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Naini, a word that almost brings the cool air with it is a secret hide out of the tourists each year. Situated at an altitude of 1,938mtrs, this dreamland town with its beauteous splendor is one of the most popular tourist resorts of the country. The nucleus of Naini Tal's exquisite beauty is her lake which is a haven for water sports like Yachting, Kayaking, Canoeing and Boating.
Naina Peak or China Peak:
Naina peak is the highest peak of the town , at an altitude of 2611 mts. and at a distance of 6 Kms from the town .It commands an entrancing view of sparkling snow laden Himalayas from Bandar Punch in west to Api and Nari peaks of Nepal in the east , a full Himalayan range in one side and a birds eye view of the lake city of Nainital in its full grandeur on the other. With a pair of binoculars a good panorama of the tract surrounding Nainital is obtained . Pony or Horses can be hired to visit this peak either from Snow view or from Mallital.
Dorothy Seat:
Also known, as "Tiffin Top" is a memorial to Mrs. Dorothy Kellet built by her husband. It commands an excellent view of the Himalayas as well as the neighbouring countryside. It is 4.3-kms from the town. One can trek or negotiate on horseback.
Snow View:
It is the most easily accessible hill top, height 2270 mts. and at a distance of 2.5 Km from the town. The spot is accessible through ropeway . This peak is also connected by motor able road. Snow view as the name suggests offers an indescribably beautiful and breath taking picture of the glittering snows of Himalyas.It has a temple . Tea,snacks,Photographers are available at this place.
Land's End:
One does not have to climb much, about 4 km and as the name suggests, one feels on reaching the area that the end of the land has really come. Needless to say, the view of the neighbouring hills and valley and the Khurpatal lake is exquisite from here.
St. John-In-The Wilderness:
One of the earliest buildings as well as churches erected in Naini Tal. It is very close to the Uttaranchal High Court. The site was chosen as early as 1844 and was first opened on April 2, 1848. It is a beautiful church with a marvellous interior and stained glasses on the windows.
Raj Bhawan:
The foundation stone of the naini tal government house, modelled after buckingham palace, was laid on April 27, 1897 and the building was completed in March 1900. The architecture of Raj Bhawan has been professionally described as of "the early domestic Gothic style". the house stands upon a plateau, and the combined effect of its environs, the vividly green lawn, grey stone steps and well grown old deodar trees is dignified, peaceful and strongly reminiscent of the English countryside.
Kilbury:
At an altitude of 2194 mts. and 10 Kms. from the town this place is accessible by a motor able road. There is a forest rest house for night stay.Kilbury is an ideal spot for a quiet and peaceful holiday.
Nainital is also known as `Lake Paradise’.
In its beautiful `lakes’, option of boating through yachts, paddle boats and traditional rowing boats are available. The Nainital Boat House Club exclusively holds the management of Yachting in Nainital. In Nainital district, Sat Tal, Bhim Tal and Naukuchiyatal also have water sport and boating facilities.
Fishing
• Permits for Nainital Lake from Executive Officer, Nagar Palika.
For other lakes
• Fisheries Officer, Bhimtal.
Boating
• Boats are available on hire near Boat House Club, Mallital and Tallital.
Yachting
• Hire yacht from Yacht Club, Mallital.
Mountaineering & Trekking
• Equipment can be hired from the Nainital Mountaineering Club and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam.
Nainital is famous for its candles, woolens, woodcrafts and handicrafts.
Places to visit near Nainital
Nainital excursions consist of some of the finest places near the city. Excursions around Nainital, Uttarakhand are a must see for those visiting the city. Some of the famous places to visit around Nainital are:
Bhowali:
Bhowali is situated at an altitude of 1,706 metres above sea level and is 11 kms. from Nainital. This place is very famous for the panoramic view that it provides. It is also famous as a hill fruit mart. It was established back in the year 1912.
Ghorakhal:
Ghorakhal is a place that is famous for the temple of Lord Golu that is located here. Lord Golu is worshipped by the local people. There is also a Sainik School situated here.
Sat Tal:
Sat tal is located at a distance of about 23 kms. from Nainital, and at an altitude of 1,370 metres above sea level. It is a very beautiful place which has seven lakes which are set in the oak forests. All these lakes are situated at an altitude of 1,370 metres. In Hindi, the word Sattal means seven lakes. This is one of the few places which is still unspoilt and unpolluted.
