Major city · India
Nainitalनैनीताल
Give Nainital 2 nights: one for the lake and Mall Road, one for Snow View or a Pangot birding morning. Skip it in the July–August monsoon.
Nainital is a Kumaon hill town built around a single lake, split into Tallital at the south end and Mallital at the north. The Mall runs along the water and is the whole town for most visitors: boats, food, shops and the temple. Two nights covers the lake, the ridge viewpoints and one side trip; three if you want Pangot or Kainchi Dham without rushing. It is a summer and autumn town — monsoon brings landslides, and winter is cold with occasional snow.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon landslides), late Dec–Jan (ice and snow on the Mall)
- Airports
- PGH · DEL
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Nainital112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Nainital, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyNainital is a safe, walkable hill town; the real risks are monsoon landslides and road washouts on the approach, steep steps with luggage…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) · 1363 Tourist helpline (Uttarakhand) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckPGH Pantnagar (About 70 km (43 mi) and roughly 2 h by road; few scheduled flights — check before you book.).PGH Pantnagar (About 43 mi (70 km) and roughly 2 h by road; few scheduled flights — check before you book.).
- Getting aroundOn foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Museum or sight ticketNainital Zoo entryClosed Mondays.₹30 (≈ under US$1) adult, ₹10 (≈ under US$1) child, ₹25 (≈ under US$1) camera
- Budget bedBudget guesthouse double, a night, per room₹900 (≈ US$11)
- Mid-range bedBudget guesthouse double, a night, per room₹1,500 (≈ US$18)
- High-end bedBudget guesthouse double, a night, per room₹2,500 (≈ US$30)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,800 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₹4,000 (≈ US$50) · High ₹9,000 (≈ US$110)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PGH Pantnagar (About 70 km (43 mi) and roughly 2 h by road; few scheduled flights — check before you book.) · DEL Delhi Indira Gandhi International (About 280 km (174 mi); the usual arrival point, then train or road.)PGH Pantnagar (About 43 mi (70 km) and roughly 2 h by road; few scheduled flights — check before you book.) · DEL Delhi Indira Gandhi International (About 174 mi (280 km); the usual arrival point, then train or road.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Feb
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Mar
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Apr
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
May
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Avoid
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Aug
Avoid
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Sep
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Oct
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Nov
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Dec
Avoid*
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Best: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest May (27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C) low), wettest Jul (20 rain days), driest Nov (2). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Nainital: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
3 rd
Feb
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
4 rd
Mar
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
4 rd
Apr
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
4 rd
May
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
12 rd
Jul
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
20 rd
Aug
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
20 rd
Sep
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
12 rd
Oct
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4 rd
Nov
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
2 rd
Dec
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot. The Mall is paved and flat between Tallital and Mallital, and in peak summer the road closes to vehicles for a few evening hours. Cycle rickshaws run between the two Mall ticket booths at a fixed rate. Taxis and shared jeeps cover Pangot, Sattal and Kainchi Dham; there is no local bus worth using inside town.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Kainchi Dham (Neem Karoli Baba ashram)
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Taxi or shared jeep on the Almora road, about 18 km (11 mi)Taxi or shared jeep on the Almora road, about 11 mi (18 km)
Busy on weekends and festival days; go early and dress modestly.
Sattal
goDoor to door: About 1 h each way
Taxi via Bhowali, about 22 km (14 mi)Taxi via Bhowali, about 14 mi (22 km)
Seven linked lakes and forest walks; pair with Bhimtal on the same run.
Almora
overnightDoor to door: 2–2.5 h each way
Taxi or bus via Bhowali and Kainchi, about 65 km (40 mi)Taxi or bus via Bhowali and Kainchi, about 40 mi (65 km)
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep one night.
Ranikhet
cautionDoor to door: 2–2.5 h each way
Taxi or bus via Bhowali, about 60 km (37 mi)Taxi or bus via Bhowali, about 37 mi (60 km)
Doable as a long day; better as an overnight on the way to Almora.
Kausani
overnightDoor to door: 4–5 h each way
Taxi or bus via Bhowali and Almora, about 115 km (71 mi)Taxi or bus via Bhowali and Almora, about 71 mi (115 km)
A full day of driving each way; stay the night for the Himalayan panorama.
Pithoragarh
skipDoor to door: 7–8 h each way
Taxi or bus via Almora, about 190 km (118 mi)Taxi or bus via Almora, about 118 mi (190 km)
Not a day trip from Nainital; treat it as its own destination.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Mallital (north end)
Upper Mall, the ropeway base and most mid-range hotels; walk to the boats in 5–10 min.
