Nainital Travel Guide

Nainital is the best-known hill station in Uttarakhand’s Kumaon region, built around the crescent-shaped Naini Lake. It sits geographically separate from Rishikesh’s Garhwal side, so it’s a genuine day-long journey rather than a quick detour.

Getting there from Rishikesh

Nainital is roughly 210-230 km from Rishikesh, typically around 7 hours by road. Given the distance, most travellers treat it as a separate trip or a multi-day extension rather than an add-on to a shorter Rishikesh visit.

What to see

• Naini Lake — boating on the lake and a walk along the Mall Road that runs its length are the classic Nainital experience
• Naina Devi Temple — at the lake’s northern end, one of the Shaktipeeth shrines
• Snow View Point — reached by cable car, with views of the Himalayan range on clear days
• Tiffin Top and Land’s End — quieter viewpoints a short walk or drive out of the main town

Best time to visit

March-June is peak season with warm days and cool evenings; September-November follows the monsoon with clear skies and fewer crowds. Being a popular weekend destination from Delhi and the plains, it gets busy on weekends and around holidays year-round.

Planning around the distance

Because it’s a separate hill cluster from the Garhwal region Rishikesh sits in, Nainital is best planned as its own 2-3 day trip, or combined with other Kumaon destinations, rather than squeezed into a shorter Rishikesh-based itinerary.