Nainital – The Lake District of India

Nainital is one of the most admired and exotic hill stations in India, a place tourists love to visit owing to its scenic natural beauty. It is situated right in the Kumaon foothills which are at the outer Himalayas. This is one of the reasons which have made the city a lot more popular. Along with the local and national tourists, the place is also frequented by hordes of foreign tourists every year. The lakes in the city are not only popular in the vicinity but are well known throughout the country. Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi are official languages here but people also understand English as well. However, the localites have their own language known as Kumaoni. Literacy rate in Nainital is a staggering 84.85% which is pretty good. Indian tourism has got a huge boost due to Nainital and its attractions.

Nainital History

Nainital derives its history from various mythologies and legends of the ancient Indian era. The city was founded in the year 1841 when India was under the British rule. They also developed houses and buildings in the city which are still very famous. Previously, it was a holiday destination for the British soldiers and colonial officials. Since the city also has English Schools, many British children were enrolled in them. It is one of the most eminent Uttarakhand districts since a long time.

Geography of Nainital

Nainital is located in the Kumaon region of the outer Himalayas at an altitude of 2,084 meters above sea level and is one of the major districts of Uttarakhand. This high altitude also benefits the city as it provides magnificent panoramic views on all sides. There are many small mountains in the region and the have an elevation of around 1940 – 2100 meters. There is a vast plain in the South offering stunning views and the complete snowy range is located towards the North which combines together to form the Himalayas.

Climatic Conditions of Nainital

Since it is a hilly region, Nainital weather and the temperature here is always below average from the rest of the country. During the summers, the maximum temperature reaches only up to 27 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature hovers around 7 degree Celsius. One can witness snowfall in the region from the month of December till February.

Best Time to Visit Nainital

The best time to visit Nainital is definitely during the summer as the city has its best climate during the months of March to May. You might be surprised to know that during these months, the population of the city grows more than five times due to a heavy influx of tourists from all around. If you want to see the snowfall and enjoy the hill station in winter, you surely can but be wary of the chilly climate which can drop as low as –3 degree Celsius at times.

Nainital Tourism: The Best Tourist Attractions

Tourism in Nainital is one of the biggest sources of income for people here and it is filled with so many holiday spots. It attracts tourists from all over the world which makes Nainital an astonishing part of the incredible India.

• Naini Lake: Naini Lake is definitely among the best Nainital sightseeing places. Uttarakhand tourism has got a huge boost due to this tourist spot as it is one of the most visited lakes in the entire country.
• Nainital Zoo: It is one of the most amazing Nainital tourist attractions and wildlife enthusiasts will love to spend time here. The zoo is also quite infamous among kids and they can have a good time with a large number of exotic animals that are present here. Even the Binsar wildlife sanctuary is located close-by if you want to visit it.
• Naina Devi Temple: The Naina Devi temple is a well known Shakti Peeths of the Hindu religion. It is among the most popular temples in Nainital which is frequented by locals and tourists alike. You will also spot some foreigners here which are a testimony of how famous the place is.
• Governor’s House: This was also known as Raj Bhawan and was built in 1899 by F.W. Stevens. This is the house for the governor of Uttarakhand. The house consists of a large garden, two storied mansion with 113 rooms, the golf course, swimming pool. For visiting this place one should take prior permission.
• Naini Peak: This is also known as China peak and it is the highest peak in Nainital. This peak is 6 km away from the northern end (Mallital). From the top of this peak, one can take a view of whole Nainital.
• Snow View: This is located at an altitude of 7,450 ft. Cable cars are a convenient means to reach this place. Per person charges for this cable car are Rs 150 and you can stay for an hour at this point. This point is opened from 10 am till 5 pm on a clear day. The snow covered the Himalayas are best to see from this point.
• Tiffin Top: It is also known as Dorothy’s seat which is one of the best vacation spots in Nainital. From here, you can get a bird’s eye view of the complete city which looks just marvelous. It offers a calm and serene environment, so you can just chill out and relax with your family or friends.
• Eco Cave Garden: Probably the most beautiful Nainital holiday destinations in the city, the Eco Cave Garden is a unique tourist attraction which has developed recently. It has many interconnected caves within it. For those who like exploring caves, they must give a visit here.