Tallital (south end)
Bus stand and taxi rank, cheaper guesthouses; the flat Mall walk starts here.
Ayarpatta and Sherwood
Hillside above the lake, quieter, 15–25 min uphill walk to the Mall.
Pangot (14 km)
Forest village for birding and camp stays; own transport or a booked taxi needed.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,500–3,000 (≈ US$18–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹3,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
- High
- ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double, lake view1 × 2 nights × ₹4,500 | ₹9,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₹4,000 | ₹16,000 |
| Kathgodam → Nainital shared taxi, one way2 × ₹200 | ₹400 |
| Kathgodam → Nainital private taxi, one way1 × ₹900 | ₹900 |
| Snow View ropeway, round trip2 × ₹300 | ₹600 |
| Row boat, full round of the lake2 × ₹210 | ₹420 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹3,130 |
| Trip total≈ ₹8,610 per person per day, bed included | ₹34,450≈ US$400 |
2026 estimate in rupees; travel to Nainital excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Cup of chai on the Mall | ₹15–40 (≈ under US$1) |
| Thali or Punjabi main, mid-range restaurant | ₹250–500 (≈ US$3–6) |
| Cycle rickshaw, one end of the Mall to the otherFixed rate between the two ticket booths. | ₹20 (≈ under US$1) |
| Nainital Zoo entryClosed Mondays. | ₹30 (≈ under US$1) adult, ₹10 (≈ under US$1) child, ₹25 (≈ under US$1) camera |
| Horse ride to Tiffin TopAgree the fare and return before you start. | ₹300–1,000 (≈ US$4–12) |
| Taxi Nainital → Pangot, one way | ₹700–1,000 (≈ US$8–12) |
| Kumaoni woollen shawl or cardigan | ₹500–2,500 (≈ US$6–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Monsoon (Jul–Aug) brings landslides and road closures on the Kathgodam and Delhi approach — check conditions before travelling.
- The Mall is closed to vehicles for a few evening hours in peak summer; plan bags and arrivals around it.
- Hillside guesthouses mean steep steps with luggage: confirm access before booking.
- Horse rides and pony men at Tiffin Top quote loosely — agree the fare and the return before you mount.
- Altitude is only about 2,000 m, but the sun is strong and the air dry: water and a hat matter.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Tourist helpline (Uttarakhand)
- 1363
Pocket card
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Nainitalनैनीताल
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
इस पते पर ले चलिएTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
- Tourist helpline (Uttarakhand)1363
Embassy
No embassies in Nainital; the US, UK and most others are in New Delhi. Consulates for some countries are in Kolkata and Mumbai.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Kathgodam → Nainital, shared taxi: about ₹150–200 (≈ US$2–3) per person, 1–1.5 h
- Kathgodam → Nainital, private taxi: ₹750–1,000 (≈ US$9–12) per car
- Kathgodam → Nainital, bus: about ₹60 (≈ under US$1) per person from the stand 100 m from the station
- Delhi → Nainital, taxi: ₹1,500–2,200 (≈ US$18–25) per car, 7–8 h
Say or show
- कितना है? — How much is it? (kitna hai)
- धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
- यहाँ रोकिए — Please stop here (yahaan rokiye)
- शौचालय कहाँ है? — Where is the toilet? (shauchalay kahaan hai)
- मुझे नहीं चाहिए — I don't want it (mujhe nahin chaahiye)
- यह शाकाहारी है? — Is it vegetarian? (yah shaakaahaari hai)
Carry small rupee notes: hill taxis, pony men and dhabas rarely have change for ₹500.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Nainital. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (monsoon landslides), late Dec–Jan (ice and snow on the Mall) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for PGH and the Kathgodam railhead: last taxi and shared-jeep departures field-checked, hotel pickup fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Tallital bus stand, the Mall between the two ticket booths, Mallital and the ropeway base, Ayarpatta ridge.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Naina Devi Temple, Snow View ropeway, Nainital Zoo, Gurney House) and eat pages with last orders on the Mall.
- Monsoon and winter fixtures so gates A–D can go green: landslide closures, Mall vehicle hours, snow days.
Sources
- officialNainital district official website
- officialUttarakhand Tourism
- officialIndian Railways (IRCTC)
- secondaryWikivoyage: Nainital, revision 5334386 (CC BY-SA 4.0)