Dotted with lakes (Nainital Lake, Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal, Sattal), Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India'. The most prominent of the lakes is Naini lake ringed by hills.


Nainital's unending expense of scenic beauty is nothing short of a romance with awe-inspiring and pristine Mother nature. Known for its salubrious climate and scenic beauty, the town is a popular health resort and attracts tourists around the year.


Long walks along the charming forest trails in the neighboring woods is another added attraction in Nainital.

Nainital is one of the most charismatic hill stations that India harbors.

Naini Tal Lake forms the nub of the beauty of Nainital. Naini Lake is within a perimeter of nearly 2 miles. Girdled by lofty hills studded with attractive villas and cottages, it is the most frequented tourist visitation of the hill station.

The exquisiteness of this lake is doubly magnified during the night when its sparkling waters flirt with the numerous lights hanging on its edges, and lend it an unbelievably beautiful magical aura.

There are also opportunities for yachting, boating and paddling that makes it equally enticing during the day.

Nainital is 34 Km from Kathgodam, the gateway of Kumaon and the terminus of North Eastern Railway. It is 304 km from Delhi, capital of India, and 388 km from Lucknow. According to the District Gazetteer Nainital is situated at 29 degree 24' north latitude and 79 degree 28' east longitude, in a valley of the Gagar range running east and west, which is bounded on the north by the peak of China, which rises to a height of 8.568 feet, continued by the Alma peak (presently known as Snow-View) and the Sher-Ka-Danda to the eastern extremity, where the ridge descends almost to the level of the lake. On the west the rugged hill of Deopatha rises to a height of 7,987 feet, and on the south Ayarpatha attains an elevation of 7,461 feet diminishing gradually towards the east.

While the intervening portion between these two hills is a mass of rocks piled up loosely together which goes by the name of Handi Bandi, and is formed of the transition limestone of Mussoorie. exhibiting every where vast rents, fissures and boulders of all sizes and shapes.

The eastern boundary is the pass through which the surplus water of the lake find an exit, forming the principal source of the Ballia river, which falls into the Gola near Ranibagh. The western end of the valley consists of a series of gentle undulations formed by the debris of the surrounding hills.

Thus Nainital is situated at a height of 1939 metres from sea level & is surrounded by some outstanding peaks and hills.

The town has the famous lake to which it owes its name. The surface of this lake has an elevation of 1.935 m above sea level. Maximum length & breadth being 1,434 m & 463 m.respectively. At one time the water of the lake was so clear that one could see the reflection of the seven peaks surrounding the lake.

The nucleus of Nainital’s exquisite beauty is beautiful lake. In the day, mirrored in its waters stand seven proud hills, dotted with pretty cottages and villas. This reflection alone holds one spell bound. More beautiful than this however is the lake at night when the myriads of bulbs from the hill sides and quite a large number hanging near the lake’s edge stab their magic light into its waters.

The depth of this lake is said to range between a maximum 28 metres and a minimum of 6 metres. Most Important Characteristics of the town Nainital has some unique features and physical characteristics. By far the greatest attraction is provided by the lake Naini. Flowing on the base of rising peaks. Seven hills encircle the Nainital lake which are known as Ayarpata (2,235 metres); Deopata (2,273 metres); Handi Bandi (2,139 metres); Cheena (2,611 metres); Alma (2,270 metres); Laria Kanta (2,481 metres) and Sher-ka-Danda (2,217 metres).

Meanings of the Green Hills Surrounding Nainital.

Of these, Ayarpata is so called from Ayar tree (Andromeda ovalifolia) and Handi Bandi from the echo (or devil's laughter) which it is said can be heard here. Sher-ka-Danda means the tiger's ridge and Laria Kanta is said to have been named after some forgotten goddess. The Alma ridge has been named after the famous battle of Alma, fought during the Crimean war. The soldiers who fought in this battle were stationed in Nainital during 1857. The lake presents a view which lingers in memory. All around the lake is wide road, the Mall, now known as G. B. Pant Marg, which is crowded by pedestrian and rickshaw traffic. All this is mirrored up and brightly reflected in the glittering blue waters of the lake.

Most Important Characteristics Of The Town


Nainital in Uttaranchal and Srinagar in Kashmir are comparable as both have lake and mountain scenery. The two towns are nevertheless different in morphological structure and setting. While Srinagar has urban core off the Dal lake, the Naini has the entire town around it.

Besides the hill resorts of Almora, Ranikhet and Kausani complexes, proximity to markets of the populous Ganga plain add immensely to the value of this centres.

Nainital's peripheral tourist zone extends upto MulwaTal to the east where Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukachiatal have recently developed as tourist centres. These resorts have grown up as additional recreational grounds and can provide even to casual visitors holiday activities, canoeing and yachting. Like other hill resorts, Nainital attracts visitors during summer, autumn and winter. A slow and steady tourist influx gets going by the second week of April and this influx gathers moment turn by mid May. The tourist rush in at its peak during second half of May and all through June predominantly belonged to the class of princes. aristocrats and business magnates, but now persons belonging to middle class strata of society also visit the town during the season in large numbers.

The town developed as the summer seat of the U.P. Govt. It contains the Government House and residences for legislators and officials. There are office buildings including the Secretariat (Presently High Court of Uttarakhand). Upto 1947, the State Government Secretariat functioned here from April to October each year. Thereafter upto 1962 the shifting was only for 2 months. After 1963 the summer exodus of the U.P. Government was stopped.

The Secretariat building is now the High Court of Uttaranchal. The main centre of the town is the lake and its surrounding area. On one side of the lake are situated well furnished an stylish shops, hotels and residential buildings. Prominent are The New Club, The Boat House Club, Nainital Club, the Flats and Naina TempIe.

At Boat House Club food is invariably good. There is also an old very well built wooden Bar.

Mostly accessible for members, the boat house club can also be visited by non-members; all that is required is a small payment or a reference from a member-friend if available!

The food served is invariably good, tasty and cheap, so that does not burn a hole in your pocket!

Dress Code: There is not! But then none of us are 'improperly' dressed ever! No shorts, no hawaiian chappals.

Note: The Boat House Club Nainital is for Members only but Boat House Club do grant 'temporary' membership also, for a small fee.

The Flats are a vast level ground where visitors gather plainly in the evening. This place is a multi purpose place that has something to offer to everyone. There is a fountain, band stand, a statue of Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant and a sports ground that is used for sports and other cultural activities.

Ponies are also available in good number for joy rides and excursions. Boats play in the lake for the visitors and a boat ride is extremely enjoyable.

The population of Naini Tal is seasonal. During summer and autumn the rush is at its peak.

CLIMATE

Nainital, owing to its location, is colder than the rest of the hilly tract of Kumaon region. During monsoon, it gets heavy rainfall. The climate therefore, is damp.

The neighbouring areas of Almora and Ranikhet are warmer than Nainital. Similarly humidity in Nainital is less than in other hill towns. The monthly maximum and minimum temperature of the town ranged between 28.06 degree C and 7.06 degree C.

RAINFALL

During monsoon, Nainital gets full blast of rain. The heaviest rainfall is observed on the outer slopes of the hills. Frequently there are local rains also. The rainy season begins earlier than in the plains and continues upto the end of Sept. During winter, rains create a considerable fall in temperature.
Snowfall is the heaviest in December, January or in early February.