Nainital

Nainital is a beautiful hill district situated in the Central Himalayas. Situated in the Kumaon hills, Nainital is popularly known as 'chatka' or a city of 60 lakes. Nainital is known as India's 'Lake District' because numerous lakes are spread across it's boundaries. It is situated at an altitude of 1,938 m. and it is spread over an area of 11.73 sq km. The plush greenary and the majestic mountains enhance the beauty of the hill resort. An English traveller discovered this alluring hill resort in 1839. Encircled by seven hills, this resort was the erstwhile summer capital of the Uttar Pradesh government. Nature's delightful beauty and the charm of the exotic locales besides the cool weather make Nainital the ideal place to be in during the summers.

Places of Tourist Interest Nainital

Naina Devi Temple. The temple, destroyed by the Landslip of 1880 and later rebuilt, is located on the northern shore of Naini Lake. The presiding deity of the temple is Maa Naina Devi represented by two Netras or eyes. Flanking Naina Devi are the deities of Mata Kali and Lord Ganesh.
# St. John in the Wilderness, established in 1844, is located on the north end of town (Mallital), about half a mile north-west of the Naina Devi temple. The church was so named by Daniel Wilson, the Bishop of Calcutta, who, after falling ill during a visit to Nainital in 1844 to lay the foundation of the church, was obliged to sleep in an unfinished house on the edge of the forest. (See excerpt from Josiah Bateman in the #Nainital in Literature section.) A brass plaque on the altar is inscribed with names of the victims of the Landslip of 1880.
Governor’s House (also Raj Bhavan), formerly, Government House was built in 1899 and designed in the Victorian Gothic domestic style (also called "domestic Gothic") by the architect F.W. Stevens. Originally built as the summer residence of the governor of the North West Province, it later became the summer residence for the Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces. Currently, Raj Bhavan is the official guest house for the governor of Uttaranchal and for visiting state guests. The complex consists of a two-storied mansion with 113 rooms, a large garden, a swimming pool, and golf links. Obtaining prior permission is must for visiting.
Snow View (altitude 2270 m.), located atop the Sher-ka-danda Ridge (north by north-east of the town centre), is easily reachable by a cable car. On a clear day, it offers spectacular views of the snowbound high Himalaya, including Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Nanda Kot. The best time of the year for viewing the mountains is late October and November.Manish Manish Manish
Naina (also China, also Cheena) Peak. Naina peak is the highest peak in the town, with an altitude of 2615 m. and at a walking distance of 6 km from north end of the town (Mallital). From atop the peak, one cannot only see a broad swath of the snow clad high Himalaya, but also obtain a panoramic view of Nainital town itself. The summit is an invigorating hike from Nainital town; in addition, for the less energetic visitors, ponies can be hired in Mallital or on Snow View.
Tiffin Top (also Dorothy's Seat). (Tiffin = light meal eaten during the day.) This terraced hill top (altitude 2292 m.) on Ayarpatta hill is a 4 km hike from the town centre and commands a nice view of the neighboring country side. Dorothy's Seat is a stonework picnic perch on Tiffin Top built as a memorial to an English artist, Dorothy Kellet, by her husband and admirers after her death in a plane crash

