A Guide to The Best Things to Do in Nainital

Commonly known as the ‘Lake District’ Nainital is a Himalayan resort town situated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. There are a total of 64 ‘Shakti Peeths’ 9 out of these are found in Uttarakhand alone and one of them is found in this region. Nainital was created when the charred eye of Devi Sati fell in this region of Uttarakhand when Lord Shiva was carrying her burnt body in grief. Hindu devotees believe that the left eye of Devi Sati fell here and gave rise to the Naini Lake. This is how the town Nainital got its name where ‘Naina’ means eyes and ‘Tal’ means lake. The beauty of the deep green-blue waters of Naini Lake attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Other than its mythological significance, there are many other reasons why people visit this place. There are a lot of activities to do in Nainital at its beautiful lakes such as Kamal Tal, Bhimtal Lake, Garud Tal, Sattal Lake, and Sariyatal. Visiting these places you will feel immersed in the natural beauty of Nainital. Here you can take part in activities such as birding, camping, hiking, boating, etc. If you want to explore the beauty of nature you can book a Nainital tour package from Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad or any other city from a reputable travel company.

7 Best Things to Do in Nainital

Following are some of the peaceful, fun and exciting activities to do in Nainital:

1. Visit Naina Devi Temple
2. Celebrate local festivals
3. Book a luxury resort
4. Boating in Bhimtal
5. See the Himalayan Botanical Garden
6. Visit Nainital Zoo
7. Go on a Hiking trail

Visit Naina Devi Temple

The best thing to do when you are in Nainital is to seek blessings at the Naina Devi Temple. This temple is where one of the 9 shaktipeeths is situated in Uttarakhand. It is considered to be one of the most prestigious and ancient Hindu temples in India. During the festival of Navratra, huge crowds of devotees visit this temple to seek the blessings of the Goddess. Hindu devotees believe that Lord Vishnu had struck his Sudarshan Chakra on Goddess Sati to ease Lord Shiva’s grief after her death. After which her body parts fell in different places on the earth. One of Sati’s eyes had fallen in Nainital in Uttarakhand because of which the temple got its name, Naina Devi Temple. Many people believe that all of their eye-related problems can be cured if they visit the Naina Devi Temple.

Celebrate local festivals

Nainital is a hill station with a rich heritage and culture. One of the best things to do in Nainital is to plan your trip around the time of some famous festivals celebrated here to experience the rich culture of Dev Bhoomi. Sharadotsav is one of the popular festivals of Nainital which marks the beginning of winters. Every year in October, this festival welcomes all the dancers, folk singers, storytellers and local artisans to showcase the vivid cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. Some of the other traditional festivals that are celebrated in the region include Uttrayani also known as Makar Sankranti, Nanda Devi fair, Khatarua, Phool Dei, Harela, Gheeya Sakranti also known as Olgia and Basant Panchami. During this festival, Hindu devotees worship Goddess Saraswati and they celebrate it by singing hymns, songs, and prayers in her name.

Book a luxury resort

While you are booking a Nainital family tour package, make sure you get a good resort added where you can enjoy your stay to the fullest. Many good resorts have swimming pools, jacuzzi pools, open bars, restaurants with authentic cuisines, etc. Some of them also offer bonfires and live music so you can travel throughout the day and enjoy your evenings with live music. Make sure that you make your bookings beforehand to avoid any last-hour rush. Also, find a hotel that is not too far away from the tourist spots.

Boating in Bhimtal

There are many activities that you can do in the lakes of Nainital, one of which is boating. You can have fun on the emerald green waters of the Bhimtal Lake and discover the views of the surrounding Himalayan ranges. Bhimtal is one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in Nainital, ideal for a romantic getaway with your partner. You can get it included in your Nainital honeymoon package There are many other lakes besides Bhimtal in Nainital where you can go on a boat ride. One of them is Sattal Lake, a group of seven interconnected freshwater lakes. One of the famous things to do in Nainital is bird watching around Sattal Lake as many migratory birds visit this place every year. Some of the other lakes where you can go for boating include Naini Lake and Naukuchiatal.

Go to see the Himalayan Botanical Garden

This botanical garden in Nainital hosts exquisite species of Himalayan-origin plants and herbs. With the backdrop of snow-covered Himalayan peaks, it is situated at an altitude of 1900 meters. There are many things to do and see in Nainital and the Himalayan Botanical Garden is one of those popular attractions. It consists of rare medicinal plants and native Himalayan foliage. Some of its major attractions are the butterfly park, herbarium, orchidarium, Geodesic dome, fernery, zero points, and library. Its collection of rare medicinal plants consists of more than 250 rare and endangered species. Moreover, its Geodesic domes are designed to gather maximum sunlight to house cactus gardens, high-altitude gardens and orchid gardens.

Visit Nainital Zoo

The Nainital Zoo is situated in Talital and is spread across 4.6 hectares of land. It was made to preserve the endangered species and conserve the biodiversity and wildlife. It is home to some of the most exotic animals such as the Himalayan Bear, Hill Patridge, Himalayan Civet, Tibetan Wolf, Barking Deer, Sambar, Royal Bengal Tiger, etc. The Himalayan Black Bear found in this zoo is a large forest bear also called the Moon Bear. This is because it has a crescent-shaped white mark on its black chest. Its longer hair on the neck is there for its protection from predators like Tigers. Another one-of-a-kind animal that you will get to see in the Nainital Zoo is the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens). These arboreal pandas are mostly found in the Eastern Himalayas. The Red Pandas got their name from the Nepali word ‘Ponya’ meaning plant-eating animals. They have a long, bushy tail that they use to balance themselves on the trees and cover themselves in winter for warmth.

Go on a Hiking trail

Lakes such as the Sat Tal and Khurpa Tal offer a perfect setting for short hikes. Khurpa Tal remains one of the unexplored lakes of Nainital as the dense deodar, pine and cedar forests, amplify its ravishing beauty. There are several water activities held here such as fishing and boating. But people looking for a trekking destination can also find several natural trails snaking their way from and around the Khurpa Tal. Dorthy Seat Trail is another popular place to go for a short hike. It is a trail of 4 Km near Nainital popular for birding, backpacking, and camping. If you are specifically interested in bird watching you may know that migratory birds visit Nainital during the winter season. They are especially seen at lakes such as Sattal, Naukuchiatal and Bhimtal Lake. To add this place to your tour, you can choose the Nainital Bhimtal tour package and get these locations added to your itinerary.

The distance between Nainital and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of Uttarakhand is quite small. So if you live in these places, you must visit Nainital to seek the blessings of godgess at the Naina Devi Temple and enjoy the scenery of Naini Lake and other lakes. To make the most out of your Nainital tour package make sure you add all of these things to your to-do list.