Nainital & Around- Resorts &
Hotels
The hill state of Uttaranchal was carved out of Uttar Pradesh
recently. It comprises of two two regions of Kumaon and Garhwal with
Dehradun as the state capital. The state is blessed with lots of natural
resources and splendour of scenic beauty. The new government is doing a
lot to promote tourism and lots of tourist friendly measures are being
taken to attract people from outside the state and foreigners too.
Nainital, one time contender for being the state capital the city has
probably benefited by losing out , seeing the state of Dehradun after
getting this status. Nainital is named after the Naini lake which means
an eye, as folklore has it that the eye of sati Parvati fell here. The
lake is also called lake of three sages after saints who meditated here
to form it. The whole area was once called 'chakta', land of 60 lakes,
though most of them have dried up now.
General Info
Altitude : 1900m
Weather : Summer temperatures range between 10 & 25 degree C, while in
winter they are 2-15 degrees. Rainy season- July, August.
Rainfall : All the year round, maximum in monsoons, July-August
How to reach
Distance : 320 km
Road The things just got better for the Nainital seeker with the opening
of Moradabad and Hapur bypass.
Take the Ghaziabad bypass to leave Delhi and cross the river Hindon
before taking the Hapur bypass (unlees you want to buy the 'hapur ke
papad' or the fancy towels in the town. One can stop at Gajraula for
some sumptuous paranthas at this industrial town. Next when you see a
lot of mooddah stalls on the highway you have reached Garh Mukteshwar.
You can visit the Ganga ghat here for a dip or a boat ride. You have to
no longer tread through crowded and narrow lanes of Moradadbad as you
can pay just Rs.20 as toll to glide over the excellent dual carriageway
of Moradabad bypass. After that reach Haldwani via Rampur and Rudarpur.
The hilly road starts after Haldwani and then all the way to Nainital's
Mall passing Kathgodam on the way. TIP Another interesting route passing
through the jungles of Kaladhungi is taking a left turn at the
intersection that leads to Ramnagar and Corbett . Immediately after
taking the turn take a right turn (otherwise you will reach Kashipur) to
reach Kaladhungi via Doraha and Bazpur on a road that runs thru dense
reserve forests and is almost completely to your own disposal. It's 30km
of hilly drive from here via Khurptal and you reach at the opposite end
of Nainital away from the Mall. This route is about 30km short but you
will either have to go thru Moradabad to catch the intersection or
backtrack from the end of the bypass (the better option).
Rail : One can take the train up to Kathgodam and then take a bus or a
taxi to Naintal about 30km away.
What to see
Naini lake The lake is the heart and soul of the city with
everything centring around it or in reference to it. The green colored
water body has an ambience that strikes you as soon as you enter the
city. You can enjoy the lake by having a boat ride either in self driven
paddle boat or the one driven by the boat man. If you go with a boat man
do enjoy his fables about the lake and the city itself. There is also a
yachting club attached to the lake and a yachting festival is held every
year in October which is a treat to watch with burning torches on the
lake. Walking along the lake in itself is a great experiences the flora
and fauna of the lake, and if you get tired you can rest on the benches
provided all along the way. At one end of the lake is the Naina Devi
temple, dedicated to goddess Naina. The devotees ask for grant of their
wishes by tying a bell at the temple, so the place is studded with bells
of all colors and sizes.
The Mall The Mall runs adjacent to the lake for most part starting from
Tallital,the lower end to Mallital, the higher one. One can buy all sort
of things on the mall including woolens, handicrafts, variety of
eatables including fresh fruits and vegetables at Mallital. The
speciality of the place are decorative wax candles which come in all
shapes, sizes and colors. In peak season the mall is closed to vehicular
traffic making it convenient for the tourists to stroll around and enjoy
the surroundings. One can also take a horse ride on the mall and for
exploring the adjoining areas.
The Ropeway Another attraction of the station is the ropeway that takes
you to the Snow View point at the height of 2270m and affords views of
snow capped mountains around Nainital including the Naina Devi peak.
Other vantage points for snow views are Laria Kanta, China peak, Alma
peak Camel's peak etc. Most can be reached on foot or horseback. The
last motorable point is Land's End with Tiffin Top nearby, a beautiful
picnic spot to spend a day.
Hanumangarh temple ,St. John's Church, the State Observatory, Sanjay
Park, a botanical garden and Gufa Mhadev close to Sepoydhara are another
places one can have a look at. Try the buransh sherbat made from a local
red rhododendron flower, available at many place in and around Nainital.
The one available at govt. outlets are hygienically prepared and last
much longer. The drink is said to be good for heat stroke, asthma,
hypertension etc.
What to buy
Wollens, which are reasonably priced. Local handicraft made of wood.
The best thing of course are the decorative candles. Fresh strawberies
and mulbery in season. TIP Try the buransh sherbat made from a local red
rhododendron flower, available at many places in and around Nainital.
The one available at govt. outlets is hygienically prepared and lasts
much longer. The drink is said to be good for heat stroke, asthma,
hypertension etc.
Contact Anand 0-9811193634/ Seema 0-9891458220(10 AM-8PM) EMAIL us for bookings and packages
