Nainital, Uttar Pradesh

        Nainital is a beautiful hill district situated in the Central Himalayas. Nainital is known as India's 'Lake District' because numerous lakes are spread across it's boundaries. Area of Nainital is 11.73 sq km. It is situated  at an altitude of 1,938 m. It's population size is 30,951. Maximum temperature in summer is 26.7 degree Celsius and minimum is 10.6 degree, while in winter maximum is 15.6 degree and minimum can plunge to 2.8 degree. It's receives an annual average rainfall of 2,794 mm. March to June and mid-September to end of October is the best season to visit Nainital. Light woolens or cottons in summer and heavy woolen in winter are suggested. Hindi, English and Kumaoni are the chief languages that are spoken. The town is set around Naini lake (tal) and hence the name. Today Nainital is the summer residence of the governor of Uttar-Pradesh. Most of the better hotels are at the northern end of the lake, known as Mallital.

Accomodation

• Hotel Arif Castles
  Jahargirabad House,
  Mallital Tel: 35801-3.
  
• Holiday Inn
  Grasmere Estate.
  Tel: 35531.
• Vikram Vintage Inn
  Mallital.
  Tel: 36177, 36179.
• Shervani Hilltop Inn.
  Tel: 3128.
• Grand Hotel
  Mallital.
  
• UP Tourism
  Tourist Reception Centre,
  Tel: 35337.

How to reach there
Air: Pantnagar airport is 71 kms away but does not have regular flights.

Rail: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam which is 35 km away. On the metre-guage line, Kathgodam is connected by direct services to Lucknow, Delhi, Agra and Barielly. The Railway booking office in Tallital. From Delhi one can travel to Barielly, 250 kms away, by rail, Barielly to Kathgodam by metre-guage and on to Nainital by road.

Road: Nainital is connected to all the major National and State highways. There are direct and regular buses for Agra (403 km), Badrinath (334 km), Barielly (140 km), Dehradun (387 km), Delhi (322 km), Lucknow (401 km), Almora (66 km), Ranikhet (66 km), Kausani (120 km). The bus stand is at Tallital. During May, June and October, the entry of heavy vehicles is closed from 8 am to 11.30 am and 2.30 pm to 10.30 pm, light vehicles from 6 pm to 10 pm and the entry of cycle rickshaws is closed from 6 pm to 9 pm. Nainital is full of private companies offering bus and taxi trips.

What to see
Dorothy's Seat: at a height of 2,292 m is a memorial to an English lady believed to have been killed in an air crash. The spot commands a sectional view of the town and the nearby region. The peak was known as Ayarpatta Hill. Dorothy's seat is also known as Tiffin Top.

Hanumangarhi: It is a religious centre at an height of  1,951 m. This group of temples is situated at a distance of 3.25 km on a motorable road. It is well known for it's sunset view.This temple is dedicated to the monkey god Hanuman. This is a favourite picnic place. Just 1 km further is the State Astronomical Observatory, which stands on Manora Peak, 1950 metres above sea level. with satellite tracking cameras and a big telescope. It can be visited by prior appointment on certain days. It is four and a half kms from Tallital bus stand. It is 11 kms by motor road and looks out towards the plains. 

St John-in-the-Wilderness Church: It is one of the earlieat buildings erected in Nainital and possibly the finest church in any Indian Hill station. The church was named by the bishop of Calcutta who came to Nainital in 1844, when the place was still very much a wilderness. This church contains a brass memorial to the victims of famous landslip. Bodies of few victims were buried in the graveyard here.  The other two main churches in the Central Nainital are the Methodist Church on the Mall near the Flats and the Roman Catholic Church of St Francis, also on the Mall.

Naina Devi Temple:This red-roofed temple of Naina devi is situated on the northern end of  Naini Lake, after whom the town is named.  "Naina" means "eye" and "tal" means "lake". It is believed that the eye of the goddess Parvati fell into the lake as her spouse Shiva was carrying her back to his dwelling on Mount Kailash. There is festival here during August/September in honour of Nanda Devi, who is patron goddess of Kumaon.

