Top things to see and do in Nainital
Naini Lake and boating. The lake is the heart of everything, and getting out onto it is the quintessential Nainital experience. Colourful wooden rowboats (rowed by a boatman), pedal boats, and the graceful yellow-canopied yachts that sail the water when there is wind all operate from ghats along the Mallital and Tallital ends. A gentle circuit takes you past the Naina Devi Temple, under the forested slopes, and gives the best low-angle views of the town rising in tiers around the shore. Early morning, when the water is calm and the light soft, is the loveliest time to row. Fares are set per boat or per person and vary by boat type and route; expect a few hundred rupees for a standard row, more for a yacht or a longer circuit, and verify current rates before visiting, as they are revised and can rise in peak season. Life jackets are provided — wear them.
Naina Devi Temple. On the north shore at Mallital stands one of Kumaon's most revered shrines, dedicated to the goddess Naina Devi and counted among the Shakti Peeths — the sacred sites where, in the tradition, parts of the goddess Sati fell to earth; here it is associated with the eye, which is also how the lake and town got their name. The present temple was rebuilt after the 1880 landslide destroyed the earlier structure. It is an active place of worship, busiest at dawn and dusk and during the September Nanda Devi Mela. Entry is free; remove your shoes, dress modestly, and be respectful of worshippers and photography restrictions inside the sanctum.
The Mall (Mall Road) and the flats. The lakeside promenade linking Mallital and Tallital is Nainital's social artery — a level, walkable strip of shops, eateries, offices and hotels running right along the water. Walking its length, ideally in the cool of the evening when parts are closed to traffic, is a pleasure in itself. At the Mallital end lies the Flats, an open ground used for markets, cricket and public gatherings, and the lower station of the aerial ropeway. This is the place to stroll, people-watch, eat, and shop.
Tibetan (Bhotia) Market. Near the Flats at Mallital, this bustling informal market grew from the Tibetan community that settled in the region in the mid-20th century. It is the town's best hunting ground for warm woollens, shawls, jackets, bags, curios and inexpensive clothing, and stalls here also serve Tibetan snacks like momos and thukpa. Prices are negotiable and quality varies, so browse, compare and bargain politely. There is no entry charge; it is simply a market to wander.
Snow View Point and the aerial ropeway. At around 2,270 metres on the ridge above the town, Snow View is the classic panorama — on a clear day it opens onto the snow-clad high Himalaya, including distant Nanda Devi country, and it looks straight down onto the lake and town below. The most popular way up is the aerial ropeway (cable car) from near the Flats at Mallital, a short, scenic ride of a few minutes in enclosed trolleys. The ropeway typically runs through the daytime hours (broadly late morning to late afternoon) and can have a closed day or seasonal maintenance breaks; queues are long in peak season, and timed tickets are sometimes used. Fares are charged as a round trip with a lower rate for children. As a guide only, the return ride has been in the low-hundreds-of-rupees band per adult; verify current timings and prices before visiting, and consider walking or taking a taxi up if the queue is very long.
Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat) and Land's End. On the Ayarpata ridge west of town, Tiffin Top — at roughly 2,290 metres, about 4 kilometres uphill from the Mall — is a superb viewpoint reached on foot, by pony or by a combination of taxi and a short walk. Its stone bench, Dorothy's Seat, was built in memory of an Englishwoman by her husband, and the spot offers a wide sweep over the surrounding Kumaon hills. A little further along the same ridge, Land's End looks out over the smaller Khurpatal lake and the plains falling away to the south. Together they make a fine half-day ramble through oak and pine forest. A small entry or viewpoint fee may apply at Tiffin Top; verify before visiting.
Naina Peak (China Peak). The highest point around Nainital at about 2,619 metres, Naina Peak — long known as China Peak — rewards the climb (roughly 6–7 kilometres from the Mall, on foot or by pony) with the widest Himalayan panorama in the area, taking in a long line of snow peaks on a clear morning. It is the most demanding of the viewpoint outings and best attempted early in the day in the clearer months; go with sturdy shoes and water.
Eco Cave Gardens. A family-friendly network of interconnected natural caves and hanging gardens at Mallital, shaped and named after animals, with narrow passages that children love to scramble through and a musical fountain in the evenings. It is a small, managed attraction with a modest entry fee; verify before visiting, and note the caves are tight and dimly lit, which is part of the fun but not for the claustrophobic.
Pt G.B. Pant High Altitude Zoo. On the slopes of Sher-ka-Danda ridge, this is one of the few high-altitude zoos in the country, home to Himalayan and cold-climate species — among them the snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, Tibetan wolf, red panda, leopard cat and various pheasants and raptors — kept in enclosures on a steep, forested hillside. It is a steady uphill walk or a short taxi ride from the Mall. The zoo is usually closed on Mondays, has set daytime hours, and charges a modest entry fee (with extra for cameras); verify before visiting.
St John in the Wilderness. A handsome stone Anglican church near Mallital, built in the 1840s in the Gothic style and set among the trees, it is a quiet, atmospheric relic of Nainital's colonial era with memorial plaques to early European residents, including victims of the 1880 landslide. Entry is free; it remains a place of worship, so visit respectfully.
Hanuman Garhi. A hilltop temple complex a few kilometres south of the town, established by the revered saint Neem Karoli (Neeb Karori) Baba in the mid-20th century and dedicated principally to Hanuman. It is a popular spot both for worship and for its sunset views over the surrounding ranges. Entry is free; as at all temples, dress modestly and remove footwear.