Spend a cozy holiday with your partner, Nanital gets its name from an ancient Hindu mythological legend that is associated with the ‘naini lake’ located in the middle of the city. It has been a popular honeymoon destination in India for generations and is definitely worth visiting.\
Located at the Kumaon foothills, Nainital is a much-loved tourist destination that is flocked by visitors throughout the year. The breathtaking hill station is easily accessible by rail as well as road transport. It is located in the state of Uttarakhand and enjoys proximity to several other important cities of North India, including the capital city of Delhi. Travelers, from far and wide, come to the city in search of serenity and to witness the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas. Find out here how you can reach this sought-after tourist destination and celebrate the perfect holiday.
Historical Background
Nainital is referred to in the ‘Manas Khand’ of the ‘Skanda Purana’ as the Tri-Rishi-Sarovar,the lake of the three sages ,Atri,Pulastya and Pulaha who were reputed to have arrived here on a penitential piligrimage, and, finding no water to quench their thirst dug a hole and siphoned water into it from Mansarovar the sacred lake in Tibet.
The Second important mythological reference to Nainital is as one of 64 ‘Shakti Peeths’.These centres were created wherever parts of charred body of Sati fell ,when Lord Shiva was carrying around her corpse in grief .It is said that the left eye (Nain) of Sati fell here and this gave rise to patron deity of town Nainital . It is said that the lake is formed in the emerald eye shape . Naina Devi temple is located at the northern end of the lake . Thus name of Nainital derivated from Naina and the tal (Lake).
How To Reach
By Air
Nainital does not possess an airport of its own. The nearest airport from the hill resort is that of Pantnagar, approximately 70 km away. The domestic airport at Pantnagar has regular flights from the capital city of Delhi. However, since the place does not have too great a connectivity, it is better to board a flight to Delhi and from there, undertake a road or rail journey to Nainital.
By Rail
Nainital is conveniently accessible by different parts of the country, mainly due to the presence of a well-laid rail network. The nearest railway station to the hill station is Kathgodam, about 35 km away from the main town. New Delhi, Lucknow and Kolkatta are well linked with Kathgodam through regular trains. The next nearest station is Lalkuan, located at a distance of 60 km from the main city of Nainital.
By Road
The most feasible way to reach Nainital is via road. The extensive road network that connects Nainital with several other parts of northern India makes road travel cheaper and more convenient. New Delhi is about 310 km away from Nainital and it hardly takes eight hours to cover the distance. Many private tour operators provide luxury bus services, including Volvos, between the hill station and other cities of northern India. The state government also operates several buses, connecting Nainital with other cities of Uttarakhand and northern India.