Nainital is a must visit destination for any nature lover who wants to move out of the chaotic city-life and be in the lap of nature. Proximity to delhi and other major towns in Northern India only enhances the appeal of the destination.
I visited Nainital about a month back with family members and it was as enjoyable a vacation as one I have ever had.
Bad part first - the road to Nainital is a’bumpy’ one to put it mildly. There are few stretches where you can make your vehicle move fast however otherwise the road is not that good. For comparison - You can hit Shimla which is about 350 KM from delhi in a little over 7 hours while Nainital which is about 300 KM - it takes about close to 9 hours to reach.
Thereby advice that take the train which goes from Delhi at night so that one can reach Kathgodam by early morning and from there on one can hire a cab if need be.
Good Hotels - On the Mall Road - Hotel Alka, Hotel Krishna, Hotel Elphinstone
Must Dos in Nainital -
Go boating - paddle boating have their own charm.
Do go boating all over again.
Take a stroll on Mall Road at night - the serene atmosphere infuses energy into the system.
Do visit Naina Devi temple.
Early morning - you can take a stroll on Thandi Sadak - on the other side of Mall Road across the lake. No traffic is allowed over here thereby zilch pollution.
Shopping - Tibetan market @ Flats. For candles - suggest dont shop from the Mall Road rather go on the upper Mall - The older market there are couple of wholesalers who also have retail outlets.
Bal Mithai - If you want to buy Bal Mithai - Buy it from "Mamu sweet shop".
Good eating joints: Shiva on upper mall road, Nanak’s, Machan, Embassy Rest on Mall road.