Places To See In Nainital

With its dawdling pace of life and fresh mountain air that comes as an invigorating change for the wearied urban dwellers, Nainital inarguably poses as the perfect summer getaway. Home to several European styled structures and stunning landscape swathed in oak, pine, deodar and rhododendron trees, the town boasts of inexplicable scenic beauty. Nainital is a complete delight for the vacationists as it brings back the old world charm in the midst of its wilderness. Nainital has a lot to offer to everyone, from its mysterious fabled temples to beautiful colonial remnants and amazing adventure activities to the breathtaking sights of its famous lake. Not only that, Nainital has quite a few interesting places to look around as well like the famous Naina Devi Temple, Snow View, Tiffin Top and Naini Lake. Apart from sightseeing, do take out some time to browse through the local market lanes in the city, which are quite famous for its woolen shawls, scarves, cardigans, local handicrafts, wooden products, jams and more. Read the article to know more about places to see in Nainital and plan your itinerary accordingly.

Tourist Attractions In Nanital

Naina Devi Temple
The shrine of Naina Devi holds great spiritual significance for the Hindus. Dedicated to Mata Sati or Maa Naini Devi, the goddess is typified by a pair of large oval shaped eyes and is flanked by idols of Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha on both sides. The shrine is said to be a 15th century structure, first built by the Kushan dynasty while others claim that it was erected by a dedicated devotee known as Moti Ram Shah. Situated on the northern part of the banks of Naini Lake, the temple is a must-visit attraction in Nainital.

Naini Lake
Rimmed by seven colossal sized mountains, the Naini Lake is an overwhelming sight. The stagnant pool of water in the midst of hills is absolutely scenic. The lake is said to divide the town into two portions, the northern side is known as Mallital and the southern side is called as Tallital. If you are traveling with children, do take advantage of the boating facilities in the region. Towards both ends of the lake, you can find a variety of shopping centers that just adds to the attraction of this lake.

Snow View
As the name suggests, the place provides a spectacular view of the snow-clad Himalayan range. The snow viewpoint is a short 3 km ride away from the city center. You can either reach the place by a pony ride that takes you past the winding road or use the cable car. Seated at a height of 2,270 meter above the sea level, the place has an amazing aerial view that can be seen from the cable car ride. Therefore, don't forget to carry a camera.

Tiffin Top
Tiffin Top, also known as Dorothy's Seat, is a nice, tranquil spot, located 4 km away from the main town. You can either exercise those legs by trekking up the hill or take a pony ride. As you make your way up, make sure to stop by the Land's End, which is close to Tiffin Top. During the time of British Raj, this particular hill spot served as the favorite spot for Dorothy, a well-known painter and an artist. After her untimely demise, the local people constructed a memorial and named it as "Dorothy's Seat." Today, the location serves as a popular picnic spot for the locals.

Gurney House
Perched atop the Aryapatta Hills, the Gurney House is yet another popular tourist attraction in Nainital. The Gurney House was the former dwelling place of Jim Corbett and his sibling Maggie Corbett. Jim Corbett was a well-known hunter who sold the place to a prominent landlord in the region. With time, the place was converted into a museum and named as "Jim Corbett Museum." Although Jim spent most of his life as a hunter, the latter half of his life was spent as a wildlife preservationist. Walk past the museum to find various books and manuscripts on the importance of conserving wild animals and its effects on the ecology.

Guano Hills
Nainital boasts of a slew of natural wildlife sanctuaries in and around the region. The Guano Hill is one such place where you can find an interesting mix of birds like the black-chinned babbler and gray woodpeckers along with rare species of flora. The hill has a well-maintained hilly trail and is an amazing place for a leisure trek. For the amateur wildlife photographers, the Guano Hill poses as the best place to capture some rare species. Located in the Pangot village of Nainital, the Guano Hill is a must visit place in the region.