High Altitude Zoo: It is situated at an altitude of 2,075 m at a distance of 1.5 km from the bus station. It is famous for animals that live in high altitude regions.

Khurpa Tal: A real paradise for anglers, the lake is supposedly inhabited by numerous fish. It is 5 km from Nanital.

Kilbury: Situated at an height of 2,528 m, this is a good place for a quiet weekend holiday and picnic, 12 km away from town. A Forest Rest House is also available for stay. Apply to D.F.O, Nainital for permit. No restaurant is available here.

Children's Park: Municipal Garden and Horticultural Park are the other parks in Nainital.

Naina Peak (Cheena Peak): Situated at an altitude of 2,611 m, is this highest point within Nainital and commands superb views of Nanda Devi mountains and the mountains on the Tibetan order. It is 6 km away and is approximately 2.5 hour walk from town. One can also drive to Tonnekay on the Kilbury road, and from here the peak is approximately a one hour walk. There is a 4 room log cabin for tourists. Anyone wishing to stay overnight is advised to take his or her own bedding and food. 

Naini Lake: It is this lake around which the town of Nainital is situated. The lake is shaped like an eye or crescent and is surrounded by hills on all side. The lake is said to be one of the emerald green eyes (Naina) of Siva's wife which fell at this site and hence the name Naini Tal.

Snow View : This is a scenic place at an height of 2,270 m. It is accessible by foot, on horse back or by a chairlift (ropeway). Peaks of Nanda Devi peaks can be seen through a powerful binocular telescope fixed here. 

Some Entertsintment
      Boating on Naini lake is a must during a trip to Nainital. Row boats, paddle boats and yachts are available.  Horse riding can be enjoyed on the busy Mall Road of the town. Horse rides are available to visit Pashan Devi temple, Land's End, Dorothy Seat (Tiffin Top), Snow View, and Naina Peak. Horse Stand is in Mallital, opposite State Bank of India.  Nainital is an officially notified bird sanctuary and an ideal place to pursue this activity. A check list of almost 150 species can be spotted here.  Nainital boasts of one of the best Golf Course in Northern India. 
      Cable car ride can be enjoyed for a visit to Snow View. The ropeway carriages are open from 8 am to 6 pm in summer and from 9.30 am to 4 pm in winters.  Mountaineering and trekking equipment can be hired from the Nainital Mountaineering Club and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, Tourist reception Centre, Mallital.
      TheFlats are the sporting centre of Nainital. During the season, large crowds gather to watch hockey and other matches on this stretch of grey shale at the edge of the lake. Here is the main Pony Stand. The Flats are the remains of the 1880 landslide which left 151 dead and destroyed the Victoria Hotel, and Bell's department store as well as the original Naina Devi temple.

Lands End : This place is 4 km from town, at a height of 2,118 m. A magnificent view of Khurpa Tal and the terraced field on the hill side is available from here. 

What to Shop
Mallital and Tallital are the main markets of Nainital with latter being more extensive. Kumaon Woolens in the Mallital bazaar sell shawls and locally made tweed. Tibetan Market is near Naina Devi Temple, Mallital. Nainital is known for it's beautiful candles and Bal Mithai sweet. For local handicrafts Gupta Gift Emporium, Bara Bazaar, Mallital can be visited which offers cane sticks, candles, wood craft etc. Hill Top Tourist Point, The Mall, Nainital,   Kasta Kala Kendra, and Chorekhet Collection also have local handicrafts.

Tourist Info

• Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd,
  Oak Park, Nainital.
  Tel :- (05942)-36209, 36356 
• Uttar Pradesh Tourism,
  Tourist Office, Nainital.
  Tel :- (05942)-35337.

