Nainital, the lake district jewel of Uttarakhand, is built around the serene Naini Lake nestled among seven hills at an altitude of 2,084 meters. This charming hill station offers breathtaking views o...
Nainital
Lake District of India
Uttarakhand, India
4.7
Naini LakeNaina Devi TempleSnow View
hillStationlake
Duration: 2–3 Days
Budget/day: ₹2,000 – ₹5,000
Best season: Mar – Jun, Sep – Nov
Altitude: 2,084 m
Nearest airport: Pantnagar Airport (65 km)
Nearest railway: Kathgodam Railway Station (34 km)
Best places to visit in Nainital
Things to do in Nainital
Leisure / NatureView full guide1–2 hours
Boating on Naini Lake
Row, sail, or pedal across the emerald-green Naini Lake — a pear-shaped natural lake at 1,938 m altitude, ringed by seven hills. Paddleboats, rowboats, and sailboats are available for hire. The surrounding mountain reflections on calm mornings are postcard-perfect.
Sightseeing / AdventureView full guide30 minutes (round trip)
Cable Car Ride
Ascend to Snow View Point (2,270 m) via the Snow View Ropeway from Mallital — a thrilling 2-minute gondola ride offering panoramic views of Nanda Devi (7,816 m), Nanda Kot, and Trishul peaks on clear days. Telescopes at the top let you zoom in on distant Himalayan glaciers.
Trekking / NatureView full guide3–6 hours
Trekking
Trek through Nainital's forested hills on routes to Naina Peak (2,611 m — Nainital's highest point), Kilbury Bird Sanctuary (via lush oak and rhododendron forest), or the scenic Pangot village loop — rewarding trails with diverse birdlife and valley vistas.
Best Time to Visit and Weather Info
Best time: March to June and September to November
Peak summer is crowded but pleasant. Winters are cold and may see snowfall.
Summer
Best Time ⭐Mar – Jun
10°C – 27°C
Most popular season. Cool weather, boating on Naini Lake, and vibrant mall bazaar activity.
- Book hotels 2–3 months early
- Weekends get very crowded
Autumn
Also Great ⭐Sep – Nov
8°C – 22°C
Fewer tourists, clear skies, and excellent views of the Kumaon Himalayan range.
- Best for photography
- Great deals on hotels
Winter
For Snow ❄️Dec – Feb
-5°C – 10°C
Naini Lake may partially freeze. Snowfall makes the town magical but some roads close.
- Very cold — pack heavy woolens
- Snow View Point is spectacular
Monsoon
Avoid 🔴Jul – Aug
15°C – 25°C
Very heavy rainfall causes landslides. The lake swells and some areas near the shore flood.
- Landslides are common
- Roads from Kathgodam can be blocked
How to Reach
✈️By Air
Airport: Pantnagar Airport (65 km)
Duration: ~2 hrs
Limited flights from Delhi to Pantnagar. Taxis available from the airport to Nainital.
Taxi: ₹1,200 – ₹1,500
Airlines: Air India
🚂By Train
Station: Kathgodam Railway Station (34 km)
Kathgodam is the railhead for Nainital. Well connected with Delhi and Lucknow. Taxis and buses go from Kathgodam to Nainital.
- Shatabdi Express — Delhi (5.5 hrs to Kathgodam)
- Ranikhet Express — Delhi (8 hrs to Kathgodam)
🚌By Road
Regular UPSRTC and private buses from Delhi, Dehradun, and Haldwani. Mountain roads are scenic.
- Delhi: 300 km, 6–7 hrs via Moradabad – Haldwani
- Kathgodam: 34 km, 1 hr via Hill road
- Dehradun: 147 km, 4 hrs via Haridwar – Haldwani
- Haldwani: 40 km, 1.5 hrs via Bhowali
Itineraries
Local Food
Nainital offers a mix of Kumaoni mountain cuisine and popular Indian street food along the Mall Road.
Bal Mithai
Kumaon's most famous sweet — roasted khoya coated in white sugar balls. A must-buy souvenir.
Where: Sharma Sweets, Mall Road
₹200 – ₹400/250g
Bhatt ki Churkani
Black soybean curry — a traditional Kumaoni comfort dish, rarely found outside the hills.
Where: Local Kumaoni restaurants
₹80 – ₹150
Singori
Khoya sweet wrapped in fresh maalu leaf — fragrant, unique, and delicious.
Where: Traditional sweet shops near bazaar
₹15 – ₹25 per piece
Aloo Ke Gutke
Spiced dry potato dish with mustard seeds — a simple Kumaoni household staple.
Where: Local dhabas
₹60 – ₹100
Phaanu
Slow-cooked mixed lentil stew — a nutritious Garhwali–Kumaoni winter specialty.
Where: Traditional Kumaoni eateries
₹80 – ₹130
Hot Corn & Momos
Roasted corn and steamed dumplings are the go-to lakeside snacks in Nainital.
Where: Naini Lake shoreline stalls
₹30 – ₹80
The Mall Road has many restaurants. For authentic Kumaoni food, look for local dhabas away from the tourist strip.
FAQs
- Nainital is famous for the beautiful Naini Lake, boating, Snow View Point, the Naina Devi Temple, Tiffin Top trekking, and the lively Mall Road bazaar.
Best Places Similar
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Nearby destinations
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29 km · Ranikhet, meaning "Queen's Meadow," is a tranquil British-era cantonment hill station in Uttarakhand's Kumaon region offering sweeping views of snow-clad Himalayan peaks including Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Ghunti. Unlike the more commercialized hill stations, Ranikhet has preserved its old-world charm through dense oak and rhododendron forests, apple orchards, and well-maintained colonial bungalows. The Jhula Devi Temple, Asia's highest golf course, and the scenic Chaubatia Gardens make Ranikhet a perfect off-the-beaten-path retreat for nature lovers.
Almora
31 km · Almora, perched on a horseshoe-shaped ridge at 1,638 meters in the Kumaon Himalayas of Uttarakhand, is a centuries-old cultural capital with a rich artistic heritage that has inspired philosophers like Swami Vivekananda and writers like Bill Aitken. The town's distinctive Kumaoni architecture, the ancient Nanda Devi Temple, and the bustling Lal Bazar with its copper handicrafts and traditional Bal Mithai sweet shops reflect a cultural depth rarely found in commercial hill stations. Panoramic Himalayan views from Kasar Devi ridge — a place of meditation for seekers from around the world — and the nearby Jageshwar Jyotirlinga temple complex make Almora an intellectually and spiritually stimulating destination.
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