Most Nainital tourist places sit within a few kilometres of Naini Lake, and the rest lie in a ring of smaller lakes and hill towns within an hour’s drive. That makes Nainital easy to plan: one day for the town and its viewpoints, one day for Bhimtal, Sattal or Kainchi Dham. This list uses the distances and details from the Nainital district administration’s tourism pages, then sets out a simple two day plan.
Know before you go
- Where: Nainital district, Kumaon, Uttarakhand.
- Nearest railway station: Kathgodam, about 34 km from Naini Lake.
- Nearest airport: Pantnagar, about 70 km.
- Best weather: April to mid June and October, says the district tips page.
- Highest point: Naina Peak, 2,611 m, about 6 km from town.
- Last checked: 5 November 2026.
In this Article
Nainital tourist places list
The district site lists more than twenty places across Nainital and the hills around it. The ones below are those most visitors fit into a short trip. Distances are from Nainital town unless stated.
| Place | Type | Distance from Nainital | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naini Lake and the Flatts | Lake, boating, temple | In town | |
| Mall Road | Promenade, shopping | In town | |
| Naina Devi temple | Temple | In town, at the Flatts | |
| Zoo (G B Pant High Altitude Zoo) | Zoo | About 1 km from bus stand | 2,100 m |
| Snow View and aerial ropeway | Viewpoint | 2.5 km | 2,270 m |
| Hanuman Garhi | Temple, sunset point | About 3.5 km | 1,951 m |
| Tiffin Top and Dorothy Seat | Viewpoint | 4 km | 2,292 m |
| Naina Peak (China Peak) | Viewpoint | 6 km | 2,611 m |
| ARIES observatory, Manora Peak | Observatory | About 9 km by road | |
| Bhowali | Fruit market, junction | 11 km | 1,706 m |
| Kilbury | Forest, quiet stay | 12 km | 2,194 m |
| Ghorakhal (Golu Devta temple) | Temple | About 14 km | |
| Kainchi Dham | Ashram, temple | 17 km | |
| Bhimtal | Lake | 22 km | 1,370 m |
| Sattal | Cluster of lakes | 23 km | 1,370 m |
| Naukuchiatal | Lake | 26 km | 1,220 m |
| Mukteshwar | Viewpoint, temple | 51 km | 2,286 m |
Nainital tourist places in the town
Naini Lake, Mallital and Tallital
The lake is the reason Nainital exists as a town. Seven hills surround it, and the lights from the hillsides reflect on the water at night. Rowing boats and paddle boats run from both ends. The district page says boating rates are displayed at prepaid booths along the lakeside, so check the board before you get in.
The north end of the lake is Mallital and the south end is Tallital. The bridge at Tallital has a post office on it, which the district calls the only post office on a lake bridge in the world.
The Flatts and Naina Devi temple
The Flatts is the open ground at the north end of the lake, at Mallital. It is busiest in the evening, with a bandstand, the Bhotia market and food stalls. The Naina Devi temple stands here on the lakeshore, along with a mosque and a gurudwara.
Mall Road
The Mall Road, now officially Govind Ballabh Pant Marg, runs along one side of the lake between Mallital and Tallital, lined with hotels, restaurants and shops. In May and June it closes to vehicles in the evening so people can walk. Thandi Road, on the other side of the lake, is closed to vehicles and much quieter.
Snow View and the aerial ropeway
Snow View is the easiest hilltop to reach, at 2,270 m and about 2.5 km from town. On a clear day it gives a long view of the snow peaks. You can drive up, but most people take the aerial ropeway from Mallital, a short walk of about 200 m from the Mall Road. The ride takes around two and a half minutes each way.
The district page lists ropeway hours of 10 AM to 4 PM and return fares of 190 rupees for adults and 120 rupees for children aged 3 to 12. That page was last updated in 2019, so check the current fare at the counter.
Tiffin Top, Naina Peak and Kilbury
Tiffin Top, also called Dorothy Seat, is 4 km from town at 2,292 m, with views of the Himalaya and the countryside around. Dorothy Seat is a memorial built for Dorothy Kellet, an English painter. Lands End is right next to it.
Naina Peak, at 2,611 m, is the highest point around the town. The district says it gives a view of the Himalaya from Bandar Punch in the west to Api and Nari in Nepal. Ponies can be hired from Snow View or Barapathhar. Horse riding is not allowed inside the town itself.
Kilbury is 12 km out, at 2,194 m, in green forest with a forest rest house. Go there if you want quiet rather than sights.
Nainital tourist places temple list
- Naina Devi temple, at the Flatts on the lakeshore in Mallital.
- Hanuman Garhi, about 3.5 km from the bus stand. Its temples were built around 1950 at the request of Neem Karoli Baba, and it is the town’s best known sunset point. Shitala Devi temple is on the other side of the hill.
- Pashan Devi temple, on Thandi Road by the lake.
- Kainchi Dham, 17 km away on the Almora road, known for Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram. The name comes from two sharp hairpin bends in the road.
- Ghorakhal, the temple of Golu Devta, 3 km from Bhowali.
