Best Places to Visit in Nainital

Nainital is located in Uttarakhand. The nearest cities to Nainital are Rampur, Bareilly, Rudrapur, and Pilibhit. It is in the Kumaon division. Nainital is a charming place situated in the lap of nature. The forests full of oak, pine, deodar, and pine trees are a pleasure to the eyes and also satisfy the soul. Every turn and every scene takes one to the peak of peace and satisfaction. You feel like stopping to admire nature, but then you also feel like going ahead to see what else is there in its lap. Neither satisfaction is fully found, nor do the scenes ever end. One moment it is sunshine, the next moment it is shade; you never know how the weather will change in the next moment. This is the beauty of the mountains, especially Nainital.

1. Naini Lake

Naini Lake is 128 feet deep in some places. It is a natural lake and the heart of Nainital. You can enjoy boating in Naini Lake. The lake is full of ducks and fish. If you want to spend a few minutes away from the market crowd and want to drift with the calm current of Naini Lake, you should go there. There's nothing except the sound of nature—a superb experience. You can see the two edges of the mountain joining and the sky hiding behind the mountains like a shy lover. You shouldn't just see it; you have to feel it. Around Naini Lake, you can find common street food. There are many selfie points. You can also visit Naina Devi Temple, the Tibetan market, and more.

2. Naina Devi Temple

It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu cut the body of Sati into 51 parts. When Lord Shiva took away her body, the eyes of the goddess fell here. The Hindi word for eyes is Nayan. On that basis, the city became known as Nainital, and the temple as Naina Devi Temple. The lake also became known as Naini or Nainital Lake. People with eye problems often come here. It's a beautiful and calm place that you must visit if you are an optimist. Stay here and take in the beautiful view of Naini Lake.

3. Tiffin Top (Dorothy’s Seat)

This was the most popular viewpoint in Nainital, but it has now become a part of history due to a major landslide in August 2024. The landslide caused significant damage, but sources say it will be redeveloped near the top of the hill. However, you can still enjoy the trek and capture the beautiful green forest with your eyes as well as your camera. Words cannot fully describe the beauty of this trek. From this site, you could see the whole of Nainital, including the very popular school of Nainital known as Sherwood.

4. Snow View Point

If you want to see Nainital from a higher altitude, head to Mall Road, buy a ticket for the ropeway, and enjoy the view of Nainital from the top. Seeing the beauty of nature from inside the trolley gives you a unique experience. The trolley will drop you off at Snow View Point. You can reach here via ropeway, taxi, or on foot. You can see the Himalayan range and Naini Lake from this point. An adventure park is also available at Snow View Point. There is a market here, but it seems expensive compared to other places. Naini Lake is visible from this site. Kids may insist on riding toys, or you can engage them in gaming. The Dinosaur Park is free if you come via the trolley. If you are at Snow View Nainital, enjoy the Tower 360 to go even higher and get a better view of Nainital.

5. Nainital Zoo

This is going to be a wonderful but tiring journey because it covers a large area and the zoo is not on flat ground. Sometimes you have to climb up, and sometimes you have to go down. After visiting the zoo, you may not have the energy to enjoy any other point on foot.

6. The Mall Road

Mall Road is crowded during the season. It is a mix of nature and the latest fashion. On one side, there is a lake with many selfie points, and on the other side, there are shops and hotels. If you look up a little, you will see mountains laden with trees. It's as if they are saying, "Stop for a while and look at me." Numerous shops and showrooms are available here. Taxis and rickshaws are also available. Lake-view hotels are available, but at night you might be disturbed by the traffic sound in normal hotels during peak times.

7. Eco Cave Gardens

This is a natural cave with an artificial touch. We do not recommend it for elderly or physically challenged people because it is very narrow. There are multiple caves here, so you can fully enjoy this place. At some spots, you will see natural water dripping, and you will also find slippery surfaces, which makes it adventurous. The artificial sounds of animals in the caves will give you the pleasure of a different world. If you are a fan of Discovery Channel, you will definitely miss Bear Grylls. If you are overweight, you may face some difficulties, but be brave and go for a walk.

8. St. John in the Wilderness Church

This is a very old building (1848) made by a British ruler, situated on a large ground. It has some flat areas where you can sit and enjoy nature. Not many visitors come here. You will have an "OMG" moment. There is also a graveyard here.

9. Governor’s House (Raj Bhavan)

Built during the British period, this building was the residence of the Governor. You can visit to get a luxurious view inside the old Gothic architecture, but whenever the governor changes, the rules for tourists to visit the place also change.

10. Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary

There are 580 bird species in Pangot. It is well-connected and accessible from Nainital. Before reaching Pangot, you can listen to the birds singing. It's important to note that the birds are not in cages because it is a sanctuary, not a zoo. The journey from Nainital to Pangot will be very exciting. When you are trekking in Pangot, please be careful, as dangerous wild animals might be present. Naina Devi Jalkund (Kilbury Reservoir) is quite large, and you may not be able to explore it completely in one day. But listening to the chirping of birds will make you forget all your pain. You can book accommodations from Sigri; they will provide you with the best trek.

11. Hanuman Garhi

Established by Baba Neem Karauli, this is a beautiful temple situated in the jungle and at the top of a mountain. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman Ji. Beautiful secnic views will attract eyes and hearts. You can also see the sunrise and sunset from here.

How to Reach Nainital

For reaching Nainital by road with more ease and less stress, convenient options are available such as bus stand of the city or hire a taxi to help you reach your final destination in comfort.
Nainital being a hill station does not have direct rail connection with its city and the nearest railway station is Kathgodam at a distance of 34kms away from Nainital. Train is yet another cost-effective way to travel from Delhi or nearby stations, Rudrapur and Kathgodam.
Nearest airport of Nainital is Pantnagar airport and there are no straight. Pantnagar airport, which is well connected with both IGI Delhi airport and Dehradun
Altitude: 2,084 meters
Distance from Delhi: 300 kilometers
Nearest airport: Pantnagar airport
Nearest railway station: Kathgodam railway station