Nainital is one of the most popular gateways and tourist destinations of Uttarakhand. It is full of pristine lakes, pleasant weather, and picturesque views, that attract tourists from both within and outside the country. Places to visit near Nainital are a perfect combination of hill stations, places for adventure activities, wildlife sanctuaries, places for photographers, and an ideal weekend getaway for families, friends, and couples.
Bhimtal – The “C” Shaped Lake Of Uttarakhand
Bhimtal Lake, located in the lake district of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand is situated at an altitude of 4500 feet above sea level. It is the largest of the natural lakes located in Nainital and its surroundings. The lake is named after the Bhima, one of the five Pandava brothers. This lake is 24 km from Nainital. Located at a distance of 200 km, it provides tourists and novices with adequate water sports along with paddling and boating. The lake is a natural habitat for many aquatic species and is also home to many snowy trance birds and other birds such as Black Eagle, Tawny Fish Owl, Bulbul, Umbrella Dove, etc. which fascinate tourists. The center of this lake, there is a little island located at a distance of 91 meters from the shore of the lake. Tourists can reach this island by boat and visit the magnificent aquarium where rare fishes from South Africa, China, and Mexico are kept. Being surrounded by the rocky hills of the Kumaon region this lake provides spectacular views to the tourists.
Best time to visit Bhimtal: March – June, and September – December
Places to visit in Bhimtal: Victoria Dam, Bhimtal Island Aquarium, Hanuman Garhi, Folk Culture Museum, Hidimba Parvat, etc.
Things to do in Bhimtal: Boating, Fishing, Trekking, Camping, Hiking, Paragliding, and Mountain Biking and many other Adventure Sports
Distance from Nainital to Bhimtal: 24 km
How to reach Bhimtal from Nainital: Taxis, Buses, and Shared Jeeps are easily available on regular basis.
Naukuchiatal – Lake Of Nine Corners
Naukuchiatal is a small picturesque lake village located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. This scenic tourist spot is located at an altitude of 5400 feet above sea level. The main source of attraction to this place is its 9 cornered lake which measures 1 km in length and 40 km in depth. It is believed that a person sees all the 9 corners of the lake with his both feet on the ground, gets disappeared, and achieves nirvana. With adequate chances to revive your body and soul, this place is honored with extensively marvelous panoramic surroundings. This place is quite famous among bird lovers because many species of birds and butterflies are found here. Travelers to this beautiful place can get indulged with interesting activities like boating, swimming, fishing, etc. Apart from this, mountain biking is also an adventure sport that attracts many tourists to this village and gives an opportunity to explore the natural places of Naukuchiatal. Thus, the beauty of the lake and the adventure sports activities done here make Naukuchiatal a major tourist destination. Nakuchiatal is one of the best places to visit near Nainital.
Best time to visit Naukuchiatal: April – June, and September – November
Places to visit in Naukuchiatal: Hanuman Temple, Naukuchiatal Lake
Things to do in Naukuchiatal: Bird Watching, Sightseeing, Boating, Fishing, Mountain Biking, etc.
Distance from Nainital to Naukuchiatal: 26 km
How to reach Naukuchiatal from Nainital: Taxis, Buses, and Shared Jeeps are easily available on regular basis.
Sattal – Group Of Seven Lakes
Sattal is a beautiful place located about 1 hour away from Nainital, which you must visit during your trip to Nainital. Sattal is not less than a gift of nature and It is a group of 7 lakes. Situated at an altitude of 4226 feet above sea level, Satatal is 19 meters in length, 315 meters in width, and 150 meters in depth. Sattal is also home to birds of many species, so it would not be wrong to say that Sattal is the best place for photographers too. So if you are planning your trip to Nainital then Sattal is a place near Nainital that you must visit.
The specialty of Sattal is that all these 7 lakes are connected with each other are of sweet water. The names of these lakes are taken together as if they have only one source. Seeing these lakes surrounded by tall trees of oak and deodar, there is a feeling of untouched and serene nature. Nanaprakara flowers and vines are planted around this pool.
Group of 7 lakes which forms Sattal are:
- Nal Damayanti Tal
- Garuda Tal
- Ram Tal
- Laxman Tal
- Sita Tal
- Purna Tal
- Sukh Tal
Best time to visit Sattal: April – June, and September – December
Places to visit in Sattal: 7 lakes, Subhash Dhara
Things to do in Sattal: Boating, Fishing, Bird Watching, Photography, Cycling, Trekking, etc.
Distance from Nainital to Sattal: 44 km
How to reach Sattal from Nainital: Taxis and Buses are easily available on regular basis.
