Top 10 Must Visit Places in Nainital

Nainital is a hill station in the Indian state of Uttarakhand which attracts alot of tourist every year. It is also known as lake district of Uttarakhand which is named after the goddess Naina Devi. The belief is that Nainital is one of the 51 Shakti peeths. It is said that after the death of goddess Sati, Lord Shiva carried her body and roam around the universe with it. Lord Vishnu then cut her body into 52 pieces using his Sudarshan Chakra. The spot where Sati’s eye fell came to be known as Nainital or the lake of the eye. This place is ideal for every type of tourist as you can feed animals at the zoo, try boating at the lake, can picnic on the hills or explore Jim Corbett.

BEST TIME TO VISIT NAINITAL

The best time to visit is between May to July, the summer time in India. The weather is quite pleasant. Summers are hot and temperature may reach 32°C. During winter, the temperature may be sub-zero. You will witness heavy snowfall in December and January.

HOW TO REACH NAINITAL

• By train: nearest railway station is Kathgodam, 35 km away.
• By air: Pantnagar airport located 2hours away is the least busy airport of the country handling only 6 scheduled flights a week. Delhi is the nearest international airport which is 280km away.
• By bus: Delhi has a daily bus service to Nainital.
• Taxis charges around Rs 450-600 to Nainital and a sharing cab charges Rs 50 per person

Now coming to top attractions, here are the must-see places in Nainital

1. Naini Lake

Naini lake is a freshwater body which is located at the center of the town and several other lakes of nearby areas. It is a kidney shaped lake which is famous for boating, water sports, photography, and sightseeing.

Opening time: Open every day, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm

Entry fee: NA

Boating charges: 160 half round of rowboat, 210 full round of rowboat, 210 per hour of paddle boat

Ideal for: Nature lovers, photo fanatics

2. Mall Road

The mall road is a famous local shopping spot of Nainital which offers a beautiful and clear view of Naini lake. There are various restaurants offering a variety of cuisine. The candles of Nainital are very famous and various shops at mall road sell them at a very reasonable price. Tourists and locals like to walk on the Mall to enjoy the beauty of Naini Lake mostly in the evening.

Opening time: It is open every day, from 12:00 am to 12:00 pm

Entry fee: NA

Ideal for: Shopaholics, experience seekers, wanderers

3. Naina Devi temple

A well-known shakti peeth, devoted to goddess Naina Devi. It is built by a devotee Moti Ram Shah in 1842. The temple is situated near Naini lake near mall road where you may find various shops for shopping as well.

Opening time: It is open every day, 6:00 am to 10:00 pm

Entry fee: N/A

Ideal for: Experience seekers, history buffs

4. Sattal

Sattal is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes situated in lower Himalaya range near Bhimtal, named after mythological gods and heroes and each seems to have a unique boast.  It is among one of the few unspoiled and unpolluted freshwater body in India. The pleasant weather and breathtaking view throughout the year make sattal a must visit destination.

Opening time: It is open every day, 9:0m-6: 00 pm

Entry fee: N/A

Ideal for: Nature lovers, photo fanatics, experience seekers

5. Bhimtal

Bhimtal is the largest lake in the Kumaon region. The lake provides drinking water supply and also is a habitat for a variety of fish species. There is an island in the center of the lake which has an aquarium. Morning walks are especially recommended for those who want to avoid the tourist crowd. The lake is named after Bhima, one of the Pandavas of the epic story of Mahabharata who is said to have visited the place.

Opening time: It is open every day, 9:00 am to5: 00 pm

Ideal for: Nature lovers, photo fanatics

Entry fees: 150 per person for boating

6. Tiffin Top

Tiffin top is a place which gives you a beautiful view of the Himalayas. It is situated at a height of 2,292 meters in the Ayarpatta region. A small trek takes you to this place. This place is also known as Dorothy’s seat as it was built in the memory of an English artist named Dorothy Kellet by her family.

Opening time: It is open every day, 6:00 am to 6:00 pm

Entry fee: N/A

Ideal for: photo fanatics, nature enthusiasts, adventure seekers

7. Himalaya Viewpoint

Himalaya viewpoint is a good place to pass some time in solitude and enjoy the beauty of nature. It is a place where we can have a glimpse of Himalaya. 5 km off Nainital, this place is located at 2300 m high.

Opening time: It is open every day, 24 hours

Entry fee: N/A

Ideal for: Photo fanatics, nature lovers

8. Jim Corbett National Park

It is a forested wildlife sanctuary which is rich in flora and fauna are known especially for Bengal tigers. The park was the first to come under the project tiger initiative. It is very famous for its jungle safari. Winter nights are cold but the days are bright and sunny. It rains from July to September. Tourists are not allowed to walk inside the park, but only to go trekking around the park in the company of a guide. Corbett Falls is a 20 m (66 ft) waterfall situated 25 km (16 mi) from Ramnagar, and 4 km (2.5 mi) from Kaladhungi, on the Kaladhungi–Ramnagar highway.

Opening time: It is open for everyday, 6:00am-11:00am and 2:30pm to 5:30pm

Fee for safari: 1000 per jeep [ for 6 Indians], 1900 per jeep [for 2 foreigner]

9. Eco Cave Garden

Eco Cave Garden is a newly developed tourist spot in Nainital. Hanging garden is a place which makes eco cave garden more interesting. It is a network of interconnected caves.
It is a great place for children with lots of activities and fun on offer. The Tiger Cave is the easiest to get in and out. Then the Panther Cave where getting in and out gets harder. These were natural caves and some of the then were really to narrow and going down below is really difficult.

Opening timing: It is open every day, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Entry fee: 20 for adults, 10 for children

Ideal for: nature lovers, explorers

10. Girija Devi Temple

The temple is a sacred shakti shrine in the Girjiya village near Ramnagar. The temple is situated over a large rock in the Kosi river. However, Photography is not allowed inside the temple. There is also a statue of Lakshmi Narayan of the 9th century, made from black granite. Many people go there every day to worship in the temple. Many people bathe in the Kosi river near Garjiya temple.

Opening time: It is open everyday, 6:00am to 12:00pm and 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Entry fee: N/A

Ideal for: nature lovers, photo fanatics

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