Nainital Travel Guide: Places to Visit, Best Time and Travel Tips
Welcome to our Nainital travel guide. Nainital is a hill town around Naini Lake, at about 2,000 metres in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand. Known as the Lake District of India, it was a summer town in British times and is still one of the most loved hill stations in North India. This Nainital travel guide tells you what to see, when to go, how to get there and how long to stay.
Nainital Travel Guide at a Glance
- Region: Kumaon, Uttarakhand
- Height: about 2,000 metres
- Time needed: two to three days
- Best time: March to June and October to November
- Nearest station: Kathgodam, about 35 km. Nearest airport: Pantnagar, about 70 km
Best Places to Visit in Nainital
Every Nainital travel guide starts with the lake, but the town and the hills around it have much more to see.
Naini Lake
The heart of the town. Take a rowing boat or a sailing boat across the green water, with the hills all around.
Naina Devi Temple
A holy Hindu temple on the north shore of the lake, at Mallital.
The Mall and Thandi Sadak
The Mall joins Mallital and Tallital along the lake, with shops, cafés and evening crowds. Thandi Sadak, on the quiet side of the lake, is a peaceful walk under the trees.
Snow View Point
Ride the cable car from the Mall for views of Nanda Devi and the Himalayan snow peaks on clear days.
Tiffin Top and Land’s End
Short walks or pony rides to viewpoints over the lake and the valleys below.
Eco Cave Gardens
Small rock caves joined by tunnels, fun for children.
Places to Visit near Nainital
This part of our Nainital travel guide covers the best day trips.
- Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal: quiet lakes about 20 to 26 km away, good for boating and birdwatching.
- Kainchi Dham: the ashram of Neem Karoli Baba, about 17 km away.
- Pangot: a forest village about 15 km away, known for birdwatching.
- Mukteshwar: an orchard town with snow peak views, about 50 km away.
- Ranikhet and Kausani: hill towns with wide views of the Himalayas, for longer trips.
- Jim Corbett National Park: about two hours away. Read our Jim Corbett guide.
A Three-Day Nainital Plan
- Day 1: boating on Naini Lake, the Naina Devi temple and an evening walk on the Mall.
- Day 2: Snow View Point by cable car, Tiffin Top and the Eco Cave Gardens.
- Day 3: Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal, or Kainchi Dham.
Best Time to Visit Nainital
- March to June: cool and pleasant, the busiest time.
- July to September: monsoon rain and green hills, with fewer visitors.
- October to November: clear skies and the best snow peak views.
- December to February: cold, with some snow in most years.
How to Reach Nainital
- By train: Kathgodam station, about 35 km away, has fast trains from Delhi.
- By air: Pantnagar airport, about 70 km away, has flights from Delhi.
- By road: about 320 km, or seven to eight hours, from Delhi.
Nainital Travel Guide: Tips for Your Visit
- Book hotels early for May, June and holiday weekends.
- Carry warm layers; evenings are cool even in summer.
- Go up to Snow View Point early in the day for the clearest views.
- Walk around town; traffic and parking on the Mall are slow in peak season.
- Read our India travel tips before you go.
Ready-Made Nainital Tours
If you want us to plan everything, these private tours include Nainital. See all our Nainital tour packages.
- 5-day Mussoorie Nainital tour: two classic hill stations.
- 5-day Nainital Jim Corbett tour: Naini Lake and two jeep safaris.
- 7-day Mussoorie Nainital Jim Corbett tour: hills, lakes and tigers.
- 8-day Haridwar Mussoorie Nainital Jim Corbett tour: Rishikesh, the Ganga Aarti, the hills and a tiger safari.
Nainital Travel Guide FAQ
How many days are enough for Nainital?
Two to three days, with one more for Jim Corbett or Mukteshwar.
What is Nainital famous for?
Naini Lake, boating, the Mall, the Naina Devi temple and views of the snow peaks.
Which is better, Nainital or Mussoorie?
Nainital has the lake and quieter lakes nearby. Mussoorie has longer walks and views of the Doon Valley. Read our Mussoorie travel guide.
How far is Jim Corbett from Nainital?
About 65 km, or two hours by car.
Does it snow in Nainital?
Some snow falls in most winters, between late December and February.
Plan Your Nainital Trip
We hope this Nainital travel guide helps you plan. Shamrock Journeys has planned Nainital holidays since 2002. See our Nainital tour packages, our Uttarakhand tour packages, our Uttarakhand travel guide and our best North India tours. Request your free quote
Plan Your India Holiday with Shamrock Journeys
Shamrock Journeys is a trusted India tour operator and holiday planner. Since 2002 we have designed private India tour packages, family tour packages, honeymoon tours and cultural tours for travellers from around the world.
Recognised and trusted: Recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Member of PATA, TAAI, IATO and ADTOI.
Popular tours: India Tour Packages | Golden Triangle Tour | Rajasthan Tours | Kerala Tours | Kashmir Tour Packages | Honeymoon Tours | Cultural Tours of India | Spiritual Tours of India
Tell us your travel dates and we will send you a personal itinerary. Request your free quote