Nainital - Uttrakhand

No matter how many times I visit Nanital I never get bored. One look at the Nainital Lake is enough to make me fall in love with it again.To me it's primarily a fun place- it is a place to go with family and friends, the more the merrier ! The town of Nainital is highly commercialized but there are some places around that are are not so crowded and are perfect for a quiet weekend getaway.


One of the most happening trips to Nainital was an impromptu plan. It was a hot summer evening in Gurgaon when we decided to get away from the heat for the long weekend. No, this was not the happening thing, the happening thing was our sarkari bus journey from Delhi to Nainital. Now anyone who has traveled on a government bus in the hills would agree with this: It takes courage! A lot more courage when you have to sit in the last row because these are the only seats available (Lesson learned: always book your bus tickets in advance during peak season!).
For those who haven't had a government bus ride experience in the hills so far, it can be described as a the ultimate gut-wrenching experience. If you are brave enough to peek out and look at the bus wheels at the turns, it almost feels like the last day of your life- you suddenly become religious and start praying! I highly recommend this activity for adrenaline junkies during daytime.Thankfully for us this time, it was a night journey.

As we stepped out of the bus in Nainital in the morning, a cool breeze washed away all the tiredness of the journey. Even though there are many hotels near Nainital lake still finding a hotel with a nice lake view was a big challenge as we did not have any prior reservations.After searching for almost an hour we got an amazing home-stay deal. It was a short trek uphill from the main road and the lake view from the balcony of the house was probably the best we could get. The home cooked meals were delicious- overall we got  lucky with the accommodation deal !

A boat ride in Nainital lake is always nostalgic, you simply cannot go to Nainital and not go for the boat ride! It brings back memories from all the previous trips- Many family trips as kids , the happening bus-ride trip , a trip with best friends when we went for a friend's wedding in Haldwani and many more..beautiful memories!

There are many other touristy places like the Naina Devi temple, Tiffin Top, Snowview Point, Cave gardens, Nainital Zoo etc. but I have my own list of favorite places that are lesser crowded.

My favorite places in Nainital:

Naukuchiyatal:
People who know me know that I love picnics. Naukuchiyatal or the lake with 9 corners is a perfect picnic spot! They do have some adventurous activities here like paragliding and parasailing but my favorite thing to do here is just sit by the lake in the evening, after all tourists have left and sip a cup of tea in solitude. There is something so peaceful and relaxing about it, a perfect way to end the day.



Hanumangarhi:
This is a Hanuman temple situated around 3km from the main town of Nainital and is quite famous.
The lesser known thing about Hanumangarhi is the beautiful sunset from this spot. Watching the sun disappear into the sky from here is simply magical.





Naina Peak Trek:
An easy trek through the picturesque forests takes us to Naina Peak, the highest spot in Nainital. The panoramic view of  the town of Nainital from this hill top is refreshing. A good spot for photographers.

St. John's Church:
A visit to this 18th century church will transform us into the bygone era. Surrounded by the deodar trees, this is a must visit for solitude seeking souls. The Gothic style architecture is breathtaking. The best part is that I have hardly seen other tourists here. I highly recommend a visit to this church to anyone seeking peace. You will not be disappointed.



My 2 Cents:

- Do not underestimate our government buses, they really are in demand! Always book bus tickets in advance during the peak season. Same goes for hotels.

- For people who cannot stomach the hilly drives, train is a good option. Take a train from Delhi to Kathkodam. Nainital is only 1.5 hours from Kathkodam railway station.

- For first time visitors to Nainital, I would highly recommend to take a lake tour. These beautiful cluster of lakes are in Khurpatal, Sattal, Naukuchiyatal and Bhimtal and are situated quite close to each other.

- For solitude lovers I would suggest to search for accommodation in Naukuchiyatal or Sattal. Prior reservations are a must during peak seasons.

- Tibetian market is a good place to stroll around you can also find some good Tibetian food options here.

- I would also recommend to visit this place called Lands End. You could take a horse ride for the fun of it. The view of Khurpatal from this spot is simply amazing.

- If you plan to visit Hanumangarhi for sunset, reach well in advance to experience this magic of nature.