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Nainital

Nainital

hill station · Uttarakhand

Nainital is a charming Kumaon hill station built around the emerald, eye-shaped Naini Lake.

State
Uttarakhand
Type
Hill Station
Best season
Winter
Things to do
2+

Nainital is a charming Kumaon hill station built around the emerald, eye-shaped Naini Lake. With its boating, the crowded Mall Road, cable car to Snow View and surrounding viewpoints, it is one of North India's most beloved lake resorts.

When to go

Best visited in spring (Mar-May) and autumn (Oct-Nov); summers can be hot and the monsoon wet.

Why visit

A picture-perfect lake town in the Kumaon hills — boating on Naini Lake, a lively Mall Road and Himalayan viewpoints.

Cultural notes

Named after the goddess Naina Devi, whose lakeside temple is a Shakti shrine, Nainital developed as a colonial lake resort and remains the gateway to the Kumaon hills.

How to reach

Nearest rail: Kathgodam (~35 km); nearest airport: Pantnagar (~70 km). Reached by a scenic hill road, ~6-7 hrs from Delhi.

Nainital in 2 days

See the full itinerary

2 days in Nainital

Take the whole plan, or add any single stop.

Naini LakeDay 1

Day 1

Naini Lake

The town's central lake, famous for boating and the lakeside Mall.

Day 1

Naina Devi Temple

Naina Devi Temple

Day 1

Mall Road & Tibetan Market

Mall Road & Tibetan Market

Day 1

Sunset at the lake

Sunset at the lake

Day 2

Day 2

Snow View by cable car

Snow View by cable car

Day 2

Tiffin Top / Land's End

Tiffin Top / Land's End

Bhimtal Lake

Day 2

Bhimtal Lake

Bhimtal is the largest lake in Nainital district and the largest in Kumaon, the region known as the lake district of India, and second in Uttarakhand by surface area. A masonry dam built in 1883 created the storage, so the level you see is held rather than natural. At the centre is an island developed for visitors, with an aquarium on it, a small attraction that will not hold an adult long. The water works for a living as well, supplying drinking water and supporting aquaculture across several fish species.

Nainital guide & itineraries

Nainital is perfect for

familycouplesnature

What & where to eat

Bal Mithai

Mall Road

Bal Mithai

Brown-fudge sweet with sugar balls

Momos

Mall Road

Momos

Hill street snacks

Maggi

Mall Road

Maggi

Hill street snacks

Bhatt ki Churkani

Bhatt ki Churkani

Black-soybean Kumaoni curry

Aloo ke Gutke

Aloo ke Gutke

Spiced Kumaoni potatoes

Kumaoni raita

Kumaoni raita

Local millet flatbread with raita

Madua roti

Madua roti

Local millet flatbread with raita

Nearby getaways

Mukteshwar

~1.5 hrs

Jim Corbett

Jim Corbett

~2.5 hrs

Things to do

How to spend your time in Nainital.

Snow View & Tiffin Top

Snow View & Tiffin Top

Cable-car and viewpoints over the Himalayas

Hidden gems

Bhimtal & Naukuchiatal

Bhimtal & Naukuchiatal

Quieter lakes a short drive away

Popular attractions

The places in Nainital most people come for.

Naini Lake

Naini Lake

Experience

Snow View Point

Snow View Point

Viewpoint

See all attractions

Frequently asked questions

How many days in Nainital?

2 days for the lake, viewpoints and a nearby lake day trip.

Best time for Nainital?

March to June and September to November; winters can see snow.

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