About Nainital
A popular summer retreat of India, Nainital attracts innumerable tourists during the summer heat. The hill resort is indeed a pleasure. The gorgeous greens and the majestic mountains add to the beauty of the hill resort.
The small town of Nainital in Uttaranchal is dotted with cottages, villas and bungalows. Situated at an altitude of 1,938 meters the hill resort of Nainital offers several places of interest to the tourists. The hill resort is believed to have derived its name from the goddess Naina.
There is a temple dedicated to the goddess Naina too in Nainital. Other legend claims that the Naini Lake in Nainital lends its name to the hill resort. The natural beauty and the charm of the scenic spots besides the cool weather make Nainital the place to be in during the summers.
The Nainital Lake finds mention in the Manas Khand (chapter) of the Skanda Purana (scriptures) as the Tririshi Sarovar, i.e., the lake of the three sages-Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha. Legend has it that in the course of their pilgrimage the three sages arrived here, only to find the place without water. Meditating on the sacred and bountiful Mansarovar Lake, they dug a hole here.
So great was the power of their tapas (meditation) that the hole soon filled with water. The name Nainital is derived from an old temple of Goddess Naina Devi on the shore of the lake. The origin of the temple is shrouded in mystery.
It is believed that Lord Shiva, gone berserk after the death of his consort Sati, strode the earth like a colossus, with Sati’s half-charred body over one shoulder. As he passed over the lake, Sati’s left eye dropped there. The place was sanctified as the home of the Goddess Naina Devi (from naina, meaning eye).
Location:
Nainital is one of the favorite hill stations of India. It is a small town situated in Uttarakhand on the foothills of Kumaon range of the Himalayas. Located on a height of 1938 meters or 6350 feet from the mean sea level, this place is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of this place are 29° 24′ N and 79° 28′ E. Total land area of this place is 11.73 square kilometers.
Best season to visit:
March to June and Mid-September to the end of October. Clothing: Summer – Light Woollen/Cottons, Winter: Heavy woollen. Language Spoken: Hindi, English and Kumaoni.
History of Nainital:
The Kumaon Hills came under British rule after the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-16), but the hill station town of Naini Tal was founded only in 1841, with the construction of the first European house (Pilgrim Lodge) by P. Barron, a sugar trader from Shahjahanpur. In his memoir, he wrote: “It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometres) trek in the Himalayas.”
In 1846, when a Captain Madden of the Bengal Artillery visited Naini Tal, he recorded that “houses were rapidly springing up in most parts of the settlement: some towards the crest of the limitary ranges were nearly 7,500 ft (2,286 m) above sea level: the rugged and woody Ayarpatta was being gradually planted and that the favourite sites were on the undulating tract of forest land which stretched back from the head of the lake to the base of China and Deopatta (Camel’s Hump). The Church, St. John in the Wilderness, had been built, …”
Soon, the town became a health resort favoured both by British soldiers and by colonial officials and their families trying to escape the heat of the plains. Later, the town also became the summer residence of the Governor of the United Provinces.
In September 1880 a landslide (the Landslip of 1880) occurred at the north end of the town, burying 151 people. The first known landslide had occurred in 1866, and in 1879 there was a larger one at the same spot, Alma Hill, but “the great slip occurred in the following year, on Saturday 18 September 1880.”
“Two days preceding the slip there was heavy rain, … 20 inches (508 millimetres) to 35 in (889 mm) fell during the 40 hours ending on Saturday morning, and the downpour still lasted and continued for hours after the slip. This heavy fall naturally brought down streams of water from the hill side, some endangering the Victoria Hotel, … (which) was not the only building threatened … Bell’s shop, the Volunteer Orderly Room and the Hindu (Naina Devi) temple were scenes of labour with a view to diverting streams. At a quarter to two the landslip occurred burying those in and around the buildings mentioned above.”
The total number of dead and missing were 108 Indian and 43 British nationals. (See poem by Hannah Battersby on the page Literary references to Nainital.) The Assembly Rooms and the Naina Devi Temple were both destroyed in the disaster. A recreation area known as ‘The Flats’ was later built on the site and a new temple was also erected. To prevent further disasters, storm water drains were constructed and building bylaws were made stricter.
In the latter half of the 19th century a number of “European” schools for boys and girls were founded in Nainital. During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, students in these schools consisted largely of children of British colonial officials or soldiers. In 1906, for example, there were over half a dozen such schools, including the Diocesan Boys’ School (later renamed Sherwood College) under the guidance of the Church of England; Philander Smith’s College, maintained by an American; St. Joseph’s College a Roman Catholic institution, Wellesley School an American institution; St. Mary’s Convent High School, a Roman Catholic institution; All Saints Diocesan High School for Girls, under the Church of England, and Petersfield College for Girls.
In the 1920s and 30s, the schools began to admit more Indian students. This trend continued until independence, by which time the student bodies had become predominantly Indian, albeit in many cases greatly reduced in size.
By the 1880s, a mere 40 years after its founding, Nainital had become something of an exclusive English preserve, with the Indian presence in the town confined largely to a behind-the-scenes labour and service industry, or to the occasional prince. This state of affairs lasted for much of the Victorian era. The first signs of change came early in the 20th century, when Indian bureaucrats and professionals began arriving in town as part of the annual migration of the state government of the United Provinces to Nainital every summer, by 1901 its population had risen to 7609.
