A small town in the hills of Kumaon, Nainital is a lovely hill station surrounded by mountains on three sides. Nainital was discovered in 1841 by a Britisher called Lord Baron. The weather, the surrounding and the mesmerising beauty of this area attracted the British administrator who turned this place into the summer capital of the United Province. Being a major tourist place Nainital is always bustling with visitors and it is always better if accommodation and other facilities are prearranged.

Nainital (29° 24' N, 79° 28' E) is a town in the Indian state of Uttaranchal and headquarters of Nainital District in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalaya. Situated at an altitude of 1938 m (6,350 ft) above sea-level, Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake, approximately 2 miles in circumference, and surrounded by mountains, of which the highest are Naina (also Cheena) (2615 m, or 8,568 ft) on the north, Deopatha (2438 m, or 7,987 ft) on the west, and Ayarpatha (2278 m, or 7,461 ft) on the south. The surrounding scenery "is strikingly beautiful; and from the tops of the higher peaks, magnificent views can be obtained of the vast plain to the south, or of the mass of tangled ridges lying north, bounded by the great snowy range which forms the central axis of the Himalayas." (Imperial Gazeteer of India, volume 18, Oxford University Press, Oxford and London, 1908.)

Nainital has a pleasant climate in the summer (maximum temperature 27°C, or 80°F; minimum temperature 10°C, or 50°F) and sees an influx of tourists mainly from the plains of Northern India. In the winter Nainital receives snowfall between December and February with the temperatures varying between a maximum of 15°C (59°F) and a minimum of -3°C (26°F).

The emerald green lake, the towering hills, the nip in the autumn wind, and the snapping of the chinar leaves underfoot ... there is lots that makes for fond memories of the city of Nainital, for those who come as visitors as well as for those who have a chance to spend a longer time.

Nainital occurs in several ancient myths of India. One of the earliest, from the Manas Khand of the Skand Puran, refers to Nainital Lake as Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, alluding to the story of the three sages (or rishis), Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha, who finding no water in Naintal, dug a large hole at the location of the present day lake (sarovar = lake) and subsequently inundated it with water siphoned from the holy lake Manasarovar (literally, Lake of the Mind) near Mount Kailas on the other side of the Himalayas in Tibet. According to lore, a dip in Naini Lake, "the lesser mansoravar", earned merit equal to a dip in the great lake.

Another myth refers to Naini Lake as one of the 64 Shakti Peeths, where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell upon surface of the earth while being carried through the heavens by Lord Shiva. According to legend, the spot where Sati's eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or [lake of the eye.] The goddess Shakti is worshipped at the Naina Devi Temple located at the northern end of the present day lake.

The Kumaon Hills came under British rule after the Anglo-Nepal War (1814-16), but the hill station town of Naini Tal (spelling of the name in British times) was only founded in 1841, with the construction of the first European house by P. Barron. Moved by the beauty of the sparkling lake he wrote: "It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1,500 miles trek in the Himalayas." In the next five years, new houses were built rapidly, "for in 1846, when Captain Madden of the Bengal Artillery visited Naini Tal, he recorded that houses were rapidly springing up in most parts of the settlement: some towards the crest of the limitary ranges were nearly 7,500 feet above sea level: the rugged and woody Ayarpatta was being gradually planted and that the favourite sites were on the undulating tract of forest land which stretched back from the head of the lake to the base of China and Deopatta (Camel's Hump). The Church, St. John's in the Wilderness, had been built, and Captain Madden remarked that a very pretty gothic structure had been erected on one of the most picturesque sites in the settlement." (quoted from The 1906 guide to Naini Tal.) Soon the town became a health resort favoured both by soldiers and by people trying to escape the heat of the plains. Later, the town also became the summer residence of the Governor of the United Provinces (later Uttar Pradesh). Government House (now the High Court of Uttaranchal) was built in 1899 by the F.W. Stevens who had also built many Gothic style buildings in Bombay.

Sat Tal

25 km away, is a complex of seven natural lakes with good angling prospects.

Bhimtal

23 km away, larger than Naini Lake which sports a beautiful island.

Naukuchiatal

27 km away, is a vast nine-cornered lake, pristine and pleasant where migratory birds gather.

Naini Peak

Approx 6 km away, is the highest point within Nainital and commands a superb view of the Himalayas.

Naini Lake

This attractive lake is said to be one of the emerald green eyes of Shiva's wife, Sati. When Sati's father failed to invite Shiva to a family sacrifice, she burnt herself to death in protest. Shiva gathered the charred remains in his arms and proceeded to engage in a cosmic dance, which threatened to destroy the world. Vishnu chopped up the body into pieces, and the remains were scattered across India. The modern Naina Devi Temple at the northern end of the lake is built over the precise spot where the eye is believed to have fallen.

By Air

Nearest airport is Pantnagar, 71 kms away, which was serviced by India's feeder airlines called Vayudoot, which has since been discontinued.

By Rail

Since the airport is not in use, the most convenient way to travel is by train. The nearest railhead is Kathgodam, located 36 kms from Nainital. This station is connected on meter gauge directly by rail to Agra, Lucknow and Bareilly.

By Road

The most preferred mode of travel to this hill destination is by road. It is connected to Delhi with fairly well maintained motorable roads, as well as with other towns in Uttar Pradesh.

Nationalised banks which have foreign exchange conversion facilities are - State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Allahbad bank.

Nainital is famous for its candles, woolens, woodcrafts and handicrafts. Main Markets are Mallital Bazar, Nallital Bazar, Tibetan Market and a the markets near Naina Devi Temple.