Beauty of Nainital || 25 places to visit in Nainital ||

 Situated at an elevation of 2084 metres above sea level, the gleaming city of Nainital, also known as the ‘Lake District of India’, is among the most popular tourist destinations for domestic as well as international travellers. This is owing to the wide variety of sights and attractions the city has to offer from exquisite lakes, snow-clad peaks to trekking routes.




1. Astronomical Observatory, Nainital :


   A leading research centre in the country for Astrophysics and Astronomy, Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) is a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction in Nainital.

Major attractions: Highly technologically advanced telescope

Best time to reach: May-June, October


2. Bhimtal Lake, Nainital :

     An exquisite freshwater lake surrounded by lush green hills, Bhimtal Lake belongs to the list of the most famous places in Nainital. 

Things to do: Enjoy a picturesque view of the Lake District on a boat ride

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



3. Bhutia/Tibet Market, Nainital :

     When it comes to places to visit in Nainital, a visit to the Tibet Market is a must. Here you will find Tibetan goodies right from super warm woollens to delicious dishes.

Major attractions: Intricately woven woollen wear by Almora women

Best time to reach: March-June



4. Eco Cave Gardens, Nainital :


   A cluster of natural caves converted into a cave garden, Eco Cave Gardens houses six fascinating animal-shaped caves.

Major attractions: Series of exquisite hanging gardens, along the caved pathways

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



5. Gurney House, Nainital :


   Jim Corbett’s former summer house is one of the top tourist places of Nainital and can be visited with an appointment although there’s no entry fee.

Major attractions: 18th-century colonial architecture

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



6. Hanuman Garhi, Nainital :

   At an elevation of 1950 metres, this temple in Nainital, dedicated to Lord Hanuman is a must-visit for the religiously inclined.

Major attractions: Immense statue of Lord Hanuman with Lord Rama’s image in his chest cavity

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



7. G B Pant High Altitude Zoo, Nainital :

 

    Built-in 1984 spanning across 4.6 acres of greenery with an intriguing position of 2100 metres above sea level, this is one of the only three high altitude zoos in India.

Major attractions: This zoo houses a number of rare species like Royal Bengal Tiger

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December.


8. Jama Masjid :

   Known for its fine Arabic inscriptions and architecture, the Jama Masjid is an architectural marvel. This famous place in Nainital was initially built for the Muslim soldiers in the British army.

Major attractions: The mihrab, which shows the directions to Mecca

Best time to reach: Throughout the year, especially during Eid



9. Kainchi Dham, Nainital :

   A temple and an ashram dedicated to Lord Hanuman encompassed by lush green hills and set alongside a river. Make sure to visit to admire this man-made architectural gem.

Trivia: It was made famous by Steve Jobs’ and Mark Zuckerberg’s visits

Best time to reach: The temple welcomes devotees all through the year



10. Kamaltal, Nainital :


     A small lake spanning over only 200 metres, but is filled to the brim with an abundance of lotus flowers during the flowering season. It is among the most visited places in Nainital among couples.

Things to do: Visitors can row, paddle, and yachting in the lake

Best time to reach: July-August



11. Khurpatal Lake, Nainital :


    Deriving its name from its ‘trowel’ shape, this lake is another famous place in Nainital owing to the emerald bluish-green colour of the lake.

Things to do: Go boating or try your hand at fishing and angling

Best time to reach: Can be visited all-round the year



12. Kilbury Bird Sanctuary, Nainital :


    At a distance of 12 km from Nainital, the sanctuary is in the middle of the Reserved Forests of Nainital, it is the ultimate bird watcher’s paradise.

Major attractions: More than 580 different species of birds

Best time to reach: March-June



13. Mukteshwar Temple, Nainital :

 

     A 350-year-old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva rumoured to have been constructed by the Pandavas. Located 2312 metres above sea level, this temple is 51 km from the city of Nainital.

Major attractions: The snow clad peaks of Nanda Kot, Trishul, and Nanda Devi

Best time to reach: All throughout the year



14. Naina Devi Temple, Nainital :

    

     Situated on top the Naina Hill by the northern shore of the Naini Lake, it is a highly revered temple in India that is said to be where Sati’s eyes fell from her corpse when being carried by Lord Shiva.

Trivia: It is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



15. Naina Peak, Nainital :


     One of the most loved trekking routes, this peak is a top tourist attraction in Nainital for the beautiful bird’s eye view that it offers of the Kumaon region.

Major attractions: The 360-degree views from the top

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



16. Nainital Lake, Nainital :


     A breathtaking freshwater lake, which is one of the four famous lakes in Nainital. This is crowning glory of this hill station and an unavoidable attraction in any list of places to visit in Nainital.

Major attractions: Boating

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December.



17. Nainital Ropeway, Nainital :


    One of the major tourist places in Nainital, the ropeway constructed through Swiss technology, offers a 3-minute ride over the landscape of the city.

Major attractions: Two cabin cable cars and the views

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



18. Nakuchiatal, Nainital :


     The literal meaning of the lake’s name is ‘lake of nine corners’ and it is the deepest lake of Nainital. The heavenly lake is 175-feet deep and is surrounded by abundant trees and shrubs.

Things to do: Boating, bird watching, angling

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



19. Pangot, Nainital :

     Small colony near Nainital, which is well known for its bird community and verdant jungle that houses over 500 species of birds. Some of the avifauna to spot here are lammergeier, rufous-bellied woodpecker, khalij pheasant, and Himalayan griffon.

Things to do: Bird watching

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



20. Raj Bhawan, Nainital :

     Built as a replica of the Buckingham Palace, Raj Bhawan used to be the residence of the Governor of the North West Province of India. Hence is also popularly referred to as the Governor House.

Major attractions: Vintage golf course

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December




21. Sariyatal, Nainital :

     A picturesque jade green lake, Sariyatal is one of the most serene and tranquil places to visit in Nainital. A short taxi ride (10 km) from the city will bring you this immensely popular tourist attraction.

Major attractions: Massive botanical garden

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December


22. Sattal, Nainital :

     As is evident by the name, Sattal is a body of seven freshwater lakes that remain to this day an unspoiled freshwater biome. Situated at an altitude of 1370 metres above sea level, this attraction is about 22 km from the city of Nainital.

Things to do: Bird watching, photography

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



23. Snow View Point, Nainital :

     One of the most visited places in Nainital is Snow View Point. The view point offers perhaps the best view of the snow-clad mountains. So carry your cameras or binoculars to view the magnificent Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Kot snow-clad mountains.

Things to do: Visit the nearby Tibetan Monastery- Gadhan Kunkyop Ling Gompa

Best time to reach: November-February



24. St. John’s Church, Nainital :

     Constructed in the 1800s, it is also known as St. John’s the Wilderness and is a place of religious importance surrounded by beautiful landscape.

Major attractions: 18th-century architecture

Best time to reach: March-June, September-December



25. The Mall Road, Nainital :

     It is the primary road going through the city, which borders the Nainital Lake on one side. The Mall Road includes the best handicraft shops, restaurants, and souvenir shops and is the busiest part of this city.





Post a Comment

0 Comments