The lake city of Uttarakhand, Nainital is a famous hill station situated 35 km from Kathgodam, Uttarakhand. It is a picturesque town with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, lush green landscapes, cool mist and gentle breeze.
Easily accessible by air and road, you can take a flight to Delhi or Dehradun from your city and then drive to Mussoorie. It takes approximately 7 hours to reach the hill station from Delhi, and only 1 ½ hour from Kathgodam.
While it is one of the favorite weekend getaway destinations, we suggest you plan a week-long stay.
Book a modern hillside view room in Hotel Clarks Nainital in Nainital and discover the hidden gems of this gorgeous hill station…MORE
Cave Garden
If you want to explore cave life, Eco Cave Garden is a hidden gem to experience out-of-the-ordinary things. Tiger Caves, Panther Caves, and Bat Caves are intertwined caves that educate you about life in the mountains. Hanging Gardens and Musical Fountains adorn the premise and give a glimpse of the Himalayan way of life.
Opening Hours: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.
Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary
Pangot is 15 kilometers from Nainital. It gives you the feel of a remote Himalayan village. Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary are offbeat attractions, which are birder’s paradise. Migratory birds and rare species of birds will impress you as these sites are home to 580 species of birds. You may spot White-Throated Laughingthrush, Forktails Brown Wood Owls, and Collared Grosbeaks amidst dense oak and pine jungles. Kilbury would be a perfect destination for bird lovers. Kilbury and Snow Viewpoint are famous places for birding in Pangot.
Rock Climbing and Zip Lining are the adventure activities at Pangot.
Opening Hours: 6 am to 5 pm
Thandi Sadak
Thandi Sadak is on the other side of the lake and runs opposite the Mall. You can take a quiet walk by the lake in pictorial and scenic surroundings. You will see fairy lights and twinkling on the hill when you face the lake from Thandi Sadak.
St. John in the Wilderness
The church of St. John in the Wilderness was built in 1844. This ancient church exhibits typical Victorian architecture. You will see the names of the 1880 landslide victims on the altar inside the church. Gurudwara in the Tibetan market resounds with the Shabad Kirtan.
Ghorakhal Golu Devta Temple
Golu Devta Temple is on the Nainital-Mukteshwar route at Bhowali. Golu Devta is the presiding deity, who is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The temple is the main attraction of Ghorakhal. Devotees make petitions using stamp papers to get the desired verdict in litigations. After fulfillment of a wish, they sacrifice animals.
Folk Culture Museum at Bhimtal
Dr. Yashodhar Mathpal founded this private museum, Lok Sanskriti Sangrahalaya. The museum showcases valuable artifacts and photographs. It is situated near Bhimtal lake. The entry fee is INR 50.
Kakrighat
Kakrighat is famous for Kainchi Dham Baba Neem Karoli Ashram on the banks of the Kosi River. It is on the Nainital-Almora Road. Shri Neem Karoli Maharaj Ji was a devotee of Lord Hanuman and is known to have performed many miracles throughout his life. Every year a huge fair falls on 15th June.
Opening Hours: 07:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Naukuchiatal
Naukuchia Lake is the main attraction of Naukuchiatal, which is 27 kilometers from Nainital. The lake has 9 corners.
Devguru Temple
Devguru Brihaspati is one of the few temples in the country. It is situated at Devguru village in Okhalkanda block 90 kilometers from Kathgodam. You can get a panoramic view of snow ranges from here.
Tiffin Top or Dorothy’s Seat
Tiffin Top is famous for its views of Nainital city, Naini Lake, the hills of Kumaon, and Nanda Devi. Cher, Oak, and Deodar trees surround Dorothy’s Seat. The spectacular landscape of Nainital and the peaks of Aryapatta hills make it a good picnic spot.
Timings: 08:00 am to 11:00 pm