Nainital
 A
small town in the hills of Kumaon, Nainital is a lovely hill station
surrounded by mountains on three sides. It is also called the City of 60
lakes or 'Chakta'. The most prominent of the lakes is the Naini lake
which is surrounded by hills on all sides. The weather, the surrounding
and the mesmerizing beauty of this area attracted the British
administrator who turned this place into the summer capital of the
United Province. Being a major tourist place Nainital is always bustling
with visitors and it is always better if accommodation and other
facilities are prearranged. Nainital has a varied topography. Some of
the important places in the district are
Nainital , Haldwani , Kaladhungi , Ramnagar , Bhowali , Ramgarh ,
Mukteshwar , Bhimtal , Sattal and Naukuchiatal. Situated at an
altitude of 1,938mtrs, this fine town with its splendour is one of the
most popular tourist resorts of the country. It is also a haven for
water sports like Yachting, Kayaking, Canoeing and Boating.
Accommodation at Nainital:
WelcomHeritage Palace Belvedere,
Claridge Naini Retreat,
Himalayan View Retreat
Weather and Best Time to Visit:
Summers record temperatures ranging from 11C to 28C and Winters, 2C to 16C.
Nainital can be visited throughout the year.
Major Attractions at Nainital
Naini Lake
It is this lake around which the town of Nainital is situated. The lake is shaped like an eye or crescent and is surrounded by hills on all side. The lake is said to be one of the emerald green eyes (Naina) of Siva's wife which fell at this site and hence the name Naini Tal.
St John-in-the-Wilderness Church
It is one of the earlieat buildings erected in Nainital and possibly the finest church in any Indian Hill station. The church was named by the bishop of Calcutta who came to Nainital in 1844, when the place was still very much a wilderness. This church contains a brass memorial to the victims of famous landslip. Bodies of few victims were buried in the graveyard here.
Dorothy's Seat
At a height of 2,292 m is a memorial to an English lady believed to have been killed in an air crash. The spot commands a sectional view of the town and the nearby region. The peak was known as Ayarpatta Hill. Dorothy's seat is also known as Tiffin Top.
Khurpa Tal
A real paradise for anglers, the lake is supposedly inhabited by numerous fish. It is 5 km from Nanital.
Cable car ride
Can be enjoyed for a visit to Snow View. The ropeway carriages are open from 8 am to 6 pm in summer and from 9.30 am to 4 pm in winters. Mountaineering and trekking equipment can be hired from the Nainital Mountaineering Club and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, Tourist reception Centre, Mallital.
Snow View
This is a scenic place at an height of 2,270 m. It is accessible by foot, on horse back or by a chairlift (ropeway). Peaks of Nanda Devi peaks can be seen through a powerful binocular telescope fixed here.
Access
Air: The nearest
airport is Pantnagar, 71 km which Vayudoot connects with Delhi.
Road: Nainital is connected by good all-weather roads to major
centers of north India. Road distances to some in the region are: Delhi
322 km; Bareilly 141 km; Lucknow 401 km; Almora 66 km; Ranikhet 60 km;
Kausani 120 km; Corbett (Dhikala) 128 km.
Rail: The nearest station is at Kathgodam, 35 km which is
connected by meter gauge to Agra, Bareilly and Lucknow.
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