Nainital

1. Enjoy Sunset from the Tiffin Top:
Nightlife in Nainital begins with an awestruck feeling while enjoying the breath-taking view of setting sun from Tiffin Top. Tiffin top also known as Dorothy’s seat offers a magnificent 360-degree view of the town and surrounding hilly area. It is fascinating to view the daylight dim and the sparkling city lights glitter to welcome a pleasing evening ahead.

Location - Tiffin top, Ayarpatta hills, Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Timing – 8 AM to 6 PM.

2. Sunset Boating at Naini Lake:
Enjoy a peaceful sunset view while boating at the Naini Lake. Boats are available for 30 minutes to 60 minutes ride. The sunset boat ride can be among the very first things to do in the list of Nainital nightlife.

Location – Naini Lake, Ayarpatta, Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Price –
-Gondola-like boats: INR 210 per hour.
-Boat ride through Nainital Boat Club: INR 350 per hour.
-Pedal boat: INR 150 per hour.
Timing – 6 AM to 6 PM.

3. Shop for local Souvenirs at the Tibetan Market:
Running parallel to the Naini Lake, mall road is synonymous with the city itself. Nightlife in Nainital begins here as it serves as the prime spot for culture, food, and shopping for the tourists.

Mall road is the go-to place for delicious food, especially heaven for momo-lovers. Other attractions include local craft, woolens, and artifacts. It is also the main market for Nainital’s special candles and other aromatic products.

Location – Mall Road, Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Timing – 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

4. Mall road shopping:
A go-to place for shoppers, this is the most popular street market in town. With a wide range of winter wear, souvenirs like pine woodcraft, bamboo fabric, Tibetan ethnic wear, and delectable Tibetan food.

Location – Tibetan (Bhotia) Market, Nanda Devi Path, Ayarpatta, Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Timing – 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

5. Visit the Pubs and Bars with family and friends:
A good serving bar and restaurant makes most of Nainital's nightlife. One can spend some quality time with family and friends here while enjoying drinks, good music, and tasty treats. These pubs and bars make sure that travelers coming can have a great time and create the buzz of nightlife in Nainital.

Location – Most of these bars and pubs are located at Mallital, Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Price – INR 2000 and above for 2 people.
Timing – Lunch hours and dinner hours (till 10:45 PM/ 11:00 PM).

6. Bonfire at Corbett national park:
Jim Corbett national park is one of the major highlights near Nainital and can be summed up as an entire trip. But, one can opt to have the best version of Nainital’s nightlife with a quiet and peaceful night stay or can enjoy the cultural shows and crackling bonfires that are hosted by the resort.

One can indulge in some sparking drinks to quench the thrust and have some great time with the group at the in-house discos.

Location – Jim Corbett National Park, Ramnagar, Nainital District, Uttarakhand.
Price – INR 3000 onwards.

Nainital is home to a number of beautiful tourist attractions. Some of the must-visit places are:

1. Nainital Lake:
Nainital Lake is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city and is flanked by lush green hills and the Naina Devi temple. This natural freshwater lake is the perfect spot to relax and spend quality time with loved ones.

Visitors can take a leisurely boat ride on the waters of the lake and even enjoy a pleasant picnic on the banks. The natural beauty of the place is truly breathtaking and offers the perfect respite from a hectic day.

Location: Nainital, Kumaon, Uttarakhand.
Entry Fee/Price: While there is no entry fee, you have to pay INR 150 for a 30-minute boat ride.

2. High Altitude Zoo:
Also known as the GB Pant High Altitude Zoo, this animal sanctuary sits 2,100 meters above sea level. Built in 1984 and spread across 4.6 acres of greenery, this zoo has a wide variety of exotic animals like the Royal Bengal Tiger, Himalayan Bears, Hill Partridge, Red Jungle fowl, Kalij Pheasant and the Tibetan Wolves. This is also one of the three high altitude zoos to exist in all of India.

Location: Tallital, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263002, India.
Entry Fee/Price: Adults- INR 50, Children- 20, Still camera- INR 25, Professional Videos Camera/ Senior citizen/ specially-abled individuals- INR 200.

3. Eco Cave Gardens:
The Eco Cave Gardens are a series of natural caves which together forms a cave garden. This cave garden consists of 6 animal shaped caves. This makes it ideal for tourists and children to see a wide number of animals in their natural environment. The cave garden is also decorated with a musical fountain and the caves itself are decorated with hanging gardens along the paths.

Location: Sukhatal, Mallital, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263001, India.
Entry Fee/Price: Adults- INR 60, Children- INR 25, camera- INR 25.

4. Kilbury Bird Sanctuary:
The Kilbury Bird Sanctuary is the ultimate destination in Nainital for those who love bird watching. Placed in the middle of the reserved forest, this sanctuary is home to some of the most exotic birds in Nainital. Tourists and travellers often visit this ecological paradise to watch birds and spend time in the midst of pristine nature.

