Nainital : Heaven in the foothills of Kumaon

This Post of "Places must visit" blog is about Nainital. This place is situated in the foothills of Kumaon and is famous for its various tourists spots.

The place also have importance in the Hindu Mythology as it is believed that Goddess Parvati's eye fell in the naini lake and thats where the name of the place comes from as "Nain" means "Eyes" in Hindi.  

The climate and temperature here remains pleasant all year long because of which Nainital remains full of tourists in all seasons.

It is well connected with public transport facilities. Nearest railway Station is Kathgodam. Which is located 35 Kms away from Nainital. One can also opt for bus or taxi to reach the place. Nearest airport is New Delhi Airport which is around 300 Kms from Nainital.

Some of the Must Visit places of Nainital are mentioned below

Naini Lake 

Located at the heart of Nainital, Naini Lake is a Mango shaped natural lake. Surrounded by seven hills, this lake is one of the most popular and most visited lake of India.The Northern and the southern part of the lake are called Mallital and Tallital respectively. 

Apart from witnessing the mesmerizing beauty of the place you can also do kayaking, yachting, boating and paddle boating. Boating timings are 7 am to 6 pm and it is not allowed during the night but after 6 pm scenes are also treat to watch at Naini lake the whole lake gets submerged in the light of the local market.      

Naina Peak

Also Known as the China Peak or Cheena Peak, Naina Peak is the highest hilltop of Nainital. 

It gives a spectacular view of snow covered Himalayas, it is recommended to reach the peak early in the morning before sunrise to witness gorgeous scenes of sunrise over the Himalayas. It also gives you a beautiful view of Naini Lake and Nainital on the other side.

There are various ways to reach Naina Peak, you can enjoy a horse ride or simple go trekking but it is advisable to take a guide along if you going for trekking. 

Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat)

For Trekkers, nature lovers and all others who would like to spend some peaceful time and looking for a place to breath in fresh air away from busy, crowded, polluted city life, Tiffin top is the place having all above mentioned attributes.
It is also known as Dorothy's Seat in the memory of an English lady, Kellet Dorothy who was unfortunately killed in an air crash. 
Tiffin top got its name as it used to be a place where trekkers used to take lunch/tiffin after reaching the top. So, it has been a regular trekking/Picnic spot for a long time and has been attracting tourists from all over the world.
Although horses are available on hire to reach to the top but I would recommend you to trek the 4-5 kms long distance as trekking here would give you a good feeling of adventure, local guides are also available.
It is advisable to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, carry water and trek during the day time to get a good view of the place.     

Eco cave Garden

Another must visit place of Nainital is Eco Cave Garden. Its a group of six interconnected caves and hanging gardens.
Situated at kaladungi road of Mallital(Sukhatal). The place is located near the famous Naina Devi Temple.
All the caves are named after animals : Tiger cave, Panther cave, Porcupine cave, Bats cave, Fox cave and Apes cave. 
Some of the caves are quite comfortable to pass but some are quite narrow and could be a bit difficult to move 
Eco Cave Park gives a good feel of the wildlife habitat present in the kumaon region and as it is with other places of nainital, It gives shutterbugs a really busy and good time.
The entry is chargeable and the timings for the entry are from 9:30 am to 6:00pm. 

Pangot

Located just 14 Kms away from Nainital, Pangot is a small village which is must visit place for people who love being close to the nature and for those who love watching birds.

Pangot has a very dense forest area with 550+ species of birds which makes it a heaven for bird watchers.

This is one of those places where you can relax your mind, take a breather from daily city life and embrace the nature.