Nainital is one of the most scenic towns in Uttarakhand. The whole Kumaon town is built around the Naini lake. I wanted to visit the Himalayas with my toddler. As parents wanting to have a relaxed vacation with a toddler, I am glad Nainital in Uttarakhand was my first choice in the Himalayas. In my Complete Nainital Travel Guide I will provide you information about commute, food, stays, places to visit within Nainital with kids and how to not get cheated by the cabbies.
How to reach Nainital?
If you are not from Uttarakhand or Uttar Pradesh then you have to pass Delhi before reaching Nainital. I took a flight to Delhi from Bangalore. After a day’s rest we took the New Delhi (NDLS) – Kathgodam (KGM) Shatabdi which starts everyday at 6 am from New Delhi Railway Station. The train took 5.20 hours to reach Kathgodam.
If you love to drive, then you can hire a car from Delhi. The travel distance is about 360 km. I didn’t want to experiment this with a 16-month-old baby.
You can also take buses that start from Delhi in the night. The only reason I didn’t prefer this is because I would have reached Nainital much before the check-in time and I was not willing to wait outside the stay/in the hotel lobby with a toddler.
Best Time to Visit Nainital
Nainital is beautiful to visit all around the year with family. If you are travelling with kids then you can avoid visiting Nainital during the monsoon months of July-Sept. You can get rooms at a lower rate during the monsoon months as it is off season. Best season to visit Nainital would be during winters. The peak season in Nainital is during December, 1st week of January and the summer months of April and May.
Food at Nainital
You can enjoy all types of cuisines in Nainital starting from Kumaoni, South Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, Punjabi, Continental, English, Mexican etc..
Most of the cafes and restaurants are on the Mall road, facing the lake. I also relished food at the Bhotia market which is very close to Naina Devi Mandir.
Few of the restaurants which I would recommend based on my past 2 visits are
– Nanak Restaurant – pure veg
– Simz Café
– Sher-e-Punjab
– Anupam Restaurant
– Café Lakeside
– Tamang Momos in Tibetan market
– Anupam Restaurant in Bada Bazaar – authentic Kumaoni food
Note: I had the best Veg (soya) Momos in Nainital in the Tibetan market.
I’d suggest not to try Idli or Dosa in Nainital
Stay at Nainital
On my first visit I stayed at a hotel in Mallital facing the lake. Every place I wanted to visit was walkable and easily accessible. I only had to take cycle rickshaws if I became tired walking.
On my last visit, as someone who travelled with family, especially with a toddler, I decided to rent a house for 3 days on DSB road in Nainital. I got to use the kitchen in a beautiful and spacious house on the Ayarpatta Hill. I faced difficulty in walking down and walking back to the stay because the climb was super steep. Taxis charged me Rs.300 for one way up/down. I had to get milk for my toddler which was also available only near the Mall road.
If you do not mind staying in hotels then you have umpteen hotels in Nainital, in and around the Mall road. Everything will be easily accessible from these hotels.
Places to Visit in Nainital
1. Naina Devi Temple
Naina Devi Temple is located on the banks of the Naini lake. It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.
2. Nainital Lake (Boating in Naini Lake)
There are row boats and paddle boats in Naini lake. I preferred to hire a rowboat for 30 mins. Post covid a max of 3 people excluding the driver can boat in a rowboat.
3. Nainital High Altitude Zoo
Trekking uphill to the zoo is not for the faint hearted. The shuttle services have been stopped in 2024 to the high-altitude zoo. If you are not used to trekking steep uphill then better skip this place. I decided to still visit for the sake of my toddler who was excited to see animals.
4. Nainital Mall Road
No vehicles are allowed on the Mall road between 6-8pm in the evening. It is an experience to cherish your walk on the beautiful street.
Read also: Exploring Rishikesh – 2 Days in the Himalayan Foothills
5. Tiffin Top
It is one of the view points in Nainital. If you want to reach the Tiffin Top then you might want to either take the horse ride or trek up to the point. You can skip this place if you are travelling with babies or toddlers.
6. Aerial Ropeway (Nainital Cable Car)
If you are sightseeing Nainital with kids above 3 years then this is an experience you shouldn’t miss. The ropeway starts from Mallital and takes you to the Snow View Point. You can spend an hour in the ropeway.
7. Snow View Point
The sight of the snow capped mountains is not to be missed if you get a chance to visit the Snow View Point in Nainital. You can choose to take the ropeway to view the snow view point instead of hiring a cab.
Apart from the above there are few other places which are sold by the cabbies as must visit in Nainital but you can choose to ignore them because they are not worth it.
Commute within Nainital
If you stay close to the Mall road then you might not need a cab to go within the town. There are electric rickshaws at minimal cost in Mallital which you can use to shuttle to different places within the town. If you wish to go to Mukteshwar, Bhimtal lake, Sattal lake, Naukuchiatal lake or Neem Karoli Baba Ashram then you might want to hire a taxi.
If you hire taxi from Tallital bus stand, the cost starts from Rs.800 based on the places you want to visit. If you like to go on sharing basis, then the cost reduces.
Shopping in Nainital
What to buy in Nainital?
You can look for woolen clothes, sweaters, fancy clothes, wooden crafts, candles and fancy accessories.
Where to shop in Nainital?
- Mall Road
- Tibetan Market
- Bhotia/Bhutia Market
- Bada Bazaar
The scenic beauty of Nainital is a treat to cherish. I visited the town in the months of August and March.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit both the times, before and after having a family 🙂
I’d suggest anyone with kids to consider Nainital as an option when you choose to travel in Uttarakhand.
Read also: My other posts from Uttarakhand
