Uttarakhand
Nainital
A colonial lake town in the Kumaon hills
Photo: Praveen Singh Bisht (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
About Nainital
Built around the crescent-shaped Naini Lake, Nainital was a favoured Raj-era hill station and retains its colonial character in the Mall Road promenade that rings the water, with the wider Kumaon hills offering further viewpoints and hikes nearby.
- Boating on Naini Lake
- The Mall Road lake promenade
- Naina Devi Temple
- Snow View Point cable car
Things to do
Experiences in Nainital
Boat on Naini Lake
Rowboats and larger paddleboats circle the lake at the town’s centre.
Ride the Snow View cable car
A short ropeway climbing to panoramic Himalayan views.
Walk the Mall Road
Nainital’s lakeside promenade, lined with colonial buildings and cafes.
When to go
Best time to visit
March-June and September-November; December-January can bring light snow.
Practical
Travel tips
Nainital gets very crowded on summer weekends — visit the lake promenade early morning for a quieter experience.
Questions
Nainital: common questions
Yes, the lake, boating and gentle Mall Road walk make it one of Uttarakhand’s easiest hill stations for family travel.
Plan my trip
Planning a trip to Nainital?
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