Best Places to Visit in Nainital

Nainital is located in Uttarakhand. The nearest cities to Nainital are Rampur, Bareilly, Rudrapur, and Pilibhit. It is in the Kumaon division. Nainital is a charming place situated in the lap of nature. forests are full of deodar, oak and other trees. Every turn and every scene takes one to the peak of peace and satisfaction. You feel like stopping to admire nature, but then you also feel like going ahead to see what else is there in its lap. Neither satisfaction is fully found, nor do the scenes ever end. One moment, it is sunshine; the next moment, it is shade; you never know how the weather will change in the next moment.

1. Naini Lake

Naini Lake is 128 feet deep in some places. It is a natural lake of Nainital. You can enjoy boating in Naini Lake. The beautiful ducks and fishes look very beautiful swimming in the lake. If you want to spend a few minutes away from the market crowd and want to drift with the calm current of Naini Lake, you should go there. There's much more including the superb sound of nature. You can see the two edges of the mountain joining and the sky hiding behind the mountains like a shy lover. Around Naini Lake, you can find common street food. There are many selfie points. You can also visit Naina Devi Temple, the Tibetan market, and more.

2. Naina Devi Temple

It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Lord Vishnu Sudarshan cut the body of Devi Sati into 51 parts. When Lord Shiva took away her body, the eyes of the goddess fell here. The Hindi word for eyes is Nayan. The lake is known as Naini or Nainital Lake. People with eye problems often come here. It's a beautiful and calm place that you must visit. Stay here and take in the beautiful view of Naini Lake.

3. Tiffin Top (Dorothy’s Seat)

Tiffin Top was the most popular viewpoint in Nainital, but it has now become a part of history due to a major landslide in August 2024. The landslide caused significant damage, but sources say it will be redeveloped near the top of the hill. However, you can still enjoy the trek and capture the beautiful green forest with your eyes as well as your camera. We cannot describe this beautiful trek in a small article. From this site, you can see the whole of Nainital, including the very popular school of Nainital, which is known as Sherwood.

4. Snow View Point

If you want to see Nainital from a higher altitude, head to Mall Road, buy a ticket for the ropeway, and enjoy the view of Nainital from the top. Seeing the beauty of nature from inside the trolley gives you a unique experience. The trolley will drop you here. Travelers can visit here by ropeway, taxi, or by walk. You can see the Himalayan range and Naini Lake from this point. Travellers can enjoy here an adventure park. There is a market here, but it seems expensive compared to other places. Naini Lake is visible from this site. Kids may insist on riding toys, or you can engage them in gaming. The Dinosaur Park is free if you come via the trolley. Enjoy Tower 360 to go even higher and get an awesome view of the city.

5. Nainital Zoo

The zoo is going to be a wonderful but tiring journey because it covers a large area, and the zoo is not on flat ground. After visiting the zoo, you may not have the energy to enjoy any other point on foot.

6. The Mall Road

Mall Road is crowded during the season. It is a mix of nature and the latest fashion. On one side, there is a lake with many selfie points, and on the other side, there are shops and hotels. If you look up a little, you will see mountains laden with trees. It's as if they are saying, "Stop for a while and look at me." Numerous shops and showrooms are available here. Taxis and rickshaws are also available. Lake-view hotels are available, but at night, you might be disturbed by the traffic sound in normal hotels during peak times.

7. Eco Cave Gardens

Eco Cave Garden is a mix of artificial touch and natural caves. We do not recommend it for elderly or physically challenged people because it is very narrow. There are multiple caves here, so you can fully enjoy this place. At some spots, you will see natural water dripping, and you will also find slippery surfaces, which makes it adventurous. The artificial sounds of animals in the caves will give you the pleasure of a different world. If you are a fan of Discovery Channel, you will definitely miss Bear Grylls. If you are overweight, you may face some difficulties, but be brave and go for a walk.

8. St. John in the Wilderness Church

St. John is an old building (1848) made by a Britishers. It has some flat areas where you can sit and enjoy nature. Not many visitors come here. You will have an "OMG" moment. There is also a graveyard here.

St. John Nainital Open Hours

Sunday : 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

9. Governor’s House (Raj Bhavan)

This building was the residence of the British Governor. You can visit to get a luxurious view inside the old Gothic architecture, but whenever the governor changes, the rules for tourists to visit the place also change.

10. Pangot and Kilbury Bird Sanctuary

There are 580 bird species in Pangot. It is well-connected and accessible from Nainital. Before reaching Pangot, you can listen to the birds singing. It's important to note that the birds are not in cages because it is a sanctuary, not a zoo. The journey from Nainital to Pangot will be very exciting. When you are trekking in Pangot, please be careful, as dangerous wild animals might be present. Naina Devi Jalkund (Kilbury Reservoir) is quite large, and you may not be able to explore it completely in one day. But listening to the chirping of birds will make you forget all your pain. You can book accommodations from Sigri; they will provide you with the best trek.

11. Hanuman Garhi

Established by Baba Neem Karauli, this is a beautiful temple situated in the jungle and at the top of a mountain. Beautiful scenic views will attract eyes and hearts. Travellers can also enjoy the sunrise/ sunset from here.

How to Reach Nainital

For reaching Nainital by road with more ease and less stress, convenient options are available, such as a bus stand in the city or hiring a taxi to help you reach your final destination in comfort.

Nainital does not have a direct rail connection with its city. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, at a distance of 34 km away from Nainital. The train is yet another cost-effective way to travel from Delhi or nearby stations, Rudrapur and Kathgodam.

The nearest airport to Nainital is Pantnagar Airport. Pantnagar Airport is connected with IGI Delhi Airport and Dehradun.

Altitude: 2,084 meters

Distance from Delhi: 300 kilometers

Nearest airport: Pantnagar airport

Nearest railway station: Kathgodam railway station