Shopping Hunt in Nainital

Tourists usually buy loads of special items during their visit to Nainital. Although there are a few shopping malls in Nainital, the real authentic goods that the city has to offer are available in the local markets. Below are the spots that are famous for people who love shopping and they will find almost anything that they are looking for out here.

• Nainital Mall Road: You will spot the typical long chain of shops here which is symbolic of buzzy Indian markets. Almost all kinds of items are available here for purchase. The place is crowded in the evenings; it is the time when tourists roam around on a shopping hunt.
• Tibetan Market: The Tibetan market is also known as the Bhotia market among the locals. Bargaining is a skill that you must possess if you want to get the best deals out of the market. It has a huge variety of clothes to offer and tourists usually buy warm clothes, shawls, jackets and mufflers from here.
• Bara Bazaar: Bara Bazaar is a place which is loved by shoppers as well as foodies equally. In the peak hours of the market, you will find rush at various food stalls around the place. It is also a great place for buying fruits and the locals stock their daily goods from this market.

Interesting Facts about Nainital

• There are total 64 Shakti Peeths in Hindu mythology and it is believed that the Naini Lake is one of them.
• It is believed that Sati’s eyes fell in the region where the lake is situated and that’s why it is called as Naini-Tal which translates to the lake of the eye.
• It is often said in Nainital stories that the person who built the first house in the city believed that the place is the best site that he had witnessed throughout his journey on the Himalayas.
• Schools were started being established in the early 19^th century here as the kids of the British soldiers studied here.
• Rituals after death in the city are performed strictly as per the norms here and there are many influences of superstitions in the last rites.

Hotels and Resorts in Nainital

There are various budget hotels in Nainital and if you want a more luxury place to stay, there are some good resorts in Nainital as well. Nainital hotels are very customer friendly and offer you rooms at good prices as well. Here are the best and the cheap hotels in Nainital which you can choose to stay in during your holidays:

1. Himalaya Hotel: Near Bus Stand,Mallital, Nainital
2. Shervani Hilltop Nainital: Mallital, Nainital
3. Hotel Chevron Fairhavens: Adjacent To Head Post Office, Mallital, Nainital
4. Hotel Krishna: Mall Rd, Nainital
5. The Manu Maharani: Grassmere Estate, Mallital, Nainital

Higher Educational Institutions in Nainital

Although the major occupation of Nainital lies in the tourism industry, there are various places of higher education in the city. Below are the most reputed ones:

1. Kumaun University: Sleepy Hallow, Nainital
2. Thakur Dev Singh Bisht Campus: Nainital
3. Motiram Baburam Govt. Post Graduate College: Nainital Road, National Highway 87, Haldwani
4. Pyarelal Nandkishore Galbaliye: Ramnagar, Nainital
5. Sherwood College: Nainital

Hospitals in Nainital

Hospitals are indeed a necessity for every locality and even in a tourist destination like Nainital, mishaps occur every now and then. These are the most popular hospitals in the city where you can head anytime in case you need to:

1. City hospital and research center: Bareilly Road, Haldwani, Nainital
2. Krishna Hospital & Research Center: 3-136, Guru Nanak Pura, Haldwani, Nainital
3. Sanjeevani Hospital: Nawabi Road, Nawabi Road, Nainital
4. Balaji Hospital: Smata Ashram Line, Rampur Road, Haldwani, Nainital
5. Brij Lal Hospital: Anandi Tower, Nainital Road, National Highway 87, Haldwani

If you are planning to visit a hill station in the country, visit Nainital as there are so many popular destinations here and the climate is just perfect. Nainital tourist places are not only famous in the city or the state but they are well known throughout India. You can plan a visit simply by getting a Nainital tour package which you can easily get from a travel agent. Enjoy your holidays here and make the most of the tourism in India.