Nainital

About Nainital

Nainital, also known as the lake city and lake district of Uttarankahd, is located around the Naini Lake. This place is named after the Goddess Naini Devi, the presiding idol of the area. It is situated at a height of 1,938 mts. Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately two miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains. Nainital is definitely a heaven for all the adventure finders. Nainital is a famous tourist destination of India, attracting hundreds of both domestic and foreign tourists every year. Some of the important places in the district are Nainital , Hanumangarhi, Haldwani , Kaladhungi , Ramnagar , Bhowali , Ramgarh , Mukteshwar , Bhimtal , Sattal and Naukuchiatal. Nainital Zoo is a very important tourist spot where you can find rare species of snow leopard, steppe eagle and the Himalayan Black bear. The Governor House of the Raj Bhavan with its sprawling gardens is one of the few Raj Bhavans open for public viewing. Nainital's latest attraction is the Eco Cave Garden where you can learn about ecosphere.

The most famous amongst the Lakes in Nainital is the Naini Lake from where this town inherits its name with a circumference of about 2 miles and almost 28 mts deep cocooned within seven hills known as 'Sapta-Shring' namely, Naini Peak or Cheena Peak at 2611 mts, Laria Kanta [named after a Goddess] at 2481 mts, Deopatta [Camel's Hump] at 2273 mts, Alma Peak [Snow View] at 2270 mts, Aryapatta [Complete Blackout] at 2235 mts, Sher-Ka-Danda [Tiger Ridge] at 2217 mts and Handi-Bandi [Devil's Laughter that can actually be heard from here] at 2139 mts. From an aerial view, Naini Lake looks like the Green Emerald eye of Nainital and is almost pear-shaped encircled with many small cottages, shops, restaurants and hotels. The lights at night add more glamour and give the Lake an ethereal look of a sparkling gem necklace worn by the Himalayan ranges.

Nainital was once covered with thick and dense forests before it was converted into a holiday destination before 1839 and mainly inhabited by Tribal people of the Kumaoni race. It was initially developed as the summer retreat for the British and post independence became the summer destination of work from April to October of the Uttar Pradesh State Government; however the State Government ceased its function in 1963 and the Secretariat got converted into a High Court of this District.

Nainital Weather

Nainital enjoys a temperate climate with the maximum reaching 27°C and the minimum at 10°C. Winters in Nainital are utterly chilly and nail biting cold with temperatures ranging from 15°C to -3°C making it absolutely necessary to wear heavy woollens, caps, hand gloves and mufflers.