
Maharaja,Zoo Road,Tallital , Ph no 235281,235554
Meghdoot,Zoo Road,Tallital , Ph no 235124,235530
Mansrovar,Mall Road,Tallital , Ph no 235581
Moon Hotel , Ph no 236318
Naini Vision , Ph no 235496
Nanak Hotel,Mall Road , Ph no 235336
National Hotel,Haldwani Road,Tallital , Ph no 235537
Nepoli, Near Nainital Club,Mallital , Ph no 235090
New Pavillion , Ph no 236178
Palace, Mall Road , Ph no 235125,235525
Panjab hotel
Paryatak Hotel , Ph no 235815
Payal,Tallital , Ph no 235248
Prasant,Zoo Road,Tallital , Ph no 235347
Pratap Regency, Mall Road , Ph no 235865,235866
Prem Rose , Ph no 237524
Prince ,Mall Road , Ph no 236817
Regency Gopal Tara, Mall Road , Ph no 235356
Rose Villa , Ph no 231224
Savoy,Bhowali Road, Tallital , Ph no 235721
Shalimar,Mall Road , Ph no 235432,237176,235493
Sheela, Mall Road , Ph no 235194
Shivraj, Mall road , Ph no 235698
Samart Hotel , Ph no 236273
Sitakiran, Mallital , Ph no 237059
Standard Hotel , Ph no 235602
Vinayak,Ramsay Hospital Road,Tallital , Ph no 236906
Vimal Kunj,Sukhatal , Ph no 235433
Ahujas, Mall Road , Ph no 235561
Ambassador, Mall Road , Ph no 235642
Kurmanchal Guest House, Mallital , Ph no 236350