The next big change came in 1925, when British civil servants began to receive subsidies for taking their annual vacations in England, and, consequently, many stopped going to the hill stations in the summers. From then on until 1947 (excepting the war years), the British presence in Nainital (measured, for example, by home ownership) continued to decline and was gradually replaced by a burgeoning Indian presence.
In and around Nainital:
The Naina Devi Temple was destroyed by the landslip of 1880 and later rebuilt. It is located on the northern shore of Naini Lake. The presiding deity of the temple is Maa Naina Devi represented by two Netras or eyes. Flanking Naina Devi are the deities of Mata Kali and Lord Ganesha.
The Nainital Ropeway, installed by Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam is the most sophisticated ropeway at Nainital and the first of its kind in India. The ropeway covers a distance of 705 metres with an altitude gain of 300 metres. Carrying a maximum load of 825 kgs or 12 persons in each of its two cars, the ropeway travels at a maximum speed of 6 mts/ sec. It also has the unique adaptability to travel at a speed as low as 0.5 mts/sec. The ropeway can be operated both electronically and mechanically and in case of emergency by the cabin attendant too.
The church of St. John in the Wilderness was established in 1844 and is located on the north end of town (Mallital), about half a mile north-west of the Naina Devi temple. The church was so named by Daniel Wilson, the Bishop of Calcutta, who, after falling ill during a visit to Nainital in 1844 to lay the foundation of the church, was obliged to sleep in an unfinished house on the edge of the forest. A brass plaque on the altar is inscribed with names of the victims of the Landslip of 1880.
The State Observatory is devoted to astronomical studies and optical tracking of artificial and earth satellites.
Governor’s House also known Raj Bhavan and formerly, Government House was built in 1899 and designed in the Victorian Gothic domestic style (also called “domestic Gothic”) by the architect F.W. Stevens. Originally built as the summer residence of the governor of the North West Province, it later became the summer residence for the Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces. Currently, Raj Bhavan is the official guest house for the governor of Uttarakhand and for visiting state guests. The complex consists of a two-storied mansion with 113 rooms, a large garden, a swimming pool, and golf links. Obtaining prior permission is must for visiting.
Land’s End is where one can have magnificent view of Khurpatal and the terraced fields on the hill side.
Snow View is situated at an altitude of 2,270 m (7,448 ft) and located atop the Sher-ka-danda Ridge (north by north-east of the town centre), is easily reachable by cable car. On a clear day, it offers spectacular views of the snowbound high Himalaya, including Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Nanda Kot. The best time of the year for viewing the mountains is late October and November.
Lariakanta is the second highest peak of Nainital and commands a glorious view of the lake region. It is situated at a height of 2,481 metres.
Naina Peak also known as China or Cheena Peak. Naina peak is the highest peak in the town, with an altitude of 2,615 m (8,579 ft). and at a walking distance of 6 km (4 mi) from the north end of the town (Mallital). From atop the peak, one can not only see a broad swath of the snow clad high Himalaya, but also obtain a panoramic view of Nainital town itself. The summit is an invigorating hike from Nainital town; in addition, for the less energetic visitors, ponies can be hired in Mallital or on Snow View.
Kilbury, situated at a height of 2,194 m is a wooded spot, ideal for a quiet and peaceful holidays, which is connected by road.
Tiffin Top also known as Dorothy’s Seat. This terraced hill top (2,292 m (7,520 ft)) on Ayarpatta hill is a 4 km hike from the town centre and commands a nice view of the neighbouring country side. Dorothy’s Seat is a stonework picnic perch on Tiffin Top built as a memorial to an English artist, Dorothy Kellet, by her husband and admirers after her death in a plane crash.
Khurpatal situated at a height of about 1,635 m is an angler’s paradise on Nainital-Kaladhungi-Ramnagar Road. It is here that the conifers belt merges and gives way to the Sal trees. Fishing permits are available from Deputy Commissioner, Nainital.
Gurney House is the former residence, of Jim Corbett, is located on Ayarpatta Hill. The house is now a museum of Corbett memorabilia. The surrounding hillside is rich with deodar, oak, pine and rhododendron.
Hanumangarhi is a popular place for worship in the temple of lord Hanuman and its Sun-set view.
How to reach:
Air: Nearest airport is at Pantnagar (71 kms), connected by air service with New Delhi.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam (35 kms). Kathgodam is connected directly by rail with Agra, Bareilly and Lucknow.
Road: Nainital is well connected with all major cities in northern India. Some of the road connections are Delhi via Hapur (316 kms), Delhi via Meerut (336 kms), Bombay (1729 kms), Calcutta (1465 kms), Madras (2690 kms), Almora (66 kms), Kausani (120 kms), Kausani via Ranikhet (138 kms), Ranikhet (59 kms). Corbett Park (128 kms), Badrinath via Almora (346 kms), Badrinath via Bhowali-Ranikhet (340 kms). Bareilly (140 kms), Haridwar (310 kms) and Dehradun (387 kms).
Taxies: Available at Kathgodam and Nainital.
Local Transport: Rickshaws, Dandies and Cycle Rickshaws are available at Nainital. Poneis are also available for joy rides and rates are negotiable.
