 The hill station town of Naini Tal was founded only in 1841, with the construction of the first European house (Pilgrim Lodge) by P. Barron , a sugar trader from Shahjahanpur. In his memoir, he wrote: "It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1,500 miles trek in the Himalayas."
In 1846, when a Captain Madden of the Bengal Artillery visited Naini Tal, he recorded that "houses were rapidly springing up in most parts of the settlement: some towards the crest of the limitary ranges were nearly 7,500 feet above sea level: the rugged and woody Ayarpatta was being gradually planted and that the favourite sites were on the undulating tract of forest land which stretched back from the head of the lake to the base of China and Deopatta (Camel's Hump). The Church, St. John in the Wilderness, had been built, Soon, the town became a health resort favoured both by British soldiers and by colonial officials and their families trying to escape the heat of the plains. Later, the town also became the summer residence of the British Governor of the United Provinces(current Uttar Pradesh). But prior to becoming Britishn favourite, Nainital found huge mention in some ancient literatures of India. In the Manas Khand of the Skand Puran, Nainital Lake is called Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, hinting at the story of three sages (or rishi), Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha, who, upon finding no water in Naintal, dig a large hole at the location of the present day lake (sarovar = lake) and fill it with water from the holy lake Manasarovar in Tibet. According to lore, a dip in Naini Lake, "the lesser Manasarovar," earns merit equal to a dip in the great lake.
It is also believed that Naini Lake is one of the 64 Shakti Peeths, or religious sites where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The spot where Sati's eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or [lake of the eye.] The goddess Shakti is worshipped at the Naina Devi Temple on the north shore of the present day lake.
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Places to Visit in Nainital |
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| 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. A brass plaque on the altar is inscribed with names of the victims of the Landslip of 1880.
Governor’s House (also Raj Bhavan), was built in 1899 and designed in the Victorian Gothic domestic style 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.
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.
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Places to visit around 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 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. |
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How to reach Nainital Nainital is well connected with rest of the country by road, nearest railhead to Nainital is Kathgodam.
Distance of Nainital with major places
Delhi- Nainital 297KM
Kathgodam- Nainital 37 KM
Almora- Nainital 62 KM
Ranikhet- Nainital 60 KM
Corbett Park- Nainital 128 KM
Kausani- Nainital 117 KM |
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