Nainital – The overstrained Fairy land

I always avoided going to this place, touted as an inferior sibling of Shimla.
But the curiosity was always there. I couldn’t resist enough the temptation to visit the hill station.
And here we are, all set for our trip to the hills.
We reached Nainital via Kathgodam. The road from Kathgodam onwards has more curves and turns than the ones between Kalka and Shimla.
After 1.5 hours from Kathgodam, we reached the city with an awesome view of the lake at its very entrance.
We were spell bound as this was something different, a city unique in the sense that all four sides are nestled by a beautiful green lake in between.
But, the more we traversed through the city (while moving towards our accommodation), the more I could relate to what my friend from Nainital used to say “My birth place, Nainital, the beauty of past is falling apart!!!”
The traffic situation in city needs an immediate overhaul and this is only possible only once the horrendous traffic on mall road is bypassed.
I was thanking my decision of staying away from mall road.
We reached our uphill accommodation in an hour’s time, a distance of 2 kms from city entrance, covered in an hour.
Driving on your own is not an easy task inside the city as roads are steep and quite narrow.

As suggested by hotel staff, next day, we got up early in the morning and reached down near the lake by 8:30 am.
The lake is the epicenter of all activities in the city.
We reached on time and took a cable car that takes off from next to the lake and goes to and fro all the way to Snow View point. We were told we were lucky as we didn’t have to stand in a long queue for cable car tickets. I must thank my partner for getting me up early that day.
Post the cable car experience which offers some good over the top views of the lake, we went to the Naina Devi temple which is again just next to the lake. While going through to the temple, one will be walking across a local market which is bound to test their bargaining skills.
After taking almighty’s blessing, we went for a boat ride. The feeling when you are in midst of the lake is absolutely awe inspiring. It is truly the best experience we had while in the city.

Later we took a stroll down the mall road. The walk was uncomfortable courtesy the unhindered traffic on the road.

Other places of interest within the city range include the zoo and the golf course.
If you are travelling with your kid, do visit the zoo which is uphill from entry point of Mall road.
Prefer the local jeep that travel uphill to the zoo as the slope is definitely not an easy one to negotiate.
Naini Retreat, Shervani Hilltop, Vikram Vintage inn are some of the most desirable luxury accommodations in the city. These should not puncture your pocket during non-peak seasons.
Hope this would have helped you plan your trip better.

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Last Updated on October 14, 2014 by Go4Reviews