Every year, lots of migratory birds make their way to Sattal because of its fresh water lakes. The seven lakes that make Sattal are the following:
• Panna or Garud Tal
• Nal-Damyanti Tal
• Purna Tal
• Sita Tal
• Ram Tal
• Laxman Tal
• Sukha Tal or Khurdariya Tal
Bhimtal:
Bhimtal is situated at an altitude of 1,370 metres above sea level and is 22 kms. from the city of Nainital. The prime attraction of Bhimtal is the Bhimtal Lake which has a beautiful island at the centre. Apart from being a main tourist destination, it is also the mini district Headquarters since most of the offices of the district administration has been shifted here. Bhimtal is named after Bhima of Mahabharata.
Naukuchia Tal:
Naukuchia Tal is located about 26 kms. from Nainital and 4 kms from Bhimtal, at an altitude of 1,220 metres above sea level. The Naukuchia Tal Lake is a beautiful lake that is 983 metres long and 693 metres broad. There is provision for rowing, padding and yachting at the lake as well.
Kainchi Dham:
Kainchi Dham is located at the Nainital - Almora road, about 9 kms. from Bhowali and 17 kms. from Nainital. It is a pilgrimage centre which has achieved huge recognition for the ashram of famous Neem Karoli Maharaj. Kainchi Dham is named because of the two sharp hairpin bends of the road. Kainchi is a local term of Uttarakhand.. ...
In these hills, nature's hospitality eclipses all man can ever do. I wonder whether the scenery of these hills and the climate are to be surpassed, if equalled, by any of the beauty spots of the world.
Mahatama Gandhi
Popular destination in Uttarakhand (Kumaon Hills)
Almora:
The hill station of Almora, located in the Kumaon hills, has fascinated travellers from all over the world. It is among the very few hill stations not developed by the English. Geographically, Almora is surrounded by Pithoragarh in the east, Garhwal in the west, Bageshwarin in the north and Nainital in the south. Placed over a picturesque horseshoe-shaped ridge, some of the major attractions of Almora are G. B. Pant Museum , Kasar Devi Temple , Chitai Temple and Udyotchandesvar Temple (also Nanda Devi Temple ).
Corbett National Park:
Set up in 1936, the Corbett National Park is India ’s first national park. Situated on the foothills of western Himalayas , the park has grown including the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary as a part of its 1,319 sq. km of reserved area. The park is situated mainly along the valley of the Ramganga River . The river swarms with gharial, mugger, mahseer and flocks of cormorants. Apart from tigers (90 in number in 1984), leopards, jungle cats, fishing cats, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, jackal, yellow-throated marten, dhole, Himalayan palm civet, Indian grey mongoose, common otter, porcupine, and black-naped hare are found all over the park. Elephants can be seen in the park.
Kasauni All mountain lovers desiring to get a closer look at the Himalayas should go to Kasauni, situated 51 kilometres north of Almora. It offers a superb view of Trishul (7120 m), Panchchuli or the Five Chimneys (6904 m) and the twin peaks of Nanda Devi (7816 m).
Mukteshwar
At a distance of 52 km. from Nainital, Mukteshwar set atop a high ridge, is a beautiful Himalayanresort. Surrounded by fruit orchards and thick coniferous forest, it provides a majestic view of the Himalayas and the Almora town below in glittering moonlit nights. The famous Indian Veterinary Research Institute is also located here.
Sightseeing:
The View of Himalayas Mukteshwar provides a panoramic view of the magnificent Himalayas . This splendid view has been a great attraction to the visitors
Indian Veterinary Research Institute The Institute, well known for its contributions in the research relating to animals, is located here:
Excursions:
Ramgarh:
26 km. A picturesque hamlet in the heart of apple, plum, peaches and apricot orchards. This fruit belt of Kumaon is famous for its juicy fruits all over India.
Bhowali: 40 km. Situated at an altitude of 1706 mts. on the main Haldwani-Almora road, Bhowali is a popular health resort.
Ghorakhal: Ghorakhal 37 km. Famous for the temple of Gollu Devta , a demigod highly revered by the Kumaonis.
Ranikhet:
(The Queen's Field) has come to be known so because according to popular belief, this spot had won the heart of Rani Padmini, Queen of Raja Sudhardev and she chose this scenic spot to be her abode.To view nature & its elements in full harmony, the right place to be is Ranikhet. It is the place which wonderfully mirrors the best of the heavenly Himalayas offering excellent views of the snowcapped Nanda Devi (7817m), lush green forests, delicate plant life and attractive wild life.
At on altitude of 1829m, north of Nainital (61 km) and well connected to Almora (44km) & Kathgodam (83km), Ranikhet ( km) has emerged as a favoured all season destination. During the rains, flowers sprout up everywhere in rainbow colours, branches of trees stoop with ripened fruits & sunlight peeping through the mist & clouds endow an enchanting effect all across Ranikhet.
