Nainital Lake, famously known as Naini Lake is the major attraction of Naintal town as well of Uttarakhand. Surrounded by panoramic seven hills, Nainital lake is a favourite spot among romantic travellers around the world. It is one of the most visited lakes in India.
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Send Enquiry for Tour PackagesThis natural freshwater lake beauty is charming and many world's prominent writers explained its beauty in words of their poems. Inspiring Naini Lake has also attracted many writers and creative personalities towards it.
Nainital is also named after Naini Lake which covers a perimeter of 2 miles with a depth from 28 metres to 6 metres. Still water of Naini Lake makes visitors to fall in love with its alluring beauty. This lake was found long back in 1839 by P.Baron a British businessman who came across this lake on a hunting expedition.
Naini Lake is surrounded by Seven hills which are known as Ayarpata (2235 mts), Deopata (2273 mts), Handi Bandi (2139 mts), Cheena Peak (2611 mts), Alma (2270 mts), Laria Kanta (2481 mts) and Sher-ka-Danda (2217 mts).
Naini Lake topology has two parts namely Mallital and Tallital. Northern part is called as Mallital while Southern part known as Tallital. Nainital visit can't be complete without a boat ride in the lake. Visitors love to explore scintillating lake on boat provided by Nainital boat club. Tourist finds ample opportunity for shopping near Nainital Lake on famous Mall Road.
Nainital name is derived from two words Naina which mean ‘eye’ and tal means ‘lake’. According to Hindu mythology, Sati the daughter of king Daksha married Shiva against the consent of his father, who in spite of Shiva’s god-like stance did not favour the match. King Daksha held a “yajna” in order to insult his son in law. Everybody was invited except the couple itself. Sati in a rage stormed at the Yajna and before the eyes of her arrogant father, she leapt into the raging flames of the fire.
Upon hearing the grievous news, Lord Shiva came down to earth to retrieve the half charred body. He tenderly took it in his arms and made his way to Kailash Parvat “The abode of Shiva”. On his way back to Kailash Parvat, the eyes of Sati drop into the lake, giving an emerald and turquoise colour to the water. Later, Naina Devi temple was built which was dedicated to Sati. This temple has firmly stood on the grounds of the lake from centuries in spite of being hit by the landslide of 1880, the temple was rebuilt the next year as it is considered to be a sacred place.
The Nainital Lake was founded in 1839 by Mr. P. Barron, an English businessman involved in the sugar trade. He was the first one to visit Nainital from Rosa. Barron who was at a hunting expedition accidently came across the emerald lake. He was bewitched by its ravishing beauty and decided to build a European Colony on the shore of the lake. Barron quoted “It is by far the best site I have witnessed in the course of a 1500 mile trek in the Himalayas”.
Naini Lake is located in Heart of Nainital.
Naini Lake is located at the heart of Nainital city and can be reach easily from Kathgodam (35 kms) by taxi or bus. Nearest railway station is at Kathgodam railway station and airport at Pantnagar airport (55 kms) or Delhi IGI airport.
