Nainital is a beautiful hill station located in the Kumaaon region in Uttarnchal. Nainital is a ideal holiday destination for summers. There are so many options to enjoy this lovely place, you can take sight seeing tours, boat cruise at lake or can enjoy sailing & parasailing, visit the temples, or can go for horse riding, or can have round of golf with friends and you can also do trekking. However, like most hill resorts, it has its quite periods too. During the winter, Nainital is quite another beautiful experience when it reverts back to the local population and the crowds are absent. Peaceful, open, and invigorating.
Air : The nearest domestic Airport is Palam Airport at New Delhi (304 kms), although Phool bagh being the nearest airport 72 kms from Nainital but after the termination of Vayudoot services it has become unoperational for general public. The nearest International airport is Indira Gandhi-International airport at New Delhi.
Rail : Kathgodam is the nearest railhead i.e. 34 kms from Nainital. It is well connected to other major cities like New Delhi, Calcutta & Lucknow by regual and express tains.
Bus : Nailtal has good road network & well connected to the major cities, there regular buses from Delhi, it take 8 hours to reach Nainital, you can choose the U.P. State Transport, Delhi tranport Corp. or private deluxe coaches. from Delhi.
Bhimtal : This beautiful lake is the largest lake in the Nainital region. Located in a lovaly valley just 22 kms from Nainital and 1371 meters above sea level. The beauty is enhanced by a small Island surrounded by crystal blue water.
Khurpa Tal : At an altitude of (1635 MT) there lies just another beautiful spot at a distance of 12 km from Nainital. popularly known as Khurpatal. It is considered to be anglers paradise having clear water and a good harvest of fishes. You Can Visit By Trecking(On Foot) by a shorter route of 5 km, Taxi Or By Package Tours.
Sat Tal : It means seven lakes grouped together. This beautiful is still unspolit an located at an altitude of 1370 meters, just 12 kms ahead of Nainital.
Naukuchia Tal : It is 1218 meters above sea level. The intrestinglake as 9 corners. Surrounded by dense forested hills on all sides it provides solace from the maddening rush of the plains.
Kanchi : It is a placed at an altitude of 1400 meters, located just 20 kms from Nainital & liked by both tourists and devotees. It is a modern pilgrimage centre established by Neem karoli Baba a saint of early sixties of twentieth century.
Ranikhet : It is extremly beautiful place located hust 63 kms from Nainital. It has an altitude of 1829 meters. Its beauty lies in its simplicity - beautiful pine trees create a nostalgic feeling. The orchards, the temples, the joy grounds will back on you again and again to its fold.
Almora : Almora, situated 90 kilometres from its nearest railhead Kathgodam, the small town of Almora is perched atop a five kilometre long, horseshoe-shaped ridge. The town is surrounded by a fertile terraced valley, and boxed in by four ranges of hills – Banari Devi, Kasan Devi, Shyahi Devi and Katarmal. Beyond them lie the Trishul and the Nanda Devi peaks in the Great Himalayan Mountain Ranges.
Shopping in Nainital is a delightful experience. For a discerning shopper, it is impossible to return from a tour without shopping in Nainital. Fabrics and woolen garments are the most popular items for shopping in Nainital. Most of such woolens are woven by the women of Almora. A variety of sweaters, cardigans, caps and shawls in exquisite designs and brilliant colors would arrest your eyes.
You can also pick up intricately carved cane sticks and multicolored candles in unique designs while shopping in Nainital. Like all hill stations, beautiful wood-carved utilities and objets d'art are also huge hits for shopping in Nainital. In the fruit market in Nainital, you can buy fresh-from-the-orchard apples, peaches and cherries. Hang out at the teeming shops at The mall for shopping in Nainital. The shops are replete with artifacts and souvenirs from various parts of Uttaranchal. Never mind if you need to bargain a little bit with the shopkeepers to get the reasonable prices.
There is no dearth of good places to eat in Nainital that serve mouth-watering North Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines. Alcohol is served in only top-end hotels and there are no good bars outside the hotels, even in the Mall. Try the amazing piping hot tea served in the dhabas of The Mall. Also try the local Herbal Chai. The traditional Garhwali and Kumauni food consists of lentil or pulses and ‘Bhaatt’ or rice. Rice is the indispensable food for the localites here. Chainsoo is dry or gravy dish prepared by using black gram dal (Kala Chana). Its variant preparation is made with Black Bhaatt called Bhatwani. Phaanu is also made of Dals (lentils) like Chainsoo but here the pulses are soaked in water for about a minimum of 4-6 hours before its use. A number of lentils like Arhar, Moong or Urad can be used to make Phaanu. Kafuli is a thick gravy dish made from green leafy vegetables usually spinach. Jholi literally means very thin and watery gravy usually made with tomatoes, potatoes, tubers, curd and asafetida. Try the desserts like Kesar Halwa, Sei, Gulgula, Jhangora Ki Kheer and Arsa. Roat, is the traditional dish made usually at family functions or religious functions. It is a type of sweet bread made with wheat flour and jaggery, flavored with fennel soaked water to make it extra sweet.
No one can get bored in Nainital even if one tries to as Nainital is a bulk of entertainment packages. You can go for short treks perfect for a novice; you can do a lot of unique shopping, check your email accounts, and you can even watch movies as well. Like any other tourist destination Nainital provides each and every facility which you can easily find in the city.