Discover Nainital

Nainital brings together places within the town and other destinations in the wider Nainital travel destination. The distinctions below will help you plan the visits you have in mind.

Ropeway, Mallital and zoo

The Aerial Ropeway starts in Mallital and connects Snow-View Point, at an altitude of 2,270 metres, with Nainital near The Flatts. In the wider Nainital travel destination, Snow View is also accessible by road; from there, you can enjoy views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains.

The Govind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo is located in Nainital. A zoo shuttle is available at the Nainital bus station for trips to the zoo. If you are planning a visit to the zoo, check the latest shuttle information in advance; no timetable is provided here.

The Flatts and cultural sites

The Flatts is on the northern shore of Naini Lake. It includes Chat Bazar and Bhotia Market. The playground at The Flatts is also a landmark for events: during festivals, it is used for sports and cultural activities. If you want to plan your visit around a festival, check the specific dates.

Naina Devi Temple in Nainital is a revered place of worship. In the wider Nainital travel destination, the Nandashtami festival is celebrated in the district; fairs are held at Naina Devi Temple in Nainital and in Bhowali. This lets you distinguish between visiting cultural sites and staying during a festival.

Lakes in the wider Nainital travel destination

The lakes offer different highlights. Naini Lake is the district’s most prominent lake and is surrounded by hills; sailing, boating and paddling are possible there. Naukuchiatal is 983 metres long, 693 metres wide and 40.3 metres deep. In addition to rowing, paddling and sailing, there are opportunities for fishing and birdwatching. So if you are comparing water activities, Naukuchiatal also offers options for fishing and birdwatching.

Bhimtal is larger than Naini Lake. An aquarium is located on an island in the middle of Bhimtal Lake and can be reached by boat. Sattal, in turn, is a group of lakes set amid an oak forest. These differences can help you choose an excursion destination: Bhimtal combines a lake with an island aquarium, while Sattal is defined by its lakes amid an oak forest.

High-altitude destinations and views

At 2,611 metres, Naina Peak is the highest peak in the town. From there, you can see the Himalayan range and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Nainital. The six-kilometre path to the peak starts in Mallital. Ponies or horses can be hired from Snow View or Barapathhar for a visit to Naina Peak. These starting points therefore differ from the trailhead.

For your planning, you can compare the themes directly: Nainital highlights include the ropeway, The Flatts, the zoo and the temple; in the wider travel destination, lakes, forest landscapes and high-altitude views add to the options.

Discover more destinations: Dogadda Range, Bail Parao, Sukha, Gair Banelia, Ramgarh, Harigarh Dalipsingh, Gethiya, Kotabagh

To the wider travel overview: Nainital.