Know the City
Referred to as the 'Tri Rishi Sarovar' (The lake of three sages) in the
'Manas Khand' of the Skanda Purana, Nainital seems to be a jewel studded in
the necklace of the Himalayas. The beautiful lakes of the district have also
earned it the appellation of the 'Lake District of India'. The beautiful
hill station in the Central Himalays is a huge draw for tourist from all
across the globe. The hill station is positioned around the Naini Lake and
is segregated into Tallital and Mallital that lie at the lower and upper
ends of the lake respectively. With numerous temples dotting its landscape
and peaks with stunning views of the rolling mountains as its backdrop,
Nainital is the perfect destination in India to spend the time of your life
amid splendours of nature. The hill town is an equal invitation to adventure
seekers too. Swimming, canoeing, kayaking and parasailing can all be enjoyed
here. Hot ballooning, mountaineering and rock climbing are the other lures
for vacationers here.
Go
There For
Nainital is replete with worth seeing sites inviting tourists in hordes.
The
Naini Lake is, however, the cynosure of all eyes
here. The amazingly beautiful sight of seven hills that remain dispersed
with cottages and villas can capture one's imagination at the first instant.
Holiday makers can indulge themselves in water sports like yachting and
boating. The
Aerial Ropeway that begins at Mallital is
one of the major attractions in the district of Nainital. It links the
Snow View Point with Nainital. The popular spot of Snow
View is perched at an elevation of 2,270 m. From here, you can feast your
eyes upon glistening snow crested peaks of the Himalayas. Traversing a
distance of 6 km gets you to the
Naina Peak or
China Peak (2,611 m), the highest in the town. The
Lands End is yet another vantage point here. The spot
lies at a height of 2,118 m and is at a distance of 4 km from
the
town. One could have gorgeous views of the neighbouring hills and valleys
from here. Close to the Lands End lies another famous spot called
Tiffin Top at an elevation of 2,292 m above sea level.
Governer's
House,
Caves Garden,
Hanumangarhi
and
Kilbury are other important attractions here.
People & Culture
The
houses here are made of either stone or bricks. Old wood built houses can
also be observed. People here follow the deep rooted beliefs and traditions
like other parts of India. The temples of the town are the centre of the
various social and cultural activities. Women, on special occasions, can be
seen wearing a huge nose ring made up of gold. Womens wear sarees but the
more traditional ghagra-pichori is also in use. Youths prefer shirts and
trousers but kurtas are also worn by local residents. People of the region
mostly like eating rice. However, wheat and madua also form a part of their
daily consumption. Meat is also taken by the people. On special occasions,
women prepare traditional dishes like kheer, singhal, poori, pua, bada,
raita, khatai etc. Tourists can also find a number of restaurants in the
town serving Chinese and South Indian delicacies.
Feasting & Celebration
The celebrations in the district are marked by rejoice, relaxation, dance
and music. Chief festivals of the region include Makar Sankranti, Basant
Panchami, Holi, Shiv Ratri, Ram Navmi, Rakshabandhan, Dussehra and
Deepawali. On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti is held the
Uttaraini Mela at Chitrashila near Ranibag. On the day of Buddha Purnima, a
lot of festivity can be noticed at Budhansthli. On the same day, the Harela
Mela is organised at Bhimtal. The Nandasthami Festival also lets you see a
lot of spirit and dedication in the people. The festivity can be witnessed
at Nainadevi Temple, Nainital and Bhowali. During the festivals, women begin
decorating the walls and floors of their houses with various floral
patterns. Partaking in the festivities is a wonderful option for tourists to
gain an insight into the lifestyle and culture and to get closer to the
people.
