Nainital, a little Himalayan hamlet forced to grow into a city, is today one of the most famous hill-stations in India. Its famous Naini Tal, a shimmering lake enveloped by green hills on three sides, gives it an alpine feel, and has the famous Mall (a delightful promenade) curving around its banks. Naini Lake is a peaceful lake with a flotilla of pedal and rowboats whipping up waves. Nainital, renowned for superb views of the Greater Himalayas and its numerous prestigious educational institutions, was completely destroyed in the Landslip of 1880, and later rebuilt. Set into two parts with the lake separating them, with Tallital on the southern side of the lake, and Mallital on the northern upper reaches. Nainital offers the best of both worlds, the throb of city life and the calm of a quiet hill resort.

Sight seeing

Nainital still retains its old-world charm, and also offers scenic views of the Himalayas. Amongst the things to see in Nainital, Snow View is one of the most famous, and can either be accessed by foot or by ropeway. From here you can see Nanda Devi, as well as mountains on the Tibetan border.

The next major site is State Observatory near the Hanuman Temple, which also has several lookout points around it, ideal for viewing sunsets. However, permission is required to enter the observatory. Another major sight is the famous Church of St. John in the Wilderness, which dates back to 1846.

The charm of the spots and activities listed below may vary with the time you visit Nainital, in off-season or peak-season. First and foremost, go boating in Naini Lake, and you have the choice of a paddle boat, and rowboats. If you are not feeling up to this mild physical exertion, your boatman can row for you. Another must do in Nainital is riding the ropeway (cable car), till Snow View. The ride itself is exciting, as it the view from atop. The trek up to Snow View, a fairly steep walk, is also enjoyable.

You can also go paragliding at nearby Naukuchiatal. Trekking is always an option, and Nainital along with its surrounding regions offers plenty of trails of varying difficulty. Walking at Land's End and Tiffin Top, enjoying the views and the forested hills, is also a great way to spend time. You could even dress up in local Kumaoni garb available up here on hire and get yourself photographed with the mighty snow-laden Himalayas in the background.