Welcome the Lake City of Uttarakhand
Nainital is one of the most gorgeous hill stations in Northern India. The natural unflawed beauty around this place is simply arresting. Nature lovers from around the globe come here to spend quiet and peaceful holidays. Nainital is located in the Gagar Valley of the Himalayas.
It is perched at an elevation of 1,930 m above sea level. It has a strategic location near Jim Corbett National Park and the distance between these two places is about 65 km. Nainital is also known as the ‘Lake District’ or as the city of 60 lakes. The region is famous for its five captivating lakes- Nainital, Bhimtal, Naukuchital, Khurpatal, and Sattal.
History of City :
Nainital has been mentioned in the ancient Hindu mythological legends. It is said that Nainital is one of the 64 Shakti Peeths and some parts of the burned body of Parvati fell here when Lord Shiva was carrying it. But the modern Nainital came into being after the European businessman P. Barron discovered the immense beauty of the place and then the other English people started coming here for summer holiday recreations. There is a belief that once the water of the Lake was so crystal clear that the reflection of the seven hills could be seen here. The seven hills are- Alma, Avarpata, Deopata, LariaKanta, Sher-ka-Danda, Cheena and HandiBandi.
One can choose from a diverse range of recreation activities here- enjoying the scenic beauty or boating or paddling in the lake, or yachting or indulging oneself in a variety of adventure sports. Nainital has evolved itself into a major tourist spot over the years with a multiplying number of visitors coming to this place. The most practical way to roam around and explore here is on foot.
Popular tourist hubs such as the Mall are generally shut for vehicles in the evening. There are a few interesting shopping destinations here where one can bargain for local handicrafts, woolens, shawls and fresh produce like fruits and jams. Besides shopping, if one decides to sight some rare animals, then Nainital Zoo is the right place to visit. There are a few rare species to be found here such as the snow Leopard, Steppe Eagle and Himalayan Black Bear.
There are a few unique places over here where one can get acquainted with the wonders of nature. One such place is the Eco Cave Garden where kids can have fun and learn about the Ecosphere. Nainital also hosts many schools and research institutes.
Some reputed schools from the British period are Sherwood College, St Joseph’s College, and Sainik School. The Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) is the place for astronomical studies and tracking of artificial satellites.
Nainital experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. The maximum temperature during the summers is 27 c and in winter it is around 7 c. During the winter season, it also received a subtle amount of snowfall from December to January which is the peak time of the visitors.
How to Reach
By Air
The nearby airport is in Pant Nagar, which is situated at a distance of 70 km from Nainital. One can find taxis and cabs from the airport to reach Nainital through well connected motorable roads.
By Train
The nearby railway station is Kathgodam, which is 40 km away from Nainital. It has regular trains from major cities of India like Lucknow, Delhi and Kolkata.
By Road
You can easily reach Nainital by road. It is well connected to nearby major cities.
