A Kumaon hill town built around the crescent-shaped Naini Lake, ringed by forested peaks.
FamousHill-stationLakeTrekPilgrimage
Nainital packs a lake, a ropeway, a hilltop zoo, a Shakti temple and short forest walks into one compact town, so little time is lost on travel between sights. It suits families, couples and first-time hill travellers who want an easy trip from Delhi or Lucknow. Walkers can add Tiffin Top and Naina Peak for Himalayan views.
Trip planner
Plan from your city
Photos
Naini Lake from aboveNaini LakeTiffin TopNaini Lake in fog
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
March to June
The main season. Pleasant days of about 10 to 25 C, good for boating and walks. It is also the busiest time.
July to mid-September
Monsoon. Heavy rain, cloud that hides the views and a risk of landslides on the hill roads. Best avoided.
Late September to October
Clear and mild after the rains, with fewer visitors. October runs from about 9 to 18 C and light woollens are needed.
November to February
Cold, roughly 0 to 15 C, with a chance of snowfall. Clear days give good views of the snow peaks.
Sights and activities
1
Naini Lake
The crescent-shaped lake at the centre of town, with Tallital at the lower end and Mallital at the upper end. Rowing boats and pedal boats can be hired from the boat stands.
Distance
In the town centre, about 1 km from Tallital bus stand
Entry
Free to visit. Boating about 160 for a half round and 210 for a full round by rowing boat; pedal boat about 210 an hour
A viewpoint at about 2,270 m with views of Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Kot on clear days. A cable car climbs from Mallital in about three minutes, with cabins that hold up to 11 people.
Distance
About 2 km from the town centre; the ropeway starts at Mallital
Entry
Viewpoint free. Ropeway return ticket about 300 to 380 for adults and 200 to 280 for children
A hillside zoo at about 2,100 m on Sher Ka Danda, home to Royal Bengal tiger, Tibetan wolf, Himalayan bear, barking deer and hill birds. There is a lot of uphill walking inside.
Distance
About 1.8 km from the bus stand; shuttles run from Tallital boat stand and Mallital
Entry
150 for Indians, 300 for foreigners; free for senior citizens and differently-abled visitors
Timings
10 am to 4.30 pm; closed on Thursdays and on Holi, Diwali, Republic Day and Independence Day
A hilltop at about 2,292 m with wide views over the town and the surrounding hills. It is reached by an uphill forest walk, or by pony from Bara Pathar.
Distance
About 4 km from town
Entry
About 50
Timings
Open all days; go in daylight, about 8 am to 5.30 pm
A Gothic-style building of 113 rooms from 1897, now the Governor's residence, set in large wooded grounds with an 18-hole golf course laid out in 1926.
Distance
About 3 km from Mall Road
Entry
50 per person
Timings
9 am to 5 pm; closed on Sundays and national holidays
The highest point around Nainital at about 2,611 m. A forest trail of about 6 km through oak, cypress and pine leads to views of the Himalayan range and the town below.
Direct buses run from Delhi (Anand Vihar and Kashmiri Gate ISBT) in about 8 hours over roughly 300 km. Buses and taxis also climb from Kathgodam and Haldwani to the Tallital bus stand.
By train
Kathgodam is the nearest railway station, about 34 km away and roughly an hour's drive. Daily trains run from Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkata.
By air
Pantnagar Airport is the nearest, about 65 km away, with limited flights. Delhi airport is the practical choice for most travellers.
Where to base yourself
Stay near Mall Road, between Tallital (bus stand end) and Mallital (temple and ropeway end), so the lake and most sights are within walking distance.
Getting around
Most of the town is walkable: Mall Road runs about 1.5 km along the lake between Tallital and Mallital.
Cycle rickshaws and taxis are available along the lake; Vehicle movement on Mall Road is restricted to set hours in May, June and October.
The aerial ropeway from Mallital to Snow View costs about 300 to 380 return for an adult.
Shuttles to the zoo run from Tallital boat stand and from Mallital.
Rental scooters cost about 600 a day and motorbikes about 1,500 a day.
For nearby places, a shared taxi from Nainital to Kainchi Dham costs about 80 to 100 a person and the bus about 50.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Guesthouses and simple hotels away from the lakefront
₹600 to ₹2,000
Mid-range
Hotels on or near Mall Road
₹2,000 to ₹5,000
Luxury
Resorts and heritage-style hotels
₹5,000 to ₹9,000
Food
Restaurants cluster along Mall Road and in Mallital. Besides Kumaoni dishes, North Indian, Chinese, Tibetan, Continental and Italian food is widely available, and sweet shops sell bal mithai.
Try these
Bhatt ki churkani (a Kumaoni black soybean curry)
Aloo ke gutke (spiced dry potatoes)
Bal mithai (a brown milk fudge coated in sugar balls)
Baadi (a Kumaoni flour-based staple)
Rajma (kidney bean curry)
Momos (steamed dumplings)
Vegetarian food is easy to find at most restaurants.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹1,200
₹500
₹150 per person
Mid-range
₹3,000
₹1,000
₹1,000 per vehicle
Luxury
₹7,000
₹2,200
₹2,500 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit is needed for Indian or foreign visitors. Carry a government photo ID for hotel check-in.
Safety
By day
A busy, compact tourist town. Take care on the hill paths to Tiffin Top and Naina Peak, where the ground can be uneven; wear proper shoes.
At night
Mall Road shops stay open until about 10 pm. Finish forest walks and hilltop visits before dark.
Solo women
No specific official advice was found online. The lakefront and Mall Road are busy until late evening; avoid isolated trails alone.
Roads
The climb from Kathgodam is a winding hill road. The monsoon months bring a risk of landslides and delays.
Emergency numbers
112 (all emergencies)
Practical
Mobile network
All the main networks (Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL) work in town.
ATMs and cash
At least a few ATMs and banks within about 6 km of the centre (State Bank of India), the nearest about 6 km away. Carry some cash as a back-up. Banks are present in Mallital (a State Bank of India branch is the zoo shuttle point).
Fuel
Fill up in Haldwani or Kathgodam on the way up; the nearest pump listed is about 6.5 km from the lake.
Medical
There are several hospitals within about 6 km, including BD Pandey District Hospital and Sitapur Hospital. In an emergency dial 112, or 108 for an ambulance in most states. Ask your hotel for the nearest hospital, or call 112.
The lake, Mall Road, the temple and the ropeway are manageable. The zoo and Eco Cave Gardens involve a lot of walking, and Tiffin Top and Naina Peak are uphill treks; ponies go to Tiffin Top. Zoo entry is free for senior citizens.
Children
Boating, the ropeway, the zoo and the caves suit children. Keep a close watch on them on the hill paths, and expect some steep walking at the zoo.
Wheelchair users
Mall Road along the lake is the flattest stretch. The zoo, caves and hilltops have steep paths and steps.
Unless a sight is described as accessible, assume it is not step-free.
Culture and responsible travel
Remove footwear before entering the inner shrine at Naina Devi Temple and dress modestly.
Evenings are cold even in summer, so carry a warm layer.
The lake is the town's centrepiece; do not litter in or around it.
May and June are very crowded and Mall Road traffic is restricted; plan to walk.
What to pack
Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or driving licence); hotels and permits ask for it
A warm layer for the evenings, which are cool even in summer
Walking shoes with a good grip, a small daypack and a refillable water bottle
Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, and socks for hot stone floors where shoes come off. Some temples do not allow phones or bags, so carry little
Enough cash for the whole stay, a power bank and offline maps
Your regular medicines, plus basics for stomach upsets, headaches and cuts
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