Nainital Packages FAQs
Q. How do I reach Nainital from Kathgodam railway station?
A. You are planning to book one of the Nainital packages, but unsure how to complete the rest of the journey after de-boarding at Kathgodam? Nainital’s main Mall Road is about 35 kilometre from the Kathgodam railway station, and that journey can be covered by a hired taxi in approximately two hours via the NH109. There are buses by Uttarakhand State Road Transport Corporation on this route, and it is quite an economical way of arriving at the hill station. You can also find shared and private taxis from the railway station.
Q. Are there enough ATMs in Nainital?
A. You may be one step away from zeroing on one of the Nainital tour packages thinking how much cash to carry on your holiday and whether there would be sufficient ATMs around. There are multiple ATMs on the Mall Road of Nainital. You will find ones by ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Nainital Bank, State Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank among others.
Q. Can I visit Sattal and Naukuchiatal on the same day from Nainital?
A. Sattal is about 22 kilometre from Nainital and Naukuchiatal about 27 kilometre from Nainital. It is very much possible to club both of Nainital’s iconic lakes on the same day because they are about 17.5 kilometre apart. Begin early, hire a shared taxi from the Nainital Mall Road and explore the two lakes before returning by early evening. Else you can ask your hotel to help you with a private taxi to take you to both Sattal and Naukuchiatal on the same day. Usually, the two lakes are part of most Nainital travel packages.
Q. When can one expect snowfall in Nainital?
A. Winter sets in Nainital from the last part to October and lasts till February. Within that December and January gets exceptionally cold recording sub-zero temperatures. Though not always but December and early part of January sees some snowfall in Nainital. The night temperature at this time of the year can slip to -10 degree Celsius. Visit around Christmas and New Years if you’d really like to see snow here.
Q. What are the charges for boating on Nainital lake?
A. It differs with the kind of boat you are riding. For rowboats the charges are INR 160 for half a round of the Naini Lake. You need to pay INR 210 for a rowboat doing a full round of the lake. It is INR 210 for a paddle boat on an hourly basis. You also have the option of taking a gondola ride on the lake where you need to pay INR 210 per person. You can boat between 06:00 am and 06:00 pm any day of the week.
Q. What is Nainital’s peak boating season?
A. Boating on the tear-drop shaped Naini Lake is a favourite pastime of the tourists visiting it. It is truly a delight to drift on the emerald lake at the heart of the hill station and listen to your oarsman as he regales you with the fascinating legend surrounding it. While boating is most enjoyable in the peak summer months of March, April, May and June when a gentle breeze picks up and surrounds you as you come out in your rowboat, the chilly months of December and January hold a special charm for some when the snow is fresh on the banks and the nip rising from the waters tingles the spine.
Q. Which is the nearest airport to Nainital?
A. The closest airport to Nainital is the Pantnagar Airport in Pantnagar about 69 kilometres away. You can take a taxi from the airport which will bring you around to Nainital’s Mall Road in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. There are regular scheduled flights between the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and Pantnagar. There are flights by Alliance Air, Air Heritage (for Pithoragarh) and Deccan Charters.
Q. What are the places to visit around Nainital?
A. On a holiday in the British-founded Nainital, you can round up Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Mukteshwar, Pithoragarh, Ramgarh, Ranikhet, Kausani, Almora, Khurpatal, and Jim Corbett National Park to name a few. From Nainital you can plan a few days stay in Ranikhet, Kausani and Almora.
Q. Where is the Nainital Zoo and how can I visit it?
A. The G B Pant High Altitude Zoo or the Nainital Zoo is about a kilometre from the Tallital bus station and is among the three high altitude zoos in the country - the others being in Darjeeling and Sikkim. To get here you are better off hiring a shared jeep from the Nainital Mall Road that will bring you to the zoo at INR 30 per person, or you are free to take a private taxi. The zoo also offers a shuttle service starting from the Tallital Boat Stand and Mallital State Bank of India. The zoo is open everyday except Mondays between 10:00 am and 04:30 pm charging an entry fee of INR 50 for adults and INR 20 for children. Camera fee is additional.
Q. What are my eating-out options on the Nainital Mall Road?
A. From open-air cafes with lakeside views, chic pizzerias in an open courtyard, colourful bakeries, tiny but ambient shake joints, snug restaurants serving speciality Indian fare, to an array of fast food chains and pubs, the Nainital Mall Road is buzzing with dining options. You have Cafe Lakeside, Viceroy - The Bar, Panorama, Tadka restaurant and Sakley’s Restaurant & Pastry Shop aside from more pocket-friendly options like Zooby’s Kitchen, Cafe Chica, Giannis pure veg restaurant, Machan restaurant, Baker’s Hut, Pots & Stones Cafe and a whole bunch of junk food chains.
