Nainital Travel Guide — Everything You Need to Know
Nainital is the best-known hill town in Kumaon: a town built round a green, pear-shaped lake at about 2,000 m in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, with wooded ridges on every side. It has been a summer escape since the British era, and most visits are short — two or three days on the lake, the Mall Road and the viewpoints above town. Pulp Hotels does not list a stay in Nainital yet.
The lake and the two ends of town
Naini Lake divides the town in two. Mallital, at the northern end, has the Flats, the Naina Devi temple on the shore and the busier end of the Mall Road. Tallital, at the southern end, has the bus stand and the road down to Kathgodam. The Mall Road runs along the lake between them, and rowing and paddle boats leave from both ends. Hotels in the centre are mostly along the Mall and the slopes just above it; quieter stays sit higher up, around Ayarpata and Sukhatal, and outside town towards Bhowali.
Things to do in Nainital
- Naina Devi temple — the temple of the goddess the town is named after, on the northern shore of the lake.
- Snow View Point — reached by the cable car from the Mall Road, with views of the Himalayan peaks on clear mornings.
- Tiffin Top and Naina Peak — walks up to the ridges above town; Naina Peak is the highest point around Nainital.
- Kainchi Dham — the Neem Karoli Baba ashram on the Almora road, about 17 km away, visited by thousands every week.
- The lake towns — Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal, all within an hour, for a quieter day on the water.
Best time to visit Nainital
March to June is the main season, when the plains are hot and the town is full; summer weekends bring heavy traffic and hard parking. October and November have the clearest air and the best mountain views. December to February is cold, and snow falls on the ridges in some winters. July to September is the monsoon, with rain, fog and landslides on the hill roads.
Getting to Nainital
The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, about an hour and a half below by road, with direct trains from Delhi. The nearest airport is Pantnagar, around two hours away. By road, Delhi is about 320 km, a long day's drive. In the busy season, cars are often stopped at the edge of town and shuttles run to the lake, so arrive early and expect to walk.
Where to stay near Nainital
Stay on or near the Mall Road to walk to the lake and the restaurants, in Mallital for the temple and the Flats, or in Tallital for an easy arrival by road. For space and quiet, the lake towns of Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal are good bases a short drive away. Nainital also pairs well with Ramnagar and Jim Corbett, about two hours down the hill.