Suggested Read: 10 Mesmerizing Places To Visit Near Dehradun
Sariyatal – The Jade Green Lake
In the quiet suburban area of the lake city Nainital, there is a jade green lake called Sariyatal which has gained popularity as a tourist destination in recent times. The lake is famous for its spectacular sunrises that make the lake shiny like a shining star as the sun’s rays hit its green water. Such beauty can only be experienced and its full essence can be praised. The lush surroundings, the extremely calm and humid winds emanating from here, make this place unchanging for the love birds to snuggle. Sariyatal is an ideal place for people who are looking to spend some time in solitude.
Best time to visit Sariyatal: October – June
Places to visit in Sariyatal: Tiffin Top, Eco Cave Garden, Sariyatal Lake
Things to do in Sariyatal: Water Zorbing, Boating, Photography, Admire the Beauty of The lake
Distance from Nainital to Sariyatal: 9 km
How to reach Sariyatal from Nainital: Buses and taxis are easily available.
Ranikhet – The Queen’s Farm
Ranikhet, widely known as ‘Queen’s Farm’, is a beautiful hill station in Almora district of Uttarakhand. As per old stories, Padmini, the beautiful Queen of Kumaon region, came to Ranikhet and was persuaded of the magnificence of this place. Accordingly, her husband, The King Sukhardev built a palace for the Queen at this place and named it ‘Ranikhet’. While there is no archeological proof for this royal residence, the story is yet alive in each nook and corner of Ranikhet.
Located at an altitude of 6132 feet above sea level, Ranikhet is a very small hill station popularly known for its views of the Nanda Devi Peak, trekking ranges, temples, and orchards. The vast valleys, dense forest and covered with flowers and cool breezes here attracts the attention of tourists. The special thing about Ranikhet is that there are very little clamor and a crowd of people here. Know that after reaching here, the tourists find themselves near nature. You can feel the essence of the beauty of nature in every particle of Ranikhet.
Apart from this Ranikhet also has its roots connected with The Indian Army. It serves as the headquarter of the Kumaon Regiment and has Kumaon Regimental Centre Museum which showcases the grandeur and importance of the military and its various historical instances.
Best time to visit Ranikhet: February – June
Places to visit in Ranikhet: Dwarahat, Bhalu Dam, Tadikhet, Kumaon Regiment Golf Course, Cantonment Ashiana Park, Sunset Point, etc. Sitakhet, Jaurasi, and Khairana are also worth visiting places here.
Things to do in Ranikhet: Mountain biking and trekking are the most popular adventure sports that one can enjoy in Ranikhet.
Distance from Nainital to Ranikhet: 57 km
How to reach Ranikhet from Nainital: Hiring Cab is the best and fastest way to reach Ranikhet.
Jim Corbett National Park – Home of Royal Bengal Tiger
Jim Corbett National Park is not less than a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts who are looking for a rest in the lap of mother nature. Nestled amidst the foothills of the Himalayas, Corbett National Park has a wide variety of flora and fauna and is one of the best places to visit near Nainital. India is known for having the largest population of wild tigers in the world and Jim Corbett Park National Park in India is home to around 200 tigers which is the largest in the country. Due to its diversity of beautiful flora and fauna, this place is one of the best places to visit near Nainital. The park is home to various species of flora and fauna including 50 species of trees, 580 species of birds, 25 species of reptiles, living in an area spread over 500 square kilometers. There are lots of river banks, hills, lakes, and beautiful rivers in the Corbett National Park.
Best time to visit Corbett National Park: October – June
Places to visit in Corbett National Park: Corbett Water Fall, Corbett Museum, Dhikala Zone, Bijrani Range, Garjiya Temple, Jhirna Zone, Dhela Safari Zone, etc.
Things to do in Corbett National Park: Wildlife Safaris, Bird Watching, sightseeing, Camping, Photography, and Enjoying Wildlife
Distance from Nainital to Corbett National Park: 65 km
How to reach Corbett National Park from Nainital: Taxis and Buses are easily available.
Almora – Pride of Uttarakhand
Shaped like a horseshoe and stretching between the mighty Himalayas, Almora is a popular tourist destination near Nainital, with a pre-British heritage and rich history. Almora, one of the most majestic hill stations near Nainital is known for its unique handicraft and its diverse wildlife. Surrounded by receding pines and old oak, the city has a celestial aura enough to woo backpackers. Two major rivers, Kosi and Suyal pass through the city, adding to the amazing beauty of the place. The climate at Almora is always pleasant and one willing to visit here can visit any time of the year. Almora is an ideal place for all tourists and nature lovers and can be easily visited in 1 or 2 days. In addition to the scenario, the snow-capped Himalayas stand in grandeur to please the tourists.
