Nainital - The Lake District

One of the most popular and exquisite hill stations "Nainital" is located in the Kumaon region in the state of Uttarakhand. It is a distinct and famous tourist destination of India.  The town not only lures the domestic travelers and tourists but also a number of foreign tourists.  It shines as a glittering jewel in the Himalayan Mountains and is surrounded with lakes and nature's bounty.

Nainital is a paradise for nature lovers. The most captivating aspect about Nainital is its hilly surroundings and the poised lake. The "Naini Lake" (Tal) offers an enthralling and mesmerizing experience to the tourist which is why it is sometimes referred to as the "Queen of Lakes". Thus with "hills" in the backdrop and the enchanting lake the place offers a calm and imperturbable along with zealous and fervor laden experience for its visitors. The pear shaped lake is encompassed and bounded with hills on all sides.

Some of the important places in the district of Nainital are Haldwani, Kaladhungi, Ramnagar, Bhowali, Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal.

Why is Nainital Famous Hill Station in India?

Nainital is famous for the Naini Lake, the amazing view and the pleasant weather. 

Some of the other places of tourist interest are the Mall, now known as the Govind Ballabh Pant Marg. You can find restaurants, offices and hotels all located in the Mall. Nainital Zoo is a very important tourist spot where you can find rare species of snow leopard, steppe eagle and the Himalayan black bear. The Governor House of the Raj Bhavan with its sprawling gardens is one of the few Raj Bhavnas open for public viewing. Nainital's latest attraction is the Eco Cave Garden where your children can learn about ecosphere.

History of Nainital

After the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16, the Kumaon hills came under the British rule and the hill station Nainital was founded in 1841 when the first European house was constructed by P. Baron, a sugar trader from Shahjahanpur. The oldest buildings of Nainital includes the St. John's church snuggled in the wilderness of Nainital, followed by Belvedere, Alma, Asdale Cottage built in 1860. 

Soon the lesser known town of Nainital became the hotspot of the British soldiers and colonial officials who came with their families to escape the scorching heat of the plain areas. Around 1880, Nainital came to be known as the exclusive British summer getaway in India. In the 19th century, some of the prestigious English schools were established in Nainital that only enrolled British children. 

Mythology of Nainital

Nainital finds mention in various ancient myths and legends. The Naini temple at the banks of Naini Lake holds a lot of significance especially among the Hindus as it is believed to be one of the 64 Shakti Peeths in India.

According to the Hindu mythology, the Naini Lake one of the popular tourist attractions of Nainital is the place where the eyes or 'nain' of Sati fell, when Lord Shiva was carrying her charred body to Kailash.  Therefore, the place came to be known as 'Nain-tal' or the lake of the eye. In the memory of this event, a Naina Devi Temple was built where Goddess Shakti is worshipped by the devotees. The temple is idyllically situated on the north shore of the aesthetic Naini Lake.

Activities in Nainital

There are a number of places that one can pay a visit to while holidaying in Nainital. However, if one has less time, one can surely go for a place which interests him/her the most. Since Nainital offers a number of experiences which ranges from trekking, boating, shopping, picnic, sightseeing, Rope-way, spiritual one and others through a number of places which have these things to offer to the inquisitive and zealous traveler.

Boating: The majestic Naini Lake is the centerpiece of Nainital and boating is one the most popular activity among tourists and honeymoon couples. Yachting is another form of boating that is gaining popularity in Nainital.   

Shopping: Tourists can find few local markets in Nainital like Bara Bazar, Tibetan market and Mall Road market from where one can shop for apparels, handicrafts, artifacts and souvenirs. The markets in Nainital are known for scented candles, key chains, books and artificial jewelry. 

Picnic Spots and Ropeway: Nainital has an aerial ropeway that connects the town with Snow View Point which offers breathtaking view of the lake as well as the surrounding places like China Peak, Tiffin Top and Snow View point. 

Trekking / Hiking: There are several hiking trails in and around Nainital where adventure lovers can hike and explore the nature. Nainital-Betalghat Trek, Nainital-Binayak Trek, Nainital-Kainchi Trek, Nainital-Kilbury Trek and Snow View Trek are popular hiking trails in Nainital.