Nainital- a hill-town blessed by goddess and protected by Himalayas

Nainital is one of the most favourite hill stations in India among nature enthusiasts, foreign tourists and those who wish to give their kids a proper, European-style education.

Built-in 1841 by a British sugar trader, gradually Nainital became a popular summer resort-cum-health retreat for colonial officers and their families. Once they were gone, Nainital was hunted by inhabitants and tourists alike; for its mystic, Himalayan connection, the ancientness and legends of goddess Naina Devi (after her, the town was named), the remnants of the colonial era and the wonderful educational institutions that Nainital offered.

Right now, it’s a thriving hill station that boasts of breathtaking natural sites as well as man-made attractions, a group of citizens who work tirelessly for the improvement and preservation of its natural habitat, and an influx of tourists from various corners of the country who love to enjoy various times of life, from summer holidays to honeymoon in here.

Getting in

By air

There is no direct flight connectivity between Nainital and the rest of the country. The nearest airdrome is Pantnagar airport that’s 2 hours drive from Nainital.

Till around 2 years ago, Pantnagar had flight connectivity operated by Kingfisher and Jagson airlines, but now they have stopped functioning.

Again, you can visit this town via the New Delhi airport that is globally connected to various metropolises. From the outside of Delhi airport, you can hire cabs/taxis and they may charge you around Rs. 4000-4500 to cover the distance of approx 290 km from Delhi to Nainital.

By train

The nearest railway station of Nainital is located at Kathgodam, another quaint hill-town almost 34 km from the former.
Kathgodam station has direct train operations from Delhi, Howrah, Lucknow and Gorakhpur.
Popular trains like Bagh Express, Kranti Express, and Dehradun-Kathgodam Express serve in this route.
Outside of the Kathgodam railway station, you can get shared cabs/taxis towards Nainital.

By road

Nainital is well-connected to major cities in North India via buses, especially with Delhi. From there, you will get various options like Volvo, AC/Non-AC buses.

Some offer an overnight journey, the rest of them operates during daylight.
Going to Nainital by car from Delhi is also a pleasant journey of 6-7 hours with smooth NH 87, occasional halts at little places and the scenic beauty at both sides once you get out of the capital city.
Places of attraction

Before Switzerland cast its spell over Bollywood, Nainital was the favourite shooting spot for many big-budget and famous Hindi films for its pristine beauty, picturesque cottages and the obvious charm of Naini Lake.

Naini Lake

The magnet of Nainital is the eye-shaped Nainital lake- whether you take a peaceful, leisurely stroll around the lake or go for an exciting boat ride; the beauty of this calm water body will take your breath away and evoke romance. The mesmerizing lake happens to be among the best nainital places for short journey trips
With ducks swimming all around, the pretty post-office-on-the-bridge over the lake that joins Tallital and Mallital, the azure water and occasional clouds above- transform you into another time.

Gurney house

It’s the previous abode of legendary hunter-author-conservationist Jim Corbett, who lived here before he had gone to Kenya.

More than 100 years old, Gurney House is a must-visit for those who read and loved the adventure tales of Jim Corbett and want to know more about the man behind them. It’s a well-preserved museum now with priceless memorabilia and rare photographs.

Naina Devi Temple

A celebrated temple in a pristine location, that gives you a brilliant view of the hill station and Naini lake from the temple premise- Naini Devi is a must-visit place irrespective of your faith if you touring around Nainital.

Eco Cave Gardens

A must visit place for adrenaline junkies; the Eco cave garden is naturally built, has six caves in the area and is just next to the Kumaon university campus.

It’s a bunch of underground interconnected caves and tunnels that are narrow, damp and dark- thus make exploring them a doubly exciting as well as frightening experience. At the end of your adventure, you will be rewarded with a Disneyland-themed musical fountain and a brilliant panoramic view.

Besides these above four places, Nainital is a goldmine with innumerable tourist sites. Some of them are- Governor’s house, high-altitude zoo, Naina peak, Bhimtal to name a few.

What to eat

Being close to Delhi and frequented by Delhites, the cuisine of Nainital is influenced a lot by Punjabi food culture.
Sher-e-Punjab, Machan, Chandni Chowk are good options when it comes to Indian food.
Embassy, Purohit, Giannis Pure Veg offer yummy veg items. Sakley’s restaurant is a dream for those who- cherish bakery items and Asian/Continental food.

What to shop for

Barra Bazar and the Mall road are two prime shopping destinations in Nainital. Pick up the locally made jam, woollen garments, scarves and wooden handiworks for memorable souvenirs.

Places to Stay Being a perennially popular hill station, Nainital has an interesting mix of hotels, resorts and home-stay options for accommodation. For budget travellers, The Pavilion and Hotel Himalaya are good selections.
Shervani Hiltop, The Earl’s court, and Alpine Club are great for mid-range travellers.

If you like to splurge, then Sparrow Swiss Cottages, The Naini Retreat, The Manu Maharani are some of the perfect choices.

Do’s

• Take a walk around Naini lake during the evening, to see the whole place get brilliantly lighted up
• Take up a short term course on Yoga or rock climbing, if you stay a little longer in this place.

Don’t

• Gurney house is private property, so you need to take permission before visiting this place.
• The caves of Eco cave gardens are quite narrow and slippery. Don’t try them out if you have joint pain or despise closed space.

Some info for travellers

• Though March to June is the ideal time to visit this place, if you look for discounted deals from hotels and transportation fares, then monsoon is the ideal time ( July-Sept)

Sometimes called the ‘Switzerland of India’- Nainital was once a quaint, little town that is now taking giant leaps to become a bustling metropolis. Go and see this place, before it becomes another concrete jungle with decaying nature. It will be the trip of a lifetime for you.