Surrounding Destination MUKTESHWER

Nainital (1938 m / 6357 ft)--- 46 KMS

Nainital lies in the heart of the 'lake district of Kumaon' ('tal' means 'lake'), and is the largest hill station of the region. The town was 'discovered' in 1939 by an English businessman called Barron. It is the birthplace of Jim Corbett, and the house where he lived is now a museum. The lake itself is 3620 metres in circumference, a placid green lagoon nestling amongst the hills. The lake is surrounded by seven peaks: Cheena Peak (2610 m); Kilbury (2528 m); Laria kanta (2481 m); Deopatta and Camel's Back (both 2535 m); Dorothy's Seat, also known as Tiffin Top (2290 m) which was named after an English woman, Dorothy Kellet, who died in a plane crash; and finally Snow View (2290 m) which can be reached via the ropeway at the end of the Mall. The Mall itself runs along the length of one side of the lake, and from here one can take rowboats and peddle-boat rides.There are plenty of hotels and restaurants along the Mall, and cycle-rickshaws to take you around. The town has now become quite built up, and during the season times, especially March - early July, becomes crowded with holiday-makers.

Top ^

Bhim Tal (1371 m/ 4498 ft)--- 38 KMS. Named after a character from the Mahabharata renowned for his extraordinary strength, Bhim Tal is the largest of the lakes in this region in the centre of which is a small island-restaurant. There is a large Victorian dam at one end, terraced flower gardens on either side. Rowing and peddle boats for hire. Top ^ Naukuchia Tal (1219 m / 4000 ft)--- 43 KMS. Naukuchia Tal (literally 'nine-cornered lake') is an equally serene setting; a perfect spot for a picnic or for peddling gently across its still waters. The trees which fringe the waters' edges are mossy, and are festooned with creepers and orchids. You can even buy orchid seeds from the tea-shack by the lake. Top ^ Sat Tal (1371 m / 4498 ft)--- 45 KMS. Sat Tal literally means 'seven lakes' and is a series of seven interconnected tarns. The three main lakes are named Ram, Sita and Lakshman after the main characters in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. It is a peaceful and sleepy place, teeming with bird life, and lies 21 kilometers from Nainital. Peddle-and rowing-boats are available for hire. Top ^ Almora (1650 m / 5413 ft)--- 45 KMS. Almora's renowned cultural and education centre has produced such luminaries as Pandit Ravi Shankar, and the dancer, Uday Shankar. From here one can see four ranges of hills - Banari Devi, Kasan Devi, Shyahi Devi and Katarmal - and beyond them to the greater Himalayas and the peaks of Trishul and Nanda Devi. According to legend, the Hindu god Vishnu dwelt here, and in much more recent times it has been visited by lesser mortals like D.H. Lawrence, Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens.The town itself has a long and rich history; founded by Raja Balo Kalyan Chand, one of the great rulers of the Chand dynasty in 1563, it was once the capital of Kumaon. It was ruled by the Gorkhas from 1790 until the deposed Chand rulers joined forces with the British to oust them in 1816.