Incredible India
7 Things to Do in Nainital, Uttarakhand's Lake-Filled Hill Station
Built by the British around a crescent-shaped lake in the 1840s, Nainital remains one of Uttarakhand's most visited hill towns, with a compact centre and several viewpoints reached by cable car or a short trek.
Sep 23, 2026 · BigTravel.in
Nainital takes its name from Naini Lake, the crescent-shaped body of water the town was built around after a British trader, P. Barron, came across it in 1841. It went on to serve as the summer capital of the United Provinces under British rule, and the colonial-era layout of lake, mall road and surrounding viewpoints is still what shapes a visit today. Here are seven things to do, each with a direct map link.
1. Naini Lake
The town's centre in every sense, Naini Lake is ringed by a promenade and remains the default first stop, whether for a rowboat or paddleboat ride or simply a walk around its edge at sunset.
2. Naina Devi Temple
Standing at the lake's northern edge, this temple is dedicated to Naina Devi and is one of the Shakti Peeths of Hindu tradition, rebuilt after a 1880 landslide destroyed the original structure.
3. Snow View Point
Reached by a cable car from the Mall Road area, Snow View Point gives a wide vantage over the Nainital valley and, on clear days, distant views of the Nanda Devi and Trishul peaks.
4. Tiffin Top
Also known as Dorothy's Seat, this ridge-top viewpoint is reached by a moderate uphill walk from Mallital and offers a quieter, less crowded alternative to Snow View Point for panoramic valley views.
5. Mall Road
The pedestrian stretch connecting the town's two main neighbourhoods, Mallital and Tallital, along the lake's eastern shore, lined with cafés, handicraft shops and the town's main promenade activity.
6. Eco Cave Gardens
A small network of natural caves connected by narrow tunnels and named after the animals their rock formations resemble, this spot works well as a short, easy outing away from the lakeside crowds.
7. Bhimtal
A quieter lake town around 20 kilometres from Nainital, Bhimtal has its own lake with a small island housing an aquarium, and makes a straightforward half-day trip for travellers wanting a less crowded alternative to Naini Lake itself.
Traveller tips
- Pantnagar is the nearest airport, around 1.5 hours by road; Kathgodam is the nearest railhead, roughly an hour away.
- Summer months from April to June are the busiest; the town is significantly quieter, and cooler, outside this window.
- Roads into Nainital can be narrow and prone to weekend traffic jams during peak season; arriving on a weekday helps.
- Light woollens are useful even in summer evenings, and warmer layers are needed for winter visits.
Where this is
Nainital, Uttarakhand