Outside Nainital

Jim Corbett National Park (29°32'N, 78°56'E) Nainital district is home to India's oldest national park, the Corbett National Park. The park, which is 63 km. west by north-west of Nainital, contains a wide variety of wild life including elephant, tiger, chital, sambar, nilgai, gharial, King Cobra, muntjac, wild boar, hedgehog, common musk shrew, flying fox, Indian Pangolin, and nearly 600 species of birds.
Mukteshwar (2286 m. or 7,500 ft), a picturesque town 52 km north-east of Nainital, is home to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. It also offers an unhindered view of the high mountains of the western Himalaya, including Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Kot.
Bhim Tal is a lake named after the second Pandava brother Bhima in the Mahabharata who was known for his prodigious strength. The lake, which is larger than Naini Lake, is approximately 22 km from Nainital at an altitude of 1370 m. There is an island in the lake with a popular restaurant on it. There is also a 17th century temple complex, the Bhimeshwar, alongside a 40 feet high dam at one end of the lake.
Saat Tal (literally Seven Lakes) is at a distance of about 23 km. from Nainital at an altitude of 1370 m. It is a cluster of small interconnected lakes in the midst of an old oak forest. On approaching Sattal, the first lake encountered is the Nal-Damyanti Lake; next it is the Panna or Garude lake; and finally there is a cluster of three lakes: Ram, Laxman, and Sita lakes.
Khurpa Tal (literally Trowel Lake) is an attractive lake about 10 km. by road (or a 5 km. hike) from Nainital at an altitude of 1635 m. It is popular with anglers and is surrounded by terraced fields (or farms), from which it presumably gets its name.
Naukuchia Tal (literally, Nine-Cornered Lake) is 26 km from Nainital and 4 km from Bhimtal at an altitude of 1220 m. The lake is almost 1 km long, half a kilometre wide and approximately 40 m. deep. It is the deepest of the lakes in the greater Naintal area. According to legend, if one takes in all nine corners in one glimpse, one can disappear in a cloud of smoke.
Hanuman Garhi (also Hanuman Garh), altitude 1951 m. The temple complex is about 3.5 km from the Tallital (South End) bus stop. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Hanuman, the vanara god of the Ramayana, and he is depicted tearing open his chest to reveal Rama and Sita in his heart. Hanuman Garhi is also known for its spectacular views of the setting sun.

Nainital History

Nainital is referred to in the ?Manas Khand? of the ?Skanda Purana? as the Tri-Rishi-Sarovar,the lake of the three sages ,Atri,Pulastya and Pulaha who were reputed to have arrived here on a penitential piligrimage, and, finding no water to quench their thirst dug a hole and siphoned water into it from Mansarovar the sacred lake in Tibet.

The Second important mythological reference to Nainital is as one of 64 ?Shakti Peeths?.These centres were created wherever parts of charred body of Sati fell ,when Lord Shiva was carrying around her corpse in grief .It is said that the left eye (Nain) of Sati fell here and this gave rise to patron deity of town Nainital . It is said that the lake is formed in the emerald eye shape . Naina Devi temple is located at the northern end of the lake . Thus name of Nainital derivated from Naina and the tal (Lake).The british occupied Kumaon & Garhwal in 1815 .After the British Occupation ,E. Gardiner was appointed as the commissioner of Kumaun Division on May?8th 1815 .In 1817 the second commissioner of Kumaun Mr. G.W. Traill has conducted the second revenue settlement of Kumaun , Mr. Traill was the first European to visit Nainital but he did not popularize his visit in respect for the religious sanctity of the place.

In the year 1839 an English businessman from Rosa , Mr. P. Barron a sugar trader and his friend an avid hunter strayed into the hills while hunting they got lost and while finding there way back chanced on the wondrous spot. So enamored was Barron with the vision of the placid lake that he left the sugar business and build a European Colony on shores of the lake .In 1841, Nainital appeared in issue of the ?Englishman Calcutta? announcing the discovery of a lake in the vicinity of Almora.

According to the earliest data available on tourist in Nainital by 1847, it had become a popular hill resort. On 3rd October 1850, the Nainital Municipal Board was formally constituted. It was the second Municipal Board of North Western Provinces. To catalyse the formation of a town the administration transferred land to the wealthy Sah community of Almora, on condition that they build houses on the land. In 1862, Nainital became the summer seat of the North Western Provinces. After it was made the summer Capital, a remarkable expansion of the town occurred with the growth of magnificent bungalows all around and construction of facilities such as marketing areas, rest houses, recreation centres ,clubs etc together with the secretariat and other administrative units. It also became an important centre of education for the British who wanted to educate their children in the better air and away from the discomforts of the plains.