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Nainital

Pop: 33,000 Area Code: 05942

Nainital, 300km northeast of Delhi, is a pleasant hill station in the Kumaon Hills at 1935m. The town is built around a beautiful lake. Nainital is a nice place and there are several good walks with great views of the Himalayas.

It is said that when the body of Siva’s consort Sati was cut into pieces by Lord Vishnu, one of her eyes fell at this place and from this the beautiful lake at Nainital was created.

The first British resident to come here was Mr P Barron of Shahjahanpur. He built a cottage and also brought a yacht here. It eventually became a popular hill station and the summer capital of the United Provinces (Old name of Uttar Pradesh).
The high season is mid-April to June and mid-September to the beginning of November. From December to March it is a very cold.

Orientation
The Mall runs along the northeast side of the lake. The Mall is closed to large vehicle traffic much of the year. On the southeast side of The Mall is the area called Tallital, where the bus stand is located. Hotels are located in this area, along The Mall, and in Mallital area, which is the area northwest of the lake. Most of the higher-end hotel are located a 10-minute walk west of Mallital.
Information

The helpful Tourist Office (35337) is on The Mall (daily 10 am to 5 pm).

Shivam Tour and Travel (35269), on The Mall near Tallital arranges trips to local sites such as Hanumangarhi and Cheena Park. They also do advance bookings for buses to Delhi and Haridwar. Open Mon to Fri noon to 4 pm, Sat noon to 2 pm.

Parvat Tours (KMVN) rents out long-distance cars.

The GPO is in Mallital and there is a post office near the bus stand in Tallital.

Modern Book and General Store has books and English newspapers. As does Narains, located on The Mall.

Nainital Mountaineering Club (35051), CRST Inter College Building, can help with treks, arranges guides and porters, and rents out equipment.

The District Forest Officer can by contacted at 35145 phone number.

Money
You can change cash and travelers checks at the State Bank of India, in Mallital just beyond the Flats. Allahabad Bank and the Bank of Baroda, in Mallital, change money.

Tours
Package tours can be booked at the two KMVN hotels. They arrange a tour to Kausani for Rs 250 by bus and Rs 1400 by taxi. A two-day tour to Jageshwar by bus is Rs 150 and Rs 1400 by taxi. They also arrange a tour to Kedarnath and Badrinath and other places in the area.

KMVN Parvat Tours (35656), on the Mall at the Tallital end, arranges a tour to Corbett National Park by luxury bus (Rs 200) and by taxi (Rs 1100). They arrange a tour to the places in the area including, Ranikhet, Almora, and the lakes. They also arrange river rafting, trekking, canoeing, hang-gliding and mountain biking.

Nainital Lake
The lake is a nice place just to walk around. On the northwest side of the lake is the Naina Devi Temple dedicated to Sati, which is said to mark the place where Sati’s eye (naina) fell. On the side opposite The Mall are two small temples. It is not a very populated area.

A boat with a boatman can be hired for Rs 50 per hour that will take you around the lake and Rs 30 to go across the lake. You can also rent a paddle-boat for Rs 25 per hour for two people and Rs 35 for four people. You can rent a yacht from the Nainital Boat Club for Rs 70 per hour. You may have to become a member first.

Cheena (China) Peak
Cheena Peak is 6km from Nainital at 2611m (8615 ft), and being the highest point around means there are really good views. It is a 2½ hour walk from Nainital. You can also take a taxi to Tonneleary on Kilbury Rd, to cut down your walking distance.

Tiffin Peak
From Land’s End (2120m), on the back-side of Tiffin Peak, you can get a good view of the lake and the valley in the west. Dororthy’s Seat (2290m), further up Tiffin Peak, is a four km walk west of the lake. From Tiffin Tops, on the top of Tiffin Peak there are really good views. You can rent binoculars for Rs 5.

You can hire a horse to go up to Tiffin Tops from places in Mallital just past the Flats. If you want to ride fast you have to pay for a guide to ride on another horse; otherwise they will just walk along with you.