Almora is a pride of Uttarakhand!
Best time to visit Almora: Throughout the year
Places to visit in Almora: Nanda Devi Temple, Katarmal Sun Temple, Kasar Devi Temple, Chitai Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Zero Point, Jalna Village
Things to do in Almora: Trekking, Nature walk, Shopping at Thana Bazar, Cycling, Adventure Sports, Photography, etc.
Distance from Nainital to Almora: 65 km
How to reach Almora from Nainital: Cabs and Buses are easily available.
Suggested Read: 10 Weekend Gateways Near Dehradun For A Perfect Weekend
Kausani – The Switzerland of India
Kausani is a beautiful hill station situated at an altitude of 6075 feet above sea level. Kausani is located 53 km north of Almora district of Uttarakhand state. It is a beautiful hill station in India. This place is situated on the Pingnath peak, showing the beauty of the Himalayas and at the same time, the view of the snow-clad “Nanda Devi Parvat” from this place also seems very attractive. Situated on the top of a hill amidst the thick trees of the pine this hill town offers its tourists a wonderful view of the beautiful valleys of Someshwar, Garuda and Baijnath Katyuri. In the ancient time, Kasauni was a part of Almora and was known as Valna. At that time, Almora district came under the jurisdiction of King Bacheldev of Katyuri. Later, the king gave a large part of it to a Gujarati Brahmin Sri Chand Tiwari. Mahatma Gandhi, impressed by the grandeur of the place, called this place the ‘Switzerland of India’. Presently Kausani is a famous tourist destination and one of the finest places to visit near Nainital.
Best time to visit Kausani: March – June
Places to visit in Kausani: Baijnath Temple, Kausani Tea Estate, Someshwar Temple, Anashakti Ashram, Trek To Pinnath, Rudradhari Falls & Caves
Things to do in Kausani: Bird Watching, Enjoying Nature, Trekking & Hiking, Photography, and other Adventure Sports
Distance from Nainital to Kausani: 116 km
How to reach Kausani from Nainital: Hiring Cabs is recommended but you can take buses or any shared cab as per your budget.
Jageshwar Dham – Fifth Dham Of Uttarakhand
“Jageshwar Dham or Jageshwar Temple” is a famous pilgrimage center among the major Devasthals of Uttarakhand. Located at an elevation of 6135 feet, this temple is 98 km from Nainital and 38 km from Almora districts of Kumaon, Uttarakhand. Jageshwar Dham is also known as the “Fifth Dham” of Uttarakhand and has a group of 125 temples including all small and big temples around the area and all of them are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The history of these temples dates back to the 9th to 13th centuries. Dandeshwar Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Chandi Ka Temple, Mahamrityunjaya Temple, Kubera Temple, Nav-Griha Temple, and Nanda Devi Temple are among the famous temples located here. Of these, the Mahamrityunjaya temple is the oldest while the Dandeshwar temple is the largest among all. All temple groups in Jageshwar Dham are built in the Kedarnath style. Jageshwar is quite famous for its architecture. These huge temples built with big stones are very beautiful which attracts large number of pilgrims every year.
Best time to visit Jageshwar Dham: Any time of the year but months of September – November are considered best to visit here.
Places to visit in Jageshwar Dham: All Temples of Lord Shiva in the group.
Things to do in Jageshwar Dham: Temple Visit, Sightseeing, Nature Walk, Photography
Distance from Nainital to Jageshwar Dham: 98 km
How to reach Jageshwar Dham from Nainital: Buses, Taxis, and Shared Cabs are easily available.
Ramgarh – Fruit Bowl of Kumaon
Ramgarh is a beautiful hill station located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. Located at an elevation of 4180 feet above sea level, this place offers impeccable views of snow-covered Himalayas. The tranquillity of the place and serene sunrises and sunsets are a delight to watch here. Enriched with a variety of peaches, apricots, pears, apples, and orchards this place is also known as ‘Fruit Bowl of Kumaon’. This is why this place is one of the best places to visit near Nainital.
Best time to visit Ramgarh: October – May
Places to visit in Ramgarh: Nathuakhan, Orchards, etc.
Things to do in Ramgarh: Bird Watching, Trekking, Rock Climbing, Photography, Visit Temples, and Sightseeing
Distance from Nainital to Ramgarh: 36 km
How to reach Ramgarh from Nainital: Buses, Taxis, and Shared Cabs are easily available.
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