Uttarakhand · India
Nainital
A charming Kumaoni lake town cradled in the hills around emerald Naini Lake, with a colonial Mall Road, boating and forested ridgetop viewpoints.
Nainital is a colonial-era Kumaon hill station; expect boating on Naini Lake, warm woollens, Kumaoni Pahari culture, and sweets like bal mithai and singori.
Plan your trip
Nainital Tour Itineraries
Timed, walkable day plans — plus the best season to go.
Where to shoot
Nainital Photo Spots
Entry Free
Naina Devi Temple
- Best timeEarly morning, when the temple is quiet and the lake behind it is still; evening for the lights on the water.
- ColorsRedSaffronYellow
High crowdEntry Free (boat ride extra)
Naini Lake
- Best timeEarly morning, when the water is still and the hills reflect in it; late afternoon for the coloured boats in warm light.
- ColorsYellowWhiteRed
Entry Ropeway ticket
Snow View Point
- Best timeEarly morning, when the snow peaks are clearest before the haze builds; late afternoon for soft light on the lake below.
- ColorsRedWhiteCharcoal
Entry Free
The Mall Road
- Best timeEvening, when the lamps come on and their lights reflect in the lake; early morning for an empty promenade.
- ColorsRedCreamMustard
Entry Free
Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat)
- Best timeEarly morning, when the air is clear and the snow peaks show; late afternoon for warm light over the town and the lake.
- ColorsRedCreamDenim
For the feed
Trending Wear in Nainital
Modern, Instagram-friendly looks
Rooted in the city
Nainital Traditional Wear
Local, cultural, handcrafted outfits
Taste the city
Food to Eat in Nainital
Trusted tables
Where to Eat in Nainital
Representative photoChandni Chowk
Mallital
Representative photoEmbassy Restaurant
Mall Road
Representative photoMachan Restaurant
Mall Road
Representative photoSakley's Restaurant & Pastry Shop
Mall Road
A town built around one lake
Nainital sits at about 2,080 m in the Kumaon hills, wrapped around a single eye-shaped lake. The lake is roughly 1.4 km long, and the whole town looks down on it from the slopes of seven hills. The north end is Mallital, the south end is Tallital, and the Mall Road runs along the east shore between the two. Almost everything a first visit needs is within walking distance of that loop.
The lake and the temple
Naini Lake is the reason the town exists. You can take a rowing boat with a boatman, pedal a paddle boat yourself, or, in season, go out on a sailing boat from the boat club. Life jackets are compulsory, and boats stop at dusk. At the Mallital end, on the north shore, stands the Naina Devi Temple, the town's goddess temple. The open ground beside it, the Flats, was made by the debris of the 1880 landslide that destroyed the earlier temple.
Views from the ridges
Two ridges give the classic view back over the town. Snow View Point is reached by an aerial ropeway from Mallital or by road, and on clear days looks north to Nanda Devi and Trishul. Tiffin Top, on Ayarpatta hill, is a walk or pony ride of about 4 km through oak and pine. Its old memorial bench, Dorothy's Seat, collapsed in a landslide in August 2024, but the ridge itself is still the reason to go.
Getting in and parking
Kathgodam is the nearest railway station, about 35 km below, and Pantnagar the nearest airport. The last climb is slow at the best of times. On long weekends and in the May–June rush, police often hold tourist cars at the edge of town, at Rusi Bypass on the Haldwani side and Narayan Nagar on the Kaladhungi side, and run shuttles in. Two-wheelers have been turned back on the busiest days. Parking on the Mall is restricted through the season, so confirm that your hotel has parking before you drive up.
Weather and roads
Summer and October are the easy months. The monsoon, from late June to September, brings heavy rain and landslides on the hill roads, and in September 2025 cracks closed part of the Lower Mall to traffic. Winter is cold and mostly clear. Snow falls on the higher ridges most winters, but a white town is never guaranteed. The best time to visit page goes month by month.
Where to shop and eat
The Mall Road holds the old restaurants and the candle shops. The Tibetan or Bhotia market, near the temple at Mallital, is the place for woollens. For Kumaoni sweets and hill dishes, see the food guide.
Questions
Nainital — FAQ
Is Nainital walkable without a car?
Yes. The lake loop, the temple, the Mall Road and the ropeway station are all on foot, and Tiffin Top is a walk from town. A car is mostly a parking problem once you arrive.
Will police stop my car on the way into Nainital?
On busy weekends and in peak season they often do. Cars are usually held at Rusi Bypass or Narayan Nagar and visitors go on by shuttle. Rules change from week to week, so check with your hotel before you set out.
How many days do I need in Nainital?
Two days covers the lake, the temple, the ropeway and a morning walk to Tiffin Top. A third day lets you add a lake like Bhimtal or a clear morning at a higher viewpoint.
Does it snow in Nainital?
Sometimes, between late December and February, and mostly on the higher ridges such as Naina Peak and Snow View. Many winters see little or none in the town itself.
What is the difference between Mallital and Tallital?
Mallital is the upper, northern end of the lake, with the temple, the Flats and the ropeway. Tallital is the lower, southern end, where the road from Haldwani comes in and the bus stand is.