Naukuchiatal, the name which can be broken into three parts Nau-kuchia-tal to derive its meaning is an absolute wonder in the lake district of Nainital. If you translate Naukuchiatal in English, that’s what you get - Nau (Nine) Kuchia (Corner) Tal (Lake). Naukuchiatal is indeed a lake of nine corners offering magnificent views and different shades of the lake from every corner.
Naukuchiatal is set amidst oak forests in lesser Kumaon region of Uttarakhand State in India. Part of the rural tourism initiative of Uttaranchal Tourism, this faded blue lake is surrounded by green forest mountains from all sides. A scenery which is forgotten and out of sight for all the lakes in district, Naukuchiatal along with its forests is one of the only few virgin destinations in North India. While the people of Naukuchiatal believe in the Nirvana folklore, I strongly feel that its very difficult to see all the nine corners through 1 angle. However, I have also heard a true story that our beloved Goving Ballabh Pant succeeded in attaining that.
I am one of the lucky ones who have been going to Nainital for years now. Me and my father used to go to Naukuchiatal to experience solitude when there were no pacca roads in Naukuchiatal. We used to hire a bike from Nainital town and ride the twisting hilly roads and carefully cross the kutcha road to visit this paradise. Upon reaching the place, we used to trek the jungles and then have our lunch by the lake or sometimes in a boat while rowing and touching every single corner of the lake. Those were the days…Ma friend 
Naukuchiatal is a place of character and sheer beauty. Sitting pretty at about 4000 ft above the sea level, Naukuchiatal is a place that you could visit at any time of the year. The weather is very pleasant throughout the year and one can go and visit Naukuchiatal anytime. I have been there in every season and and whenever I go, I never get tired of witnessing the ever green beauty of Naukuchiatal.
The kind of activities one can do in Naukuchiatal are far more superior to any other hill station in India and around Delhi. A comfortable drive of not more than 6 hours travelling time from Delhi, brings you to Naukuchiatal where birding, fishing, boating and paragliding are still alive. There are hundreds of exotic birds in the forests of Naukuchiatal and highly recommended to birders. Here you can do fishing in the lake and catch India’s most famous game fish, the Mahaseer. You can also climb up the hill of Pandegaon, face the lake and jump from the cliff and glide through the mountains of Naukuchiatal.
In a way I am happy that not too many people come to Naukuchiatal. We have already witnessed and seen the price Nainital has paid to become the tourist hub of Kumaon. But we also want more and more people to witness the beauty of this paradise lake. Its definitely a must do while you are in Nainital and anywhere around Nainital. The place is only 25 kms from Nainital, 04 kms from Bhimtal and 15 kms from Sattal. There are enough reasosns to visit Naukuchiatal - attaining Nirvana being the most gifted one