Snow View
Snow View is a popular viewpoint above Nainital at 2270m. You get to the top by going on a ropeway (gondola style chairlift) (8 am to 1 pm and 2 to 6 pm). It leaves from a building about 20m from The Mall in Mallital. It is popular so you should arrive close to the opening time of 8 am. You get a clearer view in the morning. Roundtrip is Rs 35 with an hour on top and Rs 20 one-way. It is a 2½ km walk down. You can hire a horse to go up the hill for around Rs 50 per hour.

There is a temple on top of the hill with deities of Sita, Rama, Hanuman, Siva and Durga. There are good binoculars that allow you to see the peak of Nanda Devi (7817m). You can also be dressed in Kumaoni traditional dress and have your picture taken.

Other Places
Church of St John’s in the Wilderness was built in 1847.

The Gadhan Kunkyop Ling Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery belonging to the Gelupka order. You get to it by taking the road behind the Standard Hotel. You pass this place while walking down from Snow View.

A trail goes for 5km to Naina Peak (2610m) from where there are good views of the mountains including Nanda Devi.

Lakes in the Area
Sat Tal is a group of seven beautiful lakes 20km from Nainital.

Bhim Tal (22km) is a big lake with nice scenery around it.

Naukuchiya Tal is a nice lake with nine corners (that is what the name means) that is in a peaceful location. There are a wide variety of birds here.

Lake Resort (05942 47061) is a good comfortable high-end hotel here. There is also a tourist bungalow.

Where to Stay—Lower
During the high-season prices in the hotels can more than double and it can be hard to find a room at any price.
Tallital End of Mall (south end)
Hotel Lake View (35532), Ramji Rd, is a well managed place with rooms with bath in season for Rs 300 to Rs 600 (Rs 200 to Rs 350 off-season). There are great views from the balcony.
Hotel Prashant (35347) has double rooms with bath and hot water in the morning for Rs 300 to Rs 550. The higher priced rooms have better views and are better maintained. Rooms are half price in the off-season.
Hotel Gauri (26617), Ramji Rd, has rooms with hot water and a good view for Rs 350 to Rs 400. Rooms without a window are Rs 225 to Rs 300. There is a 50% discount in the off-season.
Mallital Area
Youth Hostel (36353), a 15-minute walk west of Mallital in a secluded area, has dorm beds for Rs 25 for members and Rs 35 for non-members. They have cheap veg thalis. Should be booked in advance.
Moon, a 15-minute walk past the Youth Hostel, has room with common bath for Rs 250 and rooms with bath for Rs 300. It is a good value.
Alps Hotel (35317) has large rooms with bath for Rs 250. 50% discount in the off-season.
Kohli Cottage (36368), in Mallital, has double rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 350 to Rs 400. It is a well-managed place with good views from the roof.
Standard Hotel (35602), end of The Mall near Mallital, has single rooms with common bath for Rs 600 and Rs 700 for a double room with a bath. Some rooms have very good views of the lake.

Where to Stay—Middle and High
Tallital End of Mall (south end)
Hotel Elphinstone (35534), on The Mall, has rooms with bath and a view of the lake for Rs 450 to Rs 650. There is a 40% discount in the off-season.
KMVN Sarovar Tourist Rest House (35570), near the bus stand, has good rooms, some with a view of the lake for Rs 700/900 and half this price in the off-season. Dorm beds are Rs 50.
Alka Hotel (35457), on The Mall, has comfortable rooms with hot water for Rs 900 to Rs 1200.
Evelyn Hotel (35457), on The Mall, has comfortable rooms for Rs 700 to Rs 1200. There are good views of the lake and some nice roof-terraces. 50% discount in the off-season. It is a well-maintained recommended place.
Mallital Area
KMVN Naina Tourist Rest House (36374), around one km from Mallital, has rooms for Rs 600 to Rs 800 and half this price in the off-season.
Ankur Plaza, near the Mallital rickshaw stand, is a well-managed place. The rooms next to the roof-terrace have good views. It is a good value.
Hotel Belvedere (35082; fax 35082), is a former palace with comfortable rooms for Rs 1200/1400 and Rs 1900 for a large suite. There are good views from the porch and some of the rooms. It is a friendly, well-managed place.
Hotel Grand (35406), Mallital, has rooms for Rs 800/1000 and Rs 1200 for a suite. It has hot water in the morning. There are good views from the balcony. It is an older place.
Hotel City Heart (35228), near the Nainital Mountaineering Club, is a well-managed place with comfortable, clean rooms for Rs 700 to Rs 1400. The higher priced rooms have good views of the lake. There is a good discount during the off-season.
Vikram Vintage Inn (36179; fax 36177 ), in a quiet area in Sukhatal, has comfortable rooms for Rs 2200/3000. It has billiards and table tennis, but no pool.
Shervani Hilltop Inn (36128; fax 36304), a 20 minutes walk from Mallital, has comfortable rooms for Rs 1500 and Rs 1800 including breakfast and dinner. It has a beautiful garden. In the off-season there is a 50% discount.
Swiss Hotel (36013; fax 35493), a 15-minute walk west of Mallital, is a nice place with good gardens. It has comfortable rooms for Rs 1400 and Rs 1700 for a suite. It is well-managed.
Arif Castles, (35801; fax 36231) above Mallital, has a far-out design and comfortable rooms for Rs 2300.
Claridges Naini Retreat (35105; fax 35103), in a secluded, beautiful location, has rooms for Rs 2700, which includes two meals. It has nice large gardens. It is one of the best places in town.
Holiday Inn Nainital (36031), Grasmere Estate, a 15-minute walk north of Mallital, has luxury rooms, many with a view of the lake for Rs 3000 and Rs 4600. It has two good restaurants. There are discounts in the off-season.

