The hill town of Nainital often referred to as the “Emrald Eye of Kumaon” is nestled in the Himalayan Ranges. It became famous as a hill station in 1841. Nainital is a lovely hill-station surrounded by mountains on three sides. It is 34 Km from Kathgodam, the gateway of Kumaon and the terminus of North Eastern Railway. It is 304 km from Delhi. Nainital is situated at a height of 1939 metres from sea level & is surrounded by some outstanding peaks and hills. Naini Lake is within a perimeter of nearly 2 miles. Girdled by lofty hills studded with attractive villas and cottages, it is the most frequented tourist visitation of the hill station.

Nainital, owing to its location, is colder than the rest of the hilly tract of Kumaon region. During monsoon, it gets heavy rainfall. The rainy season begins earlier than in the plains and continues up to the end of Sept. The best season to visit this place is during summer between March and June.

HOW TO REACH

By Air
the nearest airport is at Pantnagar, about 70 km away.

By Rail
The nearest Railway Station is Kathgodam (35 kms), which is the last terminus of the North East Railways. From Delhi the Ranikhet Express is a good option.

By Road
Nainital is connected to all the major National/State Highways. National highway No 87 connects Nainital to other parts of the country. Its distance from Delhi is about 310 km.

WHAT TO SEE

Dorothy's Seat
situated at 2292m above sea level, about four kilometres to the west of the lake lies Dorothy's seat, also known as Tiffin Top. Here a seat was built by an Englishman named Kellet in the memory of his wife, who was killed in an air crash. This place offers excellent view of the Himalayas and is 3km from the main town.

Hanuman Garhi
Three kilometres south of Tallital lays Hanuman Garhi, where there is a small temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The place is also a good spot for viewing the setting sun.

Naini Peak
Five kilometres from the lake lies the Naina Peak also called China peak. At 2,611 metres, it is the highest peak bordering the lake. A popular picnic spot, the peak offers a panoramic view of the resort and a stunning view of the Himalayas including Nanda Devi and the mountains on the Tibetan border. It is about 5-6km from the main town.

Snow View
This popular vantage point at 2,270 metres above sea level, offers an excellent view of the northern Himalayan ranges. The point is accessible by a ropeway or horses.

Palace Belvedere
Built by Raja Balwant Singh, in 1897, Palace Belvedere is a an hour’s drive from Nainital. This colonial mansion is now run as a heritage hotel under the supervision of the erstwhile royal family.