A. You are planning to book one of the Nainital packages, but unsure how to complete the rest of the journey after de-boarding at Kathgodam? Nainital’s main Mall Road is about 35 kilometre from the Kathgodam railway station, and that journey can be covered by a hired taxi in approximately two hours via the NH109. There are buses by Uttarakhand State Road Transport Corporation on this route, and it is quite an economical way of arriving at the hill station. You can also find shared and private taxis from the railway station.
Q. Are there enough ATMs in Nainital?
A. You may be one step away from zeroing on one of the Nainital tour packages thinking how much cash to carry on your holiday and whether there would be sufficient ATMs around. There are multiple ATMs on the Mall Road of Nainital. You will find ones by ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Nainital Bank, State Bank of India, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank among others.
Q. Can I visit Sattal and Naukuchiatal on the same day from Nainital?
A. Sattal is about 22 kilometre from Nainital and Naukuchiatal about 27 kilometre from Nainital. It is very much possible to club both of Nainital’s iconic lakes on the same day because they are about 17.5 kilometre apart. Begin early, hire a shared taxi from the Nainital Mall Road and explore the two lakes before returning by early evening. Else you can ask your hotel to help you with a private taxi to take you to both Sattal and Naukuchiatal on the same day. Usually, the two lakes are part of most Nainital travel packages.
Q. When can one expect snowfall in Nainital?
A. Winter sets in Nainital from the last part to October and lasts till February. Within that December and January gets exceptionally cold recording sub-zero temperatures. Though not always but December and early part of January sees some snowfall in Nainital. The night temperature at this time of the year can slip to -10 degree Celsius. Visit around Christmas and New Years if you’d really like to see snow here.
Q. What are the charges for boating on Nainital lake?
A. It differs with the kind of boat you are riding. For rowboats the charges are INR 160 for half a round of the Naini Lake. You need to pay INR 210 for a rowboat doing a full round of the lake. It is INR 210 for a paddle boat on an hourly basis. You also have the option of taking a gondola ride on the lake where you need to pay INR 210 per person. You can boat between 06:00 am and 06:00 pm any day of the week.
Q. What is Nainital’s peak boating season?
A. Boating on the tear-drop shaped Naini Lake is a favourite pastime of the tourists visiting it. It is truly a delight to drift on the emerald lake at the heart of the hill station and listen to your oarsman as he regales you with the fascinating legend surrounding it. While boating is most enjoyable in the peak summer months of March, April, May and June when a gentle breeze picks up and surrounds you as you come out in your rowboat, the chilly months of December and January hold a special charm for some when the snow is fresh on the banks and the nip rising from the waters tingles the spine.
Q. Which is the nearest airport to Nainital?
A. The closest airport to Nainital is the Pantnagar Airport in Pantnagar about 69 kilometres away. You can take a taxi from the airport which will bring you around to Nainital’s Mall Road in about 2 hours and 15 minutes. There are regular scheduled flights between the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and Pantnagar. There are flights by Alliance Air, Air Heritage (for Pithoragarh) and Deccan Charters.
Q. What are the places to visit around Nainital?
A. On a holiday in the British-founded Nainital, you can round up Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Mukteshwar, Pithoragarh, Ramgarh, Ranikhet, Kausani, Almora, Khurpatal, and Jim Corbett National Park to name a few. From Nainital you can plan a few days stay in Ranikhet, Kausani and Almora.
Q. Where is the Nainital Zoo and how can I visit it?
A. The G B Pant High Altitude Zoo or the Nainital Zoo is about a kilometre from the Tallital bus station and is among the three high altitude zoos in the country - the others being in Darjeeling and Sikkim. To get here you are better off hiring a shared jeep from the Nainital Mall Road that will bring you to the zoo at INR 30 per person, or you are free to take a private taxi. The zoo also offers a shuttle service starting from the Tallital Boat Stand and Mallital State Bank of India. The zoo is open everyday except Mondays between 10:00 am and 04:30 pm charging an entry fee of INR 50 for adults and INR 20 for children. Camera fee is additional.
Q. What are my eating-out options on the Nainital Mall Road?
A. From open-air cafes with lakeside views, chic pizzerias in an open courtyard, colourful bakeries, tiny but ambient shake joints, snug restaurants serving speciality Indian fare, to an array of fast food chains and pubs, the Nainital Mall Road is buzzing with dining options. You have Cafe Lakeside, Viceroy - The Bar, Panorama, Tadka restaurant and Sakley’s Restaurant & Pastry Shop aside from more pocket-friendly options like Zooby’s Kitchen, Cafe Chica, Giannis pure veg restaurant, Machan restaurant, Baker’s Hut, Pots & Stones Cafe and a whole bunch of junk food chains.