As winter comes, the softly falling snow flakes cover the environs in sheets of pure whiteness.The 1869 the land was bought by British from local villagers and a summer rest & recreation settlement was set for British troops. Today it is an important army town and the head quarters of the Kumaon Regiment.
There are many enjoyable walks, picnic spots, exciting treks and 6km from the town, Upat, has one of the best mountain golf links (9 holes) in the country surrounded by dense oak forest. The Museum &c the Memorial are the jewels of Ranikhet.
How to Get There
Air: Nearest airport is Pant Nagar, (119km).
Rail: as with the other hill stations in the Kumaon Region, Kathgodam (83 km) and Ramnagar (96km) are the nearest railheads.
Road: Ranikhet is connected by road with all the major towns of the region. There are regular buses to Almora, Nainital & Ramnagar operated by KMOU & State Roadways, - 20643. It is also well connected to Delhi (279km), & Haridwar (254 km).
Places to Visit:
Jhoola Devi Temple
This secluded temple dedicated to Durga has beautiful bells, echoes of which can be heard from some distance. Nearby is a temple of Lord Rama.
Chaubatia:
Chaubatia is a vantage point set amidst gardens. The Government Fruit Research center is located here. On a clear morning a 300 Km wide view of the snow - clad Himalayan peaks can be seen clearly from Chaubatia, 10 Km from Ranikhet on a motorable road. The Nanda Devi, Trisul, Nanda Ghunti and Nilkanth peaks are very clear. Bhaludam, 3 Km from here, has an artificial lake.
Upat & Kalika
Situated on the road to Almora, Upat has a 9 - hole golf course, while Kalika is famous for its Kali Temple and forest nursery.
Pithoragarh::
The famous hill station Pithoragarh is in Uttaranchal, which seems to be attracting a lot of tourists these days, because the state not only offers the tourists a chance to enjoy natural beauty but also a chance to try various adventure sports, such as white river rafting, hang-gliding and skiing. So whether you want to spend a holiday close to nature or have the time of your life. Come to Pithoragarh and make Hill resorts in India your travel partner, so you can choose the right holiday package to this beautiful hill resort.
Location Pithoragarh stands at a height of 1,851 meters in a valley, fondly called the 'Little Kashmir' in the northern state of Uttaranchal. The district covers an area of 8,856 square kilometers and it borders both Nepal and Tibet.
Places to Visit:
While you are at a tour of Pithoragarh, you can check out a number of lakes around Pithoragarh. There are two of them which are quite famous, one of them being Jolingkong and the other one being Anchherital. While the former is at a height of 4,634 meters, the latter is situated at an altitude of 3,658 meters. The district is dotted all over with many old temples that you visit. There is a shrine at Purnagiri, which is only 20 kms from Tanakpur, and there is another Sikh shrine near Lohaghat called Ritha Sahib. According to a belief, Guru Nanak touched the bitter ritha and it turned sweet after his touch.A tour to the White Manu Temple is also a must if you are in Pithoragarh. It is dedicated to the Goddess, who on invocation brings rain thus good fortune to the mountains.
Excursion:
If you are in Pithoragarh for a few days, you can travel to Baleshwar, which is 76km away on the Tankpur Road. There you can see the beautiful temples which were built by early Chand rajas in the 8th Century. About 77 kms from Pithoragarh is a Shaktipeeth, which was established by Adi Sankaracharya. About two kilometers away is Chamunda Devi temple.Around 14 kms from Gangolihat is Patal Bhubaneshwar, a temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Interestingly enough, one has to go through a tunnel to reach the temple.Around 62 kms from Pithoragarh is Lohaghat. About 2 kms from here is the Abbot Mount and Mayawati. At Mount Abbot, one can see a lot of Bungalows, which belong to the colonial era. This place also offers a great view of the Northern Hill Ranges. Mayawati is known for the headquarters of Adwait Ashram. At a distance of 7km from Pithoragarh is Chandak. It is at a height of 1,830 meters and offers a breathtaking view of the Pithoragarh valley. 20 kms from Tanakpur is Punyagiri, which has the Punyagiri temple, which is devoted to Maa Punyagiri.
Mayawati Ashram:
22 kms. from Champawat and 9 kms. from Lohaghat, this ashram is situated at an altitude of 1940 mts. Mayawati shot into prominence after the Advaita Ashram was established here. The ashram attracts spiritualists from India and abroad.
Abbot Mount:
11 kms., Remarkable for scenic beauty Abbot Mount is situated 8 kms. from Lohaghat. The place is famous for peaceful secluded holidays.
