Nainital, where the dancing waters of the Naini Lake engulf your imagination and overwhelm you with its absolute taste of tranquility is not just a hillstation but a romance for millions of people who come to this paradise every year. Located at a height of 6350 ft above the sea level, Nainital is a heavenly abode for all those who seek refuge in the Himalayas. Nainital is all about its simplicity and the rich character, no wonder the British founded Nainital and named it the “Summer Capital of India”. Since then Nainital has definitely grown more in terms of the concrete structures and population ( now all Indians 
) but still retained its natural beauty and character.
There are different philosophies on how Nainital got its name. A very interesting tale from the Hindu Mythology suggests that Nainital is name after the eye of Parvati (Wife of Lord Shiva). It is believed that parts of the scorched body of Parvati fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The sixty four parts fell on different places and it was the eye (Nain in hindi) of Parvati that fell on Nainital and formed a lake here. Some even argue the shape of Naini Lake which appears like an eye if seen from the top…Remarkable!
The physical formation of Nainital is like a valley with a pear shaped lake in between and hills on both the sides. The famous Mall road runs on one side of the lake and ther side is occupied by Ayarpatta Slopes. China Peak is the highest hill which stands 8500 ft high and offers magnifiscent views of the Naini Lake. Some of the hills which cover Nainital are thickly forested and offer great trekking and nature walks. However, these hills are still known to have good wildlife also Infact Jim Corbett started off from these hills to hunt down the famous man eaters of Kumaon.
Nainital’s weather stays cool throughout the year and the region also receives snowfall in the months of January and February. During the summers, Nainital is full of toursists and that’s the time region’s economy touches new heights every year. From Hotel Walas to Bun Tiki Walas (Indian Burgers) to local boat vendors, every face has a smile that tells you the importance of tourists at that time of the year. The Mall Road turns into a grand carnival and people can be seen shopping, eating and enjoying the “mela”.
In recent years, concerned citizens of Nainital have alarmed the local authorities of evironmental degradation of this beautiful hillstation. New Constructions have now been stopped in Nainital to quite an extent so that Naini Lake is saved. These are some of the steps that the local bodies have agreed to but the delicate ecosystems in Nainital still have to cope up with pressures like increasing number of tourist vehicles.
Nainital has lived for years and we hope that this beautiful lakseside town can be explored by many generations to come. We would request everyone to contribute their bit in preserving our very own Naini Lake…Thanks!
Nainital Lake