Nainital

Cradled in a deep verdant valley at an altitude of 2,084 metres (6,837 feet) in the Kumaon hills, Nainital is celebrated worldwide for its eye-shaped emerald lake and its ring of seven protective mountain peaks (Sapta-Shring: Ayarpata, Deopatha, Handi-Bandi, Cheena Peak, Alma, Lariya-Kanta, and Sher-ka-Danda). "Discovered" by British sugar merchant P. Barron in 1841, Nainital quickly became the glittering summer capital of the United Provinces.

The beating soul of the resort is Naini Lake. According to the Shiva Purana, this sacred body of water was formed where the emerald-hued left eye (Naina) of Goddess Sati fell to earth during Lord Shiva's grief-stricken dance. Today, graceful wooden yachts with colorful sails and painted rowboats glide peacefully across its glistening waters, framed by willows and forested slopes.

On the northern shore stands the venerated Naina Devi Temple, one of India's 51 Shaktipeeths. Devotees gather under sacred peepal trees to offer prayers to the two divine eyes carved into the sanctum stone, while temple bells resonate across the lake water in rhythm with morning and evening aartis.

The town is packed with scenic mountain viewpoints. An aerial cable car ascends to Snow View Point (2,270m), presenting dramatic vistas of Nanda Devi, Trishul, and Nanda Kot. Active visitors can trek or ride horses to Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat) and the towering summit of Naina Peak (2,615m) for sweeping bird's-eye perspectives of the entire Kumaon lake district.

Nainital's pedestrian promenade along The Mall connects the lively bazaars of Tallital and Mallital. Travellers browse traditional Tibetan markets for warm shawls and woolen knitwear, sample handmade fruit jams, and purchase Nainital's famous carved and scented wax candles.

With prestigious colonial-era boarding schools, historic churches, the heritage Governor's Raj Bhavan modeled after Buckingham Palace, and refreshing sub-tropical mountain weather, Nainital remains the undisputed jewel of Kumaon's lake country.