Devidhura:
45 kms from Lohaghat Devidhura is famous for its Varashi temple, where the traditional Bagwal (organised stone throwing between two grops) is held once every year on Raksha Bandhan.
Vanasur - Ka - Kila:
This fort is situated at an elevation of 1859 mts., 7 kms. from Lohaghat and 20 kms. from Champawat. (Lohaghat to Karnakarayat is 6 kms. by bus and Karnakarayat to Vanasur-ka-Kila 1 km. by foot .
Visiting Pithoragarh:
There are frequent buses to Pithoragarh from Almora, Nanital and Delhi, so getting to Pithoragarh by road is no problem.The closest railhead is at Tanakpur and the closest airport is at Patnanagar, which is 249kms from There.
Kausani::
very few places in the Himalayas which can compare with the beauty of Kaushani.
As the entire Kumaon Hills have been known for their idyllic beauty with the huge mountains silhouetted against the sky. Kausani was originally called Valna. Kausani offers the magic of the deep pine forests and the majestic mountains. Kausani the birthplace of the famed poet Sumitra Nandan Pant is often referred to as the 'Switzerland of India. Situated among mountains and trees, the peaks Trishul and Nanda Devi are clearly visible from here. In 1929, Mahatma Gandhi spent 12 days here and brought his thoughts out in his book called Anasakti Yoga. The place where he stayed is called the Anasakti Ashram. This Ashram was earlier the guest house in a tea estate.Kausani is ideal to visit with the family. Because of its beauty, tourists come here all through the year. From morning to evening, from valleys to peaks, thousands of different colours can be seen here.
Sight Seeing in Kausani:
Pant Museum:
A little away from the Kaushani bus stand is a museum named after the Hindi poet Sumitranandan Pant. The house which has the museum is the poet's house of his childhood days. His daily use articles, drafts of his poems, letters, his awards etc. are displayed here.
Lakshmi Ashram:
1 km away from the Anasakti Ashram, this place is a center run by women who do social service. Gandhiji's disciple, Sarala Behen spent her life here doing social service. This ashram is located in a solitary area in a dense jungle.
Pinakeshwar:
9050 feet above sea level, this hill station is 20 kms from Kaushani. Here there is a temple of Shiva from where one can view many valleys. Around Pinakeshwar are other places like Old Pinakeshwar, Gopalkot, Huria etc.
Baijnath:
17 kms from Kaushani, the most important historical place in Uttarakhand is Baijnath which is situated on the banks of the Gomti river. The Baijnath temple here was built thousands of years ago and can still be admired for its carvings and sculptures. Some old temples can also be found here.
Someshwar
15 kms away from Kaushani, this famous Shiva temple was built by King Somchand of the Chand Dynasty. In March every year a festival is held here .
Chaukori:
Chaukori is 75 kms away from Kaushani and is well known for the view it gives of the Himalayan peaks. A person viewing the Himalayas from here feels like he can touch them. For an overnight stay there is a tourist bungalow.
Sundardoonga & Kafni:
Glaciers
For the more adventurous trekkers these two glaciers are ideal. Both these glaciers are located in the Pindari Glacier area in different spots. It is advisable to visit these places with an experienced guide and proper equipment. Sundardoonga is known for its beautiful rocks. One has to pass through Umla Jatoli village to go there. Dhakudi is a camping point which is 35 kms away. To go to Kafni (3800 mts) one has to go through a rough trek of 20 kms. from Dwali camp.
Kausani (Excursion):
Further ahead from the hill station of Kausani you may plan for excursions to various other places of tourist interest.There are the hill Station of Nainital, Almora and Ranikhet that are easily accessible from Kausani, offer wondrous vistas of the Himalayas and make excellent excursion options. Then there are the temple towns of Baijnath and Bageshwar that attract several pilgrims and tourists every year and are in close proximity to Kausani.
The nature lovers may even go on an excursion to Binsar from Kausani. Binsar boasts of a bird sanctuary that is worth visiting and the panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks like the Nanda Devi Sanctuary.
Weather:
Kausani experiences snowfall during the months of December and January, thus these two months may be avoided. The hill resort of Kausani is a retreat in the summer months and may be visited during April-June and September-November.
Location:
The hill resort of Kausani is located in the Kumaon Region of Uttaranchal. Kausani stands high at an altitude of 1890m above sea level.
Getting there
By
Air: The airport nearest to Kausani is at Pantnagar, at a distance180 km.
By Rail: The railway station at Kathgodam is the nearest railhead to Kausani at a distance of 142 km and caters to the rail transport to Kausani.
By Road: Kausani is well connected with the other hill resorts like Almora, Ranikhet, Pithoragarh, Gwaldam and Nainital through road route.
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