Sightseeing

Nainital Hotels and Resorts

Nainital is a town in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and is the headquarters of the Nainital district, which lies in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas. Nainital is one of India’s prime tourism and sightseeing destinations, and is acclaimed for its stunning and picturesque views of the vast plain to the south, the massive and tangled ridges to the north, and the great snowy range that forms the central axis of the Himalayas bounding them. As is expected for such a popular tourist destination, there is saturation of options of hotels and resorts in and around Nainital.

The heart of the Nainital experience is the Naini lake, named for the emerald green eyes of the Goddess Parvati, the second consort of the Lord Shiva and the patron goddess of the region. It is believed that the lake is one of the 64 Shakti Peeths, or religious sites where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell to earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The spot where Sati’s eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or lake of the eye. The goddess Shakti is worshipped at the Naina Devi Temple on the north shore of the present day lake.

On one side of this lake, woods rise from the shores and climb into the hills. Another side, however, has a well populated and connected township. The blue sky and the stunning green of the Queen of Lakes are bracketed by forested hills, making Nainital not only a fantastic summer retreat, but also a stunning place to visit in the clutches of winter.

Over the years, many millions of people have been captivated by the charm of this place built somewhere near the roof of the world. Apart from the Mall, which is a street lined with shops and eating joints that are frequented by tourists and sightseers from India and other countries, there are several other tourist and sightseeing places in and around Nainital that are a must-see.

The Zoo in Nainital is also well-known and maintained, with clean and healthy animals kept in huge enclosures, giving the entire experience a very jungle feel. There are 7 other easily accessible lakes around Nainital that are just as rustic and gorgeous as the Naini lake itself, like Bhimtal, Naukuchiyatal and Sattal. In Nainital itself, there is also a rope-way with a splendid view, and an abundance of facilities for boating, horse riding, skating, video games and many other fun activities.

To service the significant tourist and sightseeing traffic that finds its way to Nainital each year, there are scores of hotels and resorts in and around the area that provide a world class stay and a sublime holiday experience.