Nainital is a Himalayan resort town in the Kumaon region of India’s Uttarakhand state, at an elevation of roughly 2,000m. Formerly a British hill station, it’s set around Nainital Lake, a popular boating site with Naina Devi Hindu Temple on its north shore. A cable car runs to Snow View observation point (at 2,270m), with vistas over the town and mountains including Nanda Devi, Uttarakhand’s highest peak.
One of the most beautiful lakes of the country, Nainital lakes is known for its exquisiteness. It is one of the four lakes of Kumaun Hills which includes the Sattal Lake, Bhimtal Lake and the Naukuchiyatal Lake besides the Nainital Lake. The famous lake finds its mentions in ancient scriptures and many poems by prominent writers. Naina Devi Temple is situated on this lake where it is believed that Sati’s eye’s fell to earth after her act of self-immolation.
One of the popular picnic spots in Nainital, the Tiffin Top is a place where you can get enjoy the spectacular scenery of Nainital from its highest point. Also called the Dorothy’s Seat, it is located on the Ayarpatta Hills, offering a gorgeous 360 degree view of the Lake District. It was named Dorothy’s Seat by a British Army Officer in the memory of her wife Dorothy Kellet who died from septicemia.
If we check out the most visited tourist spots in Nainital, Snow view point is surely the most visited and loved spot by people all over. The mountain also has a temple to which residents worship. While you move in the cable rope, you can have a great view of the Nainital lake.
The High Altitude Zoo, officially known as GB Pant High Altitude Zoo, is a one-of-a-kind zoo that is known for its intriguing location at 2,100 meters above sea level. Expanded across 4.6 acres of lush greenery, the zoo was built in 1984 and is one among the only three high altitude zoos in India. Home to numerous endangered and rare species of birds and animals, the zoo allows you to spot Royal Bengal tigers, Tibetan Wolves, the Himalayan Bear,
Constructed during the British colonial rule, Mall Road is the primary road which goes through the core of the Nainital town parallel to the lake, interfacing the two closures of the town. It is now named as the Govind Ballabh Pant Marg. The road is one of the most vibrant places to visit in Nainital.
Situated within proximity of Nainital's famous Mall Road, Eco Cave Garden is one of those tourist places in Nainital which have gained importance in the recent past. A cluster of natural caves transformed into a cave garden, Eco Cave Gardens is home to 6 intriguing animal-shaped caves that offers children as well as adults an opportunity to experience several animals in an almost-natural habitat.
One of the primary tourist places in Nainital, specifically for family vacationers, Nainital Ropeway sees hundreds of visitors daily. A three-minute ride over the spellbinding landscape of Nainital, the aerial ropeway takes you from Mallital, near Mall Road, to Snow View Point which offers one of the most astonishing views in Nainital.
Situated at an altitude of 2,615 km, Naina Peak is known for its breathtaking bird's eye perspective of the town, the Himalayas and furthermore, the immense breadths of the Terai areas of Kumaon. The Nanda Devi Peak and the mountains of the Tibet border are visible from the top of this peak. Also known as the China Peak (before the 1962 Indo-China war), it is situated at a 10 km distance from the Tallital Bus Stand of Nainital. The famous place is one of the most recommended places to visit in Nainital on a vacation.
If you want to have a stunning view from a mountain top, Lands end is probably one of the best places to head. The best part about this spot is that visitors don’t need to climb much and can reach the place which is rightly named as Lands end.
It is a famous lake located in the town of Bhimtal. The reason why it is so famous is because of the masonry dam built in the year 1883 which enabled a good storage facility. It has a catchment area of around 17.12 sq km which is quite large.
Sattal as the name says is a body of 7 freshwater lakes in the lower Himalayan range. The place is near Bhimtal which is a popular town in the district of Nainital. As the pollution level has grown in the recent times, Sattal is one of the few unpolluted and unspoiled freshwater biomes in our country.
Kilbury bird sanctuary is the ultimate destination for anyone who loves watching birds. Due to this reason, it is also called as the bird watcher's paradise.
One more religiously significant sites in the list of famous places to visit in Nainital, Kainchi Dham was built in 1962 by Neem Karoli Baba, the founder of Hanuman Garhi. A temple and an ashram, Kainchi Dam is engulfed by lush greenery and marvelous hills. Set alongside a glistening river, the temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is visited by several believers and worshippers regularly.
The former summer house of Jim Corbett, the British naturalist, tracker, and hunter, Gurney House is a heritage site and one of the most important places to visit in Nainital, especially for architecture enthusiasts. A short walk from the famous Mall Road, the 18th-century British house is surrounded by lush gardens and has been preserved to give its visitors a feel of how Jim Corbett lived here during the 1800s.
One of the most visited tourist places in Nainital, St John Church, also known as St John’s the Wilderness, is a breathtaking church constructed in the 1800s. Named by a bishop from Kolkata, the church takes you back to a historical era while giving you all the time to compose yourself and reflect within.
A quaint hill station within Nainital, Jeolikote is among the most peaceful sightseeing places in Nainital for travellers wanting to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and unwind themselves. Commonly known as the ‘Gateway to Naini Lake’, the area serves as a pitstop for tourists heading towards Nainital but it also makes for a great detour if you wish to explore the surrounding areas.
One of the most panoramic sightseeing places in Nainital, Pangot is a small colony near Nainital which is most famous for its lush green jungles and bird community. To reach Pangot, you have to travel through the enchanting forests of Cheena Park Range through Snow View Point and Kilbury, which are considered to be the main bird habitats around the area.
Naukuchiatal, literally meaning ‘lake of nine corners’, is a quintessential hill station coined after the namesake lake which is believed to be the deepest in Nainital. An extremely beautiful yet peaceful place, the area is a hub of interesting activities for adventure lovers.
If you are looking for a quiet time to spend with family or your significant other, KamalTal Lake is one of the favourite places to visit in Nainital for many. It is a small lake, spanned over just only 200 metres. However, the small size of the lake does not affect the beauty of it in any way. An abundant amount of lotuses bloom here during lotus season, which is why the name KamalTal (Lotus Lake).
One of seven lakes of famous SatTal (seven lakes) is GarurTal, a famous Nainital tourist places. Set at an altitude of 4500 ft above sea level, Garur Tal is mysteriously connected to all the other six lakes of SatTal. Surrounded by dense forest and pine trees from all its sides, this lake remains untouched by the trend of commercialization and in turn pollution.