Location: Kilbury Road, Panghat Village, Uttarakhand.

5. Kainchi Dham:
Built in the year 1962 by Neem Karoli Baba, the Kainchi Dham serves as a popular place of pilgrimage in Nainital. The Kainchi Dham is surrounded by nature and lush greenery and is located by a sparkling river.

The temple is in dedication to the Hindu god Hanuman and is frequently visited by tourists and devotees. Each year, the temple hosts a fair on the 15th of June which is attended by locals and tourists alike.

Location: Nainital-Almora Road, Uttarakhand.

6. St. John’s Church:
Constructed in the 1800s, the St. John’s Church is one of the most visited tourist attractions there is in Nainital. Also known as St. John’s the Wilderness, this church was named by a Bishop from Kolkata and is best experienced during its prayer services and religious sermons.

The church grounds also consist of a cemetery that is dedicated to the victims of a landslide that occurred in Uttarakhand.

Location: Nainital - Kaladhungi Rd, Sherwani, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263002, India.

Must Book: Nainital Tour Packages For Couple

1. Visit the many viewpoints:
When it comes to sightseeing, Nainital has something to offer at every turn. Whether it is the scenic natural beauty of the Naini Lake at the heart of Nainital, or the elevated viewpoints like Tiffin Top from where you can catch the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. Several tours operate from Nainital which you can avail to explore all the natural and historical wonders of Nainital city.

Location: Nainital, Uttarakhand.

2. Tour the Jim Corbett National Park:
The Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest and most famous national park in the country and is home to a number of exotic India plants, birds and animals. When you are exploring the National park, you can come across free-roaming sloth bears, leopards, tigers, black bears, elephants, spotted deer and other animals.

Location: Nainital District, Ramnagar, Uttarakhand 244715.
Entry Fee: INR 200 for Indians; INR 1000 for foreigners for a 1-hour tour.

3. Shopping at the Bazaar:
Visit Nainital’s famous shopping stretch at Mall road. This 1.5 km long road connects the two ends of Nainital and passes through the heart of the town next to the Nainital Lake. You can shop from an abundance of different vendors and stores selling exquisite handmade products such as unique hand-knit woollen cardigans, all the while getting a breath-taking view of the Nainital Lake.

Location: Mall Road, Nainital, Uttarakhand.

4. Boating in Nainital Lake:
Nainital is famous for its natural beauty and the many activities that people can enjoy when they visit. Enjoy a relaxing and leisurely boat ride on the calm waters of the lake whilst checking out the rolling hills on either side. After you finish boating, you can also stroll along the banks of the lake and enjoy a quiet picnic.

Location: Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Price: INR 150 for 30 minutes of boating.

5. Horse Riding at Bara Pathar:
No hill station visit is complete without a horse ride on the sloping mountain roads. Whether you are an experienced rider or a beginner, you can enjoy this activity with ease.

If you haven’t ridden a horse before, then you can also avail the services of a guide who will keep you and the horse steady while you ride along the winding mountain paths, taking in the gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and Nainital city.

Location: Bara Pathar, Nainital, Uttarakhand.
Price: INR 150.

Also Checkout: Nainital Tour Packages From Delhi

Nainital is a very popular tourist city in India, and there are several ways in which you can travel to this beautiful city.

-By Road: Nainital has a lot of roads connecting it with cities of North India. If you are travelling to Nainital from Delhi, you have to go via Ghaziabad and the city of Hapur via NH24, after which you have to shift to NH121 from Moradabad. This is the easiest route by road. There are also frequent buses that leave from Delhi, Amritsar and other important cities. You can even hire a private car for the purpose.

-By Flight: There is no airport in Nainital, and the closest domestic airport is located at a 1-hour drive away from the city in Pantnagar. You can take a car from here to Nainital, or you can also travel to the city via road from the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

-By Train: The nearest station to Nainital is the Kathgodam Railway Station located 34 km from the town with several trains connecting it to Delhi and Dehradun.

Nainital offers a taste of its local cuisines both in street side stalls as well as proper restaurants. Sonam Fast food centre, for example, is famous for its mutton momos. It is located in the Tibetan Market.

A few other places that offer local cuisine are :

Embassy Restaurant

Zooby’s Kitchen

Machan Restaurant, Bhimtal

Boat House Club

Sher-e Punjab

You Can Also Book: Nainital Tour Plan From Kolkata

Nainital with its marvellous view tempts one to explore on foot most of the time. Nothing like a nice long stroll along the markets in Mall road with a clear view of the lake to keep company. However there are cycle rickshaws available to travel from one end of the town to the other from 8 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening. One can also avail of taxi services to explore the city. However it is to be noted that taxis are not allowed to enter Mall road after 6 pm in the evening.

You May Also Book: Nainital Trip From Mumbai