Where to Eat
Below the Standard Hotel in Mallital is a good Juice Stall, which make fresh juices, lassis and shakes.
Rasoi Vegetarian Restaurant, Mallital end of The Mall, has good mid-range thalis and Western food.
Capri, Mallital end of The Mall, is a popular place with Indian, Continental and Chinese food.
Ashok, near the Boat House, The Mall, Mallital, has good veg food.
Paradise, Bara Bazaar, Mallital, is a very good veg place.
Siva, Bara Bazaar, Mallital, is a popular place with good, cheap food.
Embassy, nearby, is one of the more popular places in town. It has Indian food and pizzas.
Puruhit, next door, has very good vegetarian South Indian food. It has a good view of the lake.
Kwaility has a good location next to the lake at the Mallital end of The Mall. It has Indian, Continental and ice cream.
Moti Mahal has good Punjabi food.
Nanak’s Restaurant, at the Mallital end of The Mall, is a Western fast-food place serving pizzas, veg burgers and milkshakes.
Prem Restaurant, Mallital’s main bazaar, has Punjabi and South Indian food.
Sher-e-Punjab, nearby, has good, reasonably priced Punjabi food.
Pahun Restaurant, halfway between Tallital and Mallital, specializes in traditional Kumaoni cuisine. It has a good thali. It is best to make reservations in advance for dinner.
The Holiday Inn Nainital has two restaurants. The Lotus Garden serves Chinese and the Kumaon serves Indian and Continental. A main dish is around Rs 100. They have Western breakfasts.

Travel
Train The nearest railway station is in Kathgodam, 35km south. There is a railway booking office near the Tallital bus stand (open 9.30 am to 4 pm), which has a quota for trains going to Delhi, Calcutta, Agra and Lucknow. The Ranikhet Exp #5014 departs Kathgodam for Delhi (8 hr) at 8.40 pm. It departs Old Delhi station at 11 pm and arrives in Kathgodam at 6.30 am.

Bus There are regular buses to Kathgodam (1½ hr). There is a deluxe state bus to Delhi at 8.30 am (9 hr) and other ordinary buses. KMVN and private companies operate deluxe buses to Delhi. There are buses to Haridwar (9 hr, morning and late afternoon), Bhim Tal (1 hr, 8 daily), Haldwani (1½ hr, every half-hour), Almora (3 hr, 4 daily), Ranikhet (3½ hr, 4 daily), Rishikesh (10 hr, 5.30 am), Kausani (5½ hr, 1 daily), Dehra Dun (11 hr, 4 daily) and Pithoragarh (10 hr, 1 daily at 7 am).
To get to Corbett National Park (115km southwest) you first take a bus to Ramnagar (3½ hr, 5 daily). You can also take the package tour offered by KMVN’s Parvat Tours.
Jeep Shared jeeps or taxis depart from near the bus stand to Kathgodam, Haldwani and Bhowali (30 min)

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