Surrounded by forested hills and lakes, Nainital is a popular hill station in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is situated at an altitude of 2,084 meters (6,837 ft) above sea level and is set in a valley having a pear-shaped lake. Nainital is blessed with scenic natural beauty and is dotted with lakes; this is the reason why it is also known as the ' Lake District ' of India.
Nainital was founded only in 1841, by P. Barron, a European sugar trader. In his memoir, he wrote: "It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1,500 miles (2,400 km) trek in the Himalayas." Later on, Nainital developed as a summer retreat for the Englishmen. Many other famous people have links with Nainital; (Elsie Inglis, physician and social reformer), (Ruskin Bond, writer, and novelist), (Eric Maturin, British actor), (Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood actor), (Jim Corbett, hunter of man-eating tigers, author, conservationist and namesake of Jim Corbett National Park) and many more.
Nainital derived its name from Naini Lake. According to Hindu mythology, Naini Lake is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths or religious sites where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The spot where Sati's eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or "lake of the eye". The goddess Shakti is worshiped at the Naina Devi Temple on the north shore of the present-day lake. Pant Nagar is the nearest airport to Nainital. It is situated 72 km from Nainital and is well-connected to motorable roads in the area. The rail network is equally good. Kathgodam is the nearest railway station to Nainital, situated at a distance of 42 km, and is well connected with the major cities of India, like Delhi, Kolkata, and Lucknow.
Explore & Experiences in Nainital-
EXPLORE (Places to visit in Nainital):
- Naini Lake
- High Altitude Zoo (Nainital Zoo)
- Tiffin Top
- The Mall Road
- Astronomical Observatory Nainital
- Tibetan Market
- The Governor's House
- Cheena Peak
- Bhimtal
- Sattal
- Naukuchiatal
- Khurpa Taal
- Pangot And Kilbury Bird Sanctuary
- Ranikhet
- Kaladhungi
EXPERIENCE (Things to do in Nainital):
- Boating at Naini Lake
- Viewing the sunrise from Tiffin Top
- Shop for souvenirs and local crafts at Tibetan Market
- Nainital Ropeway
- Hang out at Mall Road
- Birdwatching at Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary
- View of Nainital from Cheena Peak
- Adventure activities with Nainital Mountaineering Club