Around the City
Bamboo Chalets: Bamboo Chalets is a cluster of huts and age-old silver oaks, swaying to a gently blowing wind, a silence broken only by the twittering of Himalayan birds. If you have a taste for the country life and an interest in flora and fauna, in history and culture, then Bamboo Chalets is worth visiting. There is a lot to be experienced here besides the outdoors with lots of exotic flowers, and the well-stocked library. One can explore the magaliths of Devidhura, the prehistoric rock paintings of Lakhudiyar, Corbett's Kaladhungi or his trail in the interior hills, the colonial architecture of Kumaon, Lingard's Mukteshwar, Ramsay's Naintal or for that matter, any other place in the Kumaon Himalayas. There are many options for even purely physical activities like rock climbing, rappelling, swimming or angling. Bamboo Chalets is a holiday camp at Bhimtal (20 kms from Nainital), in the lake district of Kumaon, on the Naukuchiatal road, just a kilometre from the Bhimtal lake. Bamboo Chalets (Nainital), tel:05942-38615, 47099. (Delhi) tel: 011-4648532; Fax: 4648634; email: bam-boochalets@hotmail.com.

Bhimtal:  Is 22 km from Nainital. This lake resort is named after one of the Pandavas. It has developed into an independent tourist centre with water sports facilities. It is situated at an altitude of 1,371 m. Rowing boats are available. 

Naukuchia Tal: Situated at an altitude of 1,219 m is this 9 cornered lake and hence it's name `Naukuchia Tal'. It is 26 km from Nainital and attracts migratory birds. Both Yachts and paddle boats are available and this is a favourite spot for anglers. This is an area famous for its orchards, and the fact that it was here that Rabindranath Tagore completed his collection of poems, Gitanjali, which won him the noble prize. 

Sat Tal: It is a group of seven interconnected lakes and hence it is called Sat (seven) Tal. It is situated at an altitude of 1,371 m at a distance of 21 km from Nainital via the fruit market of bhowali. the land here is mainly privately owned and the forests of pine and oak have been preserved. By the three main lakes, known as Ram, Sita, Lakshman, there are a couple of tea stalls and a few paddle boats. There is also a small tourist resthouse by these lakes for overnight halts.  

Kaladhungi: It is 35 km from Nainital and was the winter home of noted hunter and naturalist, Jim Corbett. At the base of hills, in the Terai region is surrounded by thick forests of sal, it offers immense opportunities for a naturalist. 

Ramgarh: It is 26 km from Nainital. A picturesque hamlet set in the heart of apple, plum, peach and apricot orchards. This fruit belt of Kumaon is famous for it's juicy fruits all over India. 

Ramnagar: Ramnagar on the banks of the Kosi river is the headquarters of Corbett National Park. It is 50 km from Nainital and offers many opportunities for outdoor sports. 

Bhowali: It is 11 km from Nainital, situated at an altitude of 1,706 m on the main Haldwani-Almora road. Bhowali is a major fruit market and health resort. Only 3 km from here is Ghorakhal, famous for a temple to Gollu Devta, a demi god highly revered by the Kumaonis. The famous Sainik School of India is also situated here. 

Jeolikote: It is a famous health centre and for the production of honey, mushrooms and fruits. It is 18 km from Nainital and an attraction for butterfly catchers. 

Mukteshwar: Situated at an elevation of 2,286 m, at a distance of 52 km from Nainital, is this beautiful Himalayan resort surrounded by fruit orchards and thick coniferous forests. The famous Indian Veterinary Research Institute is also situated here. 

Binayak and Kunjkharak: Binayak is 22 kms from Nainital, at 2,225 metres, and Kunjkharak, 38 kms from Nainital, 16 kms from Binayak at 2,600 metres. The latter has the most spectacular position, but no bedding, and the nearest water supply is a km away. One can either hire a car or walk to these locations. Binayak and Kunjkhrak can be used as bases for short treks. the resthouses can be booked through the Divisional Forest Officer, Nainital.

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