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Voykit pocket guide · India
Sattal
सातताल
Go for 1–2 nights if you want birds and quiet, not sightseeing: walk the lake loop, skip it if you need cafés, bars or shops.
Sattal is seven linked freshwater lakes at about 1,370 m in the Kumaon hills, 4 km from Bhimtal and 21 km from Nainital. It is a birding and walking stop with guesthouses, forest camps and a 1930s Christian ashram, and almost nothing else: no ATMs, no bars, no rickshaws. One night covers the lakes; two nights adds a forest walk and a slow morning.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- सातताल
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heavy monsoon, leeches on trails)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–4,500 excl. bed · High ₹4,500+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All emergency services 112 · Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Tourist helpline (24 h) 1363
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Chai at a stall or dhaba | ₹10–20 |
| Kumaoni thali at a guesthouse | ₹150–350 |
| Paddle boat or kayak, one hour | ₹150–300 |
| Shared jeep Bhimtal → Sattal | ₹20–30 |
| Taxi Bhimtal → Sattal, one way | ₹300–400 |
| Butterfly Museum entry | ₹30 |
| Local birding guide, morning walk | ₹500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- DEL · Delhi Indira Gandhi International
- About 310 km (193 mi) by road via Moradabad, Rudrapur and Haldwani; 8 h+ in a car, so most people arrive by train instead.About 193 mi (310 km) by road via Moradabad, Rudrapur and Haldwani; 8 h+ in a car, so most people arrive by train instead.
- PGH · Pantnagar
- Closest airport, near Rudrapur; onward by road via Haldwani and Bhimtal. Check current flights and taxi rates.
Typical fares
- Kathgodam → Sattal, taxi
- ₹600–900, about 45 min
- Bhimtal → Sattal, shared jeep
- ₹20–30
- Nainital → Sattal, taxi
- about 45 min via Bhimtal
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
On foot. Marked paths link Purna Tal to the other lakes and the ashram, and a loop around all seven lakes runs about 5 km (3.1 mi) (2–3 h). There are no rickshaws or local buses inside Sattal; a vehicle is only needed for the 4 km (2.5 mi) from Bhimtal. Cycle hire exists at a few guesthouses, and paddle boats and kayaks are rented at the main jetty.On foot. Marked paths link Purna Tal to the other lakes and the ashram, and a loop around all seven lakes runs about 3.1 mi (5 km) (2–3 h). There are no rickshaws or local buses inside Sattal; a vehicle is only needed for the 2.5 mi (4 km) from Bhimtal. Cycle hire exists at a few guesthouses, and paddle boats and kayaks are rented at the main jetty.
See and do
Known for
- Seven interconnected lakes
- Birdwatching (Important Bird Area)
- Sattal Christian Ashram
- Quiet alternative to Nainital
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bhimtal | Shared jeep or taxi down the 4 km (2.5 mi) link roadShared jeep or taxi down the 2.5 mi (4 km) link road | About 15–20 min |
| Nainital | Taxi via Bhimtal, 21 km (13 mi)Taxi via Bhimtal, 13 mi (21 km) | About 45 min |
| Kainchi Dham | Taxi via Bhowali on the Nainital road | About 1 h |
| Almora | Taxi via Bhowali and Kwarab, about 60 km (37 mi)Taxi via Bhowali and Kwarab, about 37 mi (60 km) | 2–2.5 h |
| Kausani | Taxi via Almora, about 100 km (62 mi)Taxi via Almora, about 62 mi (100 km) | 3.5–4 h |
| Ranikhet | Taxi via Bhowali and Kwarab, about 60 km (37 mi)Taxi via Bhowali and Kwarab, about 37 mi (60 km) | 2–2.5 h |
Sleep
- Near Purna Tal (main lake)
- Guesthouses and stalls within walking distance of the jetty and the lake path; noisier at weekends.
- Approach road from Bhimtal
- Family-run guesthouses with hot water and parking; a short walk or drive to the lakes.
- Forest fringe camps
- Swiss tents and eco-huts with meals and guided walks included; basic facilities, book ahead.
- Sattal Christian Ashram
- Simple rooms inside the ashram estate; book direct, meals and morning prayers with guests.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | कितना है?kitna hai |
| Where is the lake? | झील कहाँ है?jheel kahan hai |
| Please stop here | यहाँ रोकिएyahan rokiye |
| Is there an ATM nearby? | आसपास एटीएम है?aas-paas ATM hai |
| Vegetarian food, please | शाकाहारी खाना, कृपयाshakahari khana, kripya |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavaad |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATMs in Sattal: the nearest is in Bhimtal, 4 km away. Carry cash.
- Sattal is a dry zone: no bars or wine shops, and drinking in public is discouraged.
- The Bhimtal road is narrow with sharp bends and limited parking near the main lake.
- Monsoon trails are slippery and leech-prone; avoid isolated paths in heavy rain.
- Monkeys are bold around the lakes: secure food and do not feed them.
- Leopards are occasionally seen at dusk; avoid solitary walks after dark.
Sattal is quiet and low-crime; the real risks are the narrow Bhimtal road, slippery monsoon trails, bold monkeys, occasional leopards at dusk and swimming in the lakes, which is not allowed.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sattal yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Seven interconnected lakes
- Birdwatching (Important Bird Area)
- Sattal Christian Ashram
- Quiet alternative to Nainital
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Uttarakhand Tourism: uttarakhandtourism.gov.in/
- Indian Railways — Kathgodam (KGM): www.indianrail.gov.in/enquiry/StaticPages/StaticEnquiry.jsp?StaticPage=stationCode
- Wikivoyage: Sattal, revision 5307526 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5307526
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Sattalसातताल
मुझे इस पते पर ले चलिए
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in the hills; the US, UK, Canadian, Australian and other missions are in New Delhi. Consular help for the Kumaon region comes from Delhi.
Sattal has no ATMs, no bars and weak mobile signal; carry cash and download offline maps.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/sattal). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.