Nainital: The Lake City of LAKES...

Nainital derived its name from a Hindu Goddess, Naina Devi and it has a mythological significance as well. It has been believed that when Lord Shiva danced with the soulless body of Parvati, her eyes (Nain in Hindi) fell on the lake and the lake came to be known as ‘Nain-tal’ or lake of the eye. This city is located in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. Located at the altitude of 1,938 metres, Nainital is surrounded by three mountains, namely, Naina (2,615 m) on the north, Deopatha (2,438 m) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2,278 m) on the south. All these three mountains bound a large lake, locally termed as ‘tal’.

Nainital also has a 100 year old Raj Bhawan Golf Course for the golf lovers.
From sightseeing to boating, golfing to adventure sports, from long walks and soft treks to just unwinding or introspecting – Nainital, in the Kumaon region offers it all. This hill town is a photographer’s delight, an artist’s dream and a writer’s inspiration.

SIGHTSEEING IN NAINITAL
Snow View: The Snow view point located at height of 2270 meter on the Sher-ka-Danda hill is the most easily accessible, if not on foot then via the cable car that skims its surface and whisks you away merrily to the top. Once there you can only gaze in wonder at the glittering panorama of Himalayan snows spanning the distant horizon.
Naina Peak: Known as the China peak at 8,568 feet is the highest point in Nainital. It commands a superb view of the Himalayas and an intriguing bird’s-eye view of Nainital. One can walk or take ponies to the peak.
Naina Devi Temple: The attractive lake of Nainital is said to be the eyes of Sati, wife of Lord Shiva. Sati jumped into the sacrificial bonfire. Lord Shiva to mourn the death of his beloved wife carried the body across the country. The remains of her body fell at various places which today are sacred worship places for the Hindus.
St. John's Church: This church was built in 1847. A brass memorial is kept in memory of the persons who were buried in the infamous landslide.
Horse riding: Any visitor coming to Nainital cannot miss the joy of riding a horse on the Mall. Not only at the Mall but to reach the Snow View Point, Tiffin Top, Kilburi from the Mallital area one can hire ponies and horses.
Ayarpatta Hill is a haven of trees—oak, fir, deodar, pine and rhododendron. Some of the roads are narrow and still paved with brick. On this hill stands Gurney House, home of the great Jim Corbett, the fearless famous hunter, conservationist and writer to remember. The house was named after Corbett’s father. It is now a museum of Corbett memorabilia.