- Mukteshwar Mahadev, an old Shiva temple on a rock at Mukteshwar, 51 km away.
- Bhimeshwar temple, by the dam at Bhimtal, dated to the 17th century.
The lakes around Nainital
Bhimtal is 22 km from Nainital and larger than Naini Lake. There is an island with an aquarium in the middle, reached by boat, and the Bhimeshwar temple stands near the dam.
Naukuchiatal, 4 km beyond Bhimtal, is named for its nine corners. The lake is about 983 m long and 40 m deep, and the district mentions angling and birdwatching here as well as rowing and paddling.
Sattal is a group of linked lakes in oak forest, 23 km from Nainital. Coming in, you pass Nal Damyanti lake first, then Garud lake, then Ram, Laxman and Sita lakes.
Nainital tourist places distance and map guide
Think of the area in three groups when you plan the route:
- In town: the lake, the Flatts, Mall Road, Naina Devi temple, the zoo and the ropeway are all walkable.
- On the ridges above town: Snow View, Tiffin Top, Naina Peak, Hanuman Garhi and the ARIES observatory, reached by road, ropeway or on foot.
- Toward Bhowali: Bhowali is 11 km away and is the road junction for everything else. Ghorakhal and Kainchi Dham are just beyond it, and Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal are each about 11 to 15 km from Bhowali. Mukteshwar is 40 km from Bhowali.
Kathgodam railway station is about 34 km from the lake, Haldwani bus station about 40 km, and Pantnagar airport about 70 km.
A simple 2 day plan
Day 1 covers the town. Take the ropeway up to Snow View in the morning, then come down for a boat ride on Naini Lake. After lunch, visit the Naina Devi temple at the Flatts and walk the Mall Road to Tallital. Drive to Hanuman Garhi before sunset, about 3.5 km away.
Day 2 covers the lakes. Leave early for Tiffin Top if you want one more viewpoint, or go straight to Bhowali and Kainchi Dham. From there, head to Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal and Sattal, choosing two if time runs short. You can return to Nainital or carry on to Kathgodam for the train.
Practical tips
- The district notes that winter runs from late October to late March, with December and January the coldest and snow possible. Heavy rain falls from late June to September.
- Carry heavy woollens in winter and light woollens in summer, and rain gear in the monsoon.
- Vehicles entering Nainital pay a toll at Tallital or Sukhatal. Parking on the Mall is restricted in the summer and autumn months, so use the Flatts, Tallital or the KMVN parking at Sukhatal.
- The zoo is closed on Mondays, national holidays, Holi and Diwali. A zoo shuttle runs from the Nainital bus station.
- Wax candles, wooden walking sticks and pine cone crafts are the usual souvenirs.
More in Kumaon and Uttarakhand
Nainital pairs well with Ranikhet and Almora, both a few hours away by road. For a longer trip into the high Himalaya, see the guides to Chopta, the Tungnath temple hike, the Kedarnath Yatra, Badrinath and the full Char Dham Yatra.
FAQ
What is the Nainital tourist places list in Hindi?
Common Hindi names are नैनी झील (Naini Lake), नैना देवी मंदिर (Naina Devi temple), माल रोड (Mall Road), स्नो व्यू (Snow View), टिफिन टॉप (Tiffin Top), हनुमान गढ़ी (Hanuman Garhi), भीमताल (Bhimtal), सातताल (Sattal), नौकुचियाताल (Naukuchiatal) and कैंची धाम (Kainchi Dham).
Is there a Nainital tourist places map?
The district site has road and district maps under its About section. For planning, the three groups above work well: the town, the ridges above it, and the lakes and temples beyond Bhowali.
Which temples are among the Nainital tourist places?
Naina Devi temple at the lake, Hanuman Garhi, Pashan Devi, Kainchi Dham, Ghorakhal’s Golu Devta temple and Mukteshwar Mahadev.
What is the distance between Nainital tourist places?
Snow View is 2.5 km from town, Tiffin Top 4 km, Bhowali 11 km, Kainchi Dham 17 km, Bhimtal 22 km, Sattal 23 km, Naukuchiatal 26 km and Mukteshwar 51 km.
How many days do you need for Nainital?
Two days cover the town and the nearby lakes. Add a third if you want Mukteshwar or a quiet stay at Kilbury.
Official resources: Nainital district: tourist places; Nainital district: tips for tourists
Photo credits
Featured image: Praveen Singh Bisht / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; Naini Lake, Mallital and Tallital: Slyronit / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The Flatts and Naina Devi temple: Photographer Praveen Singh Bisht / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Mall Road: Abhimanyu7793 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Snow View and the aerial ropeway: Capankajsmilyo / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Tiffin Top, Naina Peak and Kilbury: Tanbatra / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Nainital tourist places temple list: Harshit SR / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Nainital tourist places temple list: Nickk Bisht / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The lakes around Nainital: Satyam Mishra / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; The lakes around Nainital: Alphahansraj / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0; The lakes around Nainital: raj / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; A simple 2 day plan: ArmouredCyborg / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
