Nainital
Hill Station Of Kumaon; Former Summer Capital Of The United Provinces · Nainital, Uttarakhand
A hill station in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, built around a pear-shaped lake at almost two thousand metres and ringed by forested ridges. The British made it the summer capital of the United Provinces, and it keeps the look: the Mall Road running along the lake, colonial churches, schools, clubs and cottages on the slopes. Life revolves around Naini Lake, with rowing boats and sailing yachts from the old boat club, and the Naina Devi temple at its northern end. A cable car climbs to Snow View for a panorama of the Himalayan peaks on clear mornings, and walks lead to Tiffin Top and other viewpoints. Around Nainital are quieter lakes, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal, and the orchards of Mukteshwar and Ramgarh. Kainchi Dham, the ashram of the saint Neem Karoli Baba, whose followers have included well-known foreign visitors, now draws large crowds of its own. Nainital is very popular with families from Delhi and the plains, and in the summer holidays it is packed, traffic-jammed and short of parking. Winter brings occasional snow.
Mall Road, Nainital, Nainital, Uttarakhand, 263001, India
NO OPENING TIME HERE WAS CHECKED. The usual pattern: the lake, the Mall and the Flats are open all day, every day. Boating runs roughly from morning to sunset and is suspended in bad weather. The ropeway to Snow View runs in daylight, roughly from morning to late afternoon, and stops in high wind or during maintenance closures. Naina Devi opens from early morning to night with a midday lull. The zoo keeps daytime hours and closes one day a week. THE TRAPS: arriving by car on a summer weekend without a parking plan, riding the ropeway at noon when the peaks are gone, and monsoon landslides closing the road for hours. Confirm times before travelling.