Nainital India Tourist Attractions

Nainital is a popular hill station in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and headquarters of Nainital district in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Situated at an altitude of 2,084 metres (6,837 ft) above sea level, Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (2,615 m (8,579 ft)) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m (7,999 ft)) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m (7,474 ft)) on the south. From the tops of the higher peaks, "magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas."

History

It is believed that Nainital figures in some ancient myths of India. In the Manas Khand of the Skand Puranas, Nainital Lake is called Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, hinting at the story of three sages (or rishis), Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha, who, upon finding no water in Nainital, dug a large hole at the location of the present day lake (sarovar = lake) and filled it with water from the holy lake Manasarovar in Tibet. According to lore, a dip in Naini Lake, "the lesser Manasarovar," earns merit equal to a dip in the great lake.

It is also believed that The Naini Lake is one of the 64 Shakti Peeths, or religious sites where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The spot where Sati's eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or lake of the eye. The goddess Shakti is worshipped at the Naina Devi Temple on the north shore of the present day lake.

Transportation

By train
The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, 35 km away. You can also board taxis on sharing basis which would cost 75 per person. Most hotels will arrange for a pick up on prior request. You can also walk out of Kathgodam station, the bus station is only 100 meters away, take a bus to Nainital.

By road
There are daily bus services from Delhi. The buses leave from ISBT Anand Vihar delhi and are run by Uttarakhand Roadways.

Driving to Nainital takes 7 to 8 hours. From Delhi, it's highway driving throughout. NH 24 connects Delhi to Rampur via Hapur. At Rampur, turn and head north on NH 87 all the way up to Nainital. En-route halts include the Wonderland, Rwy crossing, Moradabad and The Cottage, Jeliokot.

By plane
Contrary to popular belief, flying into Nainital is the fastest way to reach the hill station. Nainital is served by PantNagar Airport, located about 2 hours away. It is one of the least busy airports in the country, handling only 6 scheduled flights a week.

Inside City
There are a few cycle rickshaws in town. Rates are fixed at 10 rupees from one end of the mall road to the other. Mall Road is the road along the Naini lake, which is also known as Upper Mall road and Lower Mall road.
However, there is no better way to explore Nainital than on foot. The mall road has smooth pavements, making it extremely pedestrian-friendly. During the summer season, all traffic is denied entry on the upper mall road from 6 to 9PM, making the road a pedestrian's dream. The town is not very large and there are some very interesting shops and emporiams on the mall, making the walk a pleasure.

Tourism

Snow View, Sher-Ka-Danda Ridge : Located at an altitude of 2270 m, Snow View offers spectacular views of the Naina Devi Peak. It can be reached by the Aerial Express Ropeway. Round trip:Rs 100. One-way: Rs 50. There is a place called Mountain Magic, which offers Bumping cars, Go karting facilities.

Nanda Devi Temple Naini Lake. The temple was destroyed during the Landslip of 1880, and was later rebuilt. It is on the lake's northern shore.

St. John in the Wilderness, Mallital. This charming church was named and founded by the Bishop of Calcutta.

Tiffin Top, Aryapatta Hill. Altitude: 2292 m. To get here you can drive up to Sherwood College and then continue on a short scenic walk.

Gurney House, Aryapatta Hill. This was the former home of Jim Corbett. It has been converted into a museum and houses Corbett memorabilia.

Guano Hills, Pangot. These hills in the Pangot village are excellent for walks through forests of thick oak, bamboo and deodar. Some rare birds such as the grey woodpecker and black-chinned babbler are found in the forests.

Naina Devi Temple, This temple was constructed in the 15th Century during the Kushan reign but on other hand, an another version states that it was built by Moti Ram Shah.

Naina Lake is set amidst seven mountains that surround this stagnant water pool and high peaks that almost touch the sky.

Sariyatal is a stream on Kaladhungi Road. The water in the stream is extremely cold but is a nice place to spend some time.

Nainital Photo Gallary