Nainital, A Must Visit Destination in Uttarakhand

Nainital is a beautiful hill station in the state of Uttarakhand, located at a height of about 1,938 m above sea level. It is one of the top tourist destinations of Uttarakhand.

As to the immense natural beauty of the place, it is also often referred as the ‘necklace’ of the Himalayan region. The main highlight of the place is the Naini Lake, besides which there are various other tourist attractions in the region. This scenic hill station can be accessed from almost all the major parts of the state. 

 

Attractions

Naini Lake

Actually the place has been named after this lake as the word ‘tal’ means the lake, which is the top tourist attraction of the place. The lake is situated in a beautiful place surrounded by mountains from all sides. Besides the scenic environment of this place, it is also popular among the tourists for adventure sports like paddling, boating and yachting. While lying amid the tranquil surroundings of the place, one can also enjoy the beautiful of the setting sun from this lake. The beautiful lake seems even more mystical during the night time, when the lights from the houses and the hotels around the site, reflect on the crystal clear water of the lake.

  

Naina Devi Temple

The temple is one of the most religious sites in the hill station. The temple is beautifully placed at the summit of the Naina hill, attracting devotees from all over the country throughout the year. The shrine can be reached by trekking to the top of this hill. According to the legends, it is believed that the eye of Goddess Sati had fallen at this spot, due to which it is one of the most revered temples among the Hindus. Besides the main idol of Maa Naini Devi, there are two other idols inside the sanctum that of                      Mata Kali Devi and Lord Ganesh. 

Tiffin Top

The Tiffin Spot is also known as the Dorothy’s Seat, being named after Mrs. Kellet Dorothy, who was killed in a plane crash. The spot is located at a short distance of about 3 km from the main town of Nainital and it is known for providing excellent views of the Himalayas and the surrounding areas. The reason behind the spot being named as Tiffin Spot is that it is also a popular picnic destination in the region. The natural beauty is at its best at this spot and it is accompanied by the undisturbed peacefulness. 

Zoo

There is also a zoo in Nainital, located at a distance of just 2 km from the bus stand. It is perched at a height of about 2100 m and includes a diverse variety of wild animals. The wild animals are kept in their natural environment at this place. The diverse species of wild animals that you can find at this place are barking deer, Siberian tiger, barking deer, hill fox, sambar, leopard, monkeys, white peacock and few others. 

Besides these attractions, there is plenty to explore and enjoy in Nainital. 

Best Time to Visit

Nainital can be visited all around the year, yet the best time to visit the place is between the months of Match to June. It is considered to be the best holiday season of the place.

Accommodation

The place is dotted with a wide range of hotels and resorts that ranged from budget to luxury class. The rates of these hotels and resorts start from as low as Rs 300 to as high as Rs 10,000. Many of these hotels also offer lucrative packages to nearby tourist destinations along with attractive honeymoon packages.

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest airport to this hill station is Pant Nagar, which is located at a distance of about 70 km from Nainital. However the airport only operates private chartered flights and there are no commercial flights flying from this place. Other more convenient airport close to this place is in New Delhi. Located at a distance of about 290 km. Local taxi services as well as hired taxis are available from these airports to get to the place.

By Train: The closest railway station to this hill station is Kathgodham, located at a distance of about 34 km. The station is well connected with major places like Delhi, Howrah and Lucknow. One can hire a taxi or opt for the shared cab in order to get to Nainital from the station. 

By Road: The place is also easily accessible through road from places like Kathgodam (34 km), Rampur (103 km), and Delhi (278 km). Regular bus services are available from these places to Nainital.