Things to do in Nainital
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Nainital Mountaineering Club
The enthusiasts at Nainital Mountaineering Club offer rock-climbing courses at the rock-climbing area, a 15m-high rock outcrop to the west of the town.
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Snow View
The cable car runs up to the popular Snow View at 2270m, which on clear days has panoramic Himalayan views, including Nanda Devi. At the top you'll find the usual food, souvenir and carnival stalls, as well as Mountain Magic, an amusement park with rides that kids will love. There's also a hotel with restaurant and bar. You can hike to Cheena/Naina Peak, 4km away.
A walk up to or back from Snow View can take in the tiny Gadhan Kunkyop Ling Gompa (monastery) of the Gelukpa order (of which the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader). Take the road uphill from the Hotel City Heart and a path branches off to the gompa (the colourful prayer flags should be visible).
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Naini Lake
This pretty lake is Nainital's centrepiece and is said to be one of the emerald green eyes of Shiva's wife, Sati (naina is Sanskrit for eye). Naina Devi Temple, rebuilt after the 1880 landslide, is on the precise spot where the eye is believed to have fallen. Nearby is the Jama Masjid and a gurdwara.
For holidaying families, a boat ride around the lake is de rigeur. Boatmen will row you round the lake for Rs 120 (Rs 50 one way) in the brightly painted gondola-like boats, or the Nainital Boat Club (Mallital) will sail you round for Rs 120 between 10:00 and 16:00. Pedal and rowing boats can also be hired for Rs 50 to 80 per hour.
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Raj Bhavan
About 4km south of Tallital, Raj Bhavan is the official residence of the Governor of Uttarakhand. Styled on Buckingham Palace, it’s an impressive castlelike building set in extensive grounds. Tours of the grounds are available but the residence is only open when the governor is out. In the grounds is a lovely 18-hole golf course. Club hire and caddies are available.
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Horse Riding
Mangy horses gather west of town on the road to Ramnagar to take you on rides to beauty spots such as Dorothy Seat, Land's End and Tiffin Top. A three-hour ride costs Rs 175, or Rs 250 if you go with one of the touts down at Tallital (transport to the horses included).
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Machan Restaurant
The jungle-themed decor and bamboo facade here represent Corbett’s wildlife-spotting towers, while the menu offers some of Nainital’s best comfort food in the form of pizzas and burgers, along with Indian fare. Watch the chefs at work in the open kitchen.
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Sakley’s Restaurant
A spotless restaurant found off the Mall, serving up a range of unusual global items such as Thai curries, honey chicken, roast lamb, pepper steaks, and plenty of Chinese dishes, pizzas and sizzlers. Desserts include pastries and Black Forest cake.
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Snout Adventures
Snout Adventures is a recommended outfit offering treks in the Kumaon and Garhwal mountains (from Rs2200 per day, all inclusive), it also conducts rock-climbing courses (Rs400 per day) and organises adventure camps.
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Nainital Zoo
This high-altitude hillside zoo has some large enclosures containing Himalayan animals, Siberian tigers, leopards and lots of pheasant species. It’s a steep 20-minute walk from the Mall or a Rs50 taxi ride.
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Cyberia Restaurant & Pastry Shop
Thalis, momos and mouth-watering homemade chocolates and sweets keep this place busy, but there’s also a big range of veg and nonveg Chinese, Indian and Continental dishes. Wi-fi available. Located off the Mall.
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Embassy
With a wood-lined chalet interior and snappily dressed staff, Embassy has been serving up five pages of menu items for over 40 years. For drinks try ‘dancing coffee’ or a rosewater lassi. Good people-watching terrace.
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Cafe de Mall
This open-fronted lakeside cafe halfway along the Mall is a great place for breakfast or a cappuccino on the terrace, but the menu ranges from fish curry and kali mirch chicken to pizzas and impressive veg sizzlers.
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Mountain Rovers
Mountain Rovers offers one- or three-day rock-climbing and abseiling courses from beginner to advanced levels for Rs 750/2000. They can also organise treks in the Kumaon region and to Pindari glacier.
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Tiffin Top
A 4km walk west of the lake brings you to Tiffin Top (2292m), also called Dorothy's Seat, from where it's a lovely 30-minute walk to Land's End (2118m) through a forest of oak, deodar and pine.
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Sonam Chowmein Corner
In the covered alley part of the Tibetan Market, this authentic Tibetan dhaba whips up fabulous chow mein and momos (Tibetan dumplings) for next to nothing.
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Snow View Bar
Although there are no views from the rustic bar, it’s worth dropping in for a beer and a snack after walking around the viewpoint. It’s below the cable-car station.
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Anamika Travels
Travel agency Anamika Travels is along the Mall. It offers bus tours of the local lakes and tours to Corbett National Park.
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Sonam Chowmien Corner
In the covered alley part of the Tibetan Market, this authentic Tibetan dhaba whips up fabulous chow mein and momos for next to nothing.
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Nainital Boat Club
The Nainital Boat Club will sail you round for Rs130. Pedal and rowing boats can also be hired for Rs60 to Rs80 per hour.
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Mountain Magic
Mountain Magic is an amusement park with kids’ entertainment including bumper cars, trampolines and a flying fox.
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Darshan Travels
Darshan Travels along the mall, offers bus tours of the local lakes and tours to Corbett National Park.
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Narains
Good selection of books including plenty relating to local hero Jim Corbett, who used to patronise this bookshop.
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KMVN Parvat Tours
For information on KMVN's remote rest houses, KMVN Parvat Tours can organise treks that last six to nine days.
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Swad Restaurant & Pastry Shop
Thalis, momos and mouthwatering homemade chocolates and sweets keep this place busy.
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Tibetan Market
Here, the flats are busy with cheap clothing and crafts.
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