Delhi to Nainital Trip: Cave Crawl, Trekking, Boating & The Snow View

Travel Experience from Delhi to Nainital,
Hey, Hope you guys are doing well. If you are Wondering! How can I go to Nainital from Delhi? Don’t Worry! In this article, I will be sharing my experience and would likely to guide on a tour from Delhi to Nainital. Well, first of all, a very Happy Valentine’s Day to you. As the article going to be published on14th February. May you live peacefully and lovingly with your loved ones. Love them all be it be your friends, family, parents, relatives, neighbors, and most importantly our country’s soldiers.

The article is going to be the 50th article of ClubInWeb. Hope you guys enjoy reading the article and get the best possible information to plan a hassle-free journey from Delhi to Nainital.

Delhi to Nainital Trip

Traveling is an escape from the daily busy, hectic, and stressed life. Traveling is a medium to learn new things, experience something extra-ordinary which are though ordinary in nature but we often forget to notice their beauty. It is to have a look into yourself, your mind, your soul. It is to heal, to cure, to move on from the bitterness of life. It is to re-energize ourselves. So, let’s begin with us a detailed guide and experience of our journey.

WHY NAINITAAL IS A MUST VISIT PLACE?

Nainital, is also known as the city of Lakes (as you must have already come to know about it). It is a Himalayan Resort town in Kumaon region. Panoramic natural beauty abounds in the State of Uttranchal’s Lake district. One of the most viewed and visited tourist attraction of Nainitaal is, of course, it’s Naini Lake.

Nainital Trip

There is a legend that mythologically asserts that it is one of the emerald eyes of Shiva’s wife. If you are wondering already about the beauty plan a trip to Nainital. It has the advantage of being located in the vicinity of several other lesser-known hill stations connected via motorable roads. Vantage points around the place offer awesome majestic views of the Himalayan peaks on one side and the plains stretching out endlessly on the other. So, what are you guys waiting for? Let me help you plan a trip to Nainital.

HOW TO REACH NAINITAAL FROM DELHI?

As you know, there are three main ways of transportation and these are by train, by road, and by air.

Delhi to Nainital by flight

Nainital is a hill station, being that there is no direct air connectivity to this region. The nearest airport is in Pantnagar, located at a distance of 65 km from Nainital. As per my knowledge, most of the air traffic to Pantnagar airport includes private charters. There are no or minimal commercial flights operating to and from here (as in Nainital).

Delhi to Nainital by Bus

Usually, all the hill stations are well connected via roads so is this one. It enjoys excellent bus connectivity. Several travel companies offer daily bus service from New Delhi to Nainital including the options like AC, non-AC, sleeper, and the best in the world of bus routes THE VOLVO buses. Although I have no say in your choice still, I would like to recommend you boarding an overnight bus as it would be the most convenient way to head to your destination.

NOW comes my favorite,

Delhi to Nainital by Train

I love the journeys via train as it is the most adventurous of all. You get to know the people of different cultures, languages, even foreigners too. The calls from CHAI WAALA (the tea vendors) in the early morning are just a perfect beginning to the day not because of the call particularly but because of the tea itself if you like to start your day with it. Let’s save my personal experience for later discussions. First, let me brief you with the trains and their timing and other important details.

Well, the nearest railway station is located at a distance of 34 km at Kathgodham at the foothills of the Kumaon region of hills you may say. The railway station here enjoys really good connectivity from New Delhi and major cities of the northern region with daily trains to New Delhi. Some of these are Ranikhet Express, Uttar Sampark, Kranti Express, Bagh Express, Dehradun Kahtgodham Express, and Anvt Kgm Shatabdi Express.

Well, as I have told you there is no direct train to Nainital so from here you would need to take a shared cab or board a private taxi which will take you to your destination.
The following are three main trains connecting Delhi and Kathgodham by which you can reach this gorgeous city from Delhi within few hours. Let me brief you with some details of them.

Aso, If you love to have a ride on Toy Train do checkout Delhi to Shimla by Train.

Kathgodam Shatabdi Express Delhi  to Nainital Train
  • Train no. – 12040
  • Time Taken- 5 hours 20 minutes
  • Train Timing- 6:20 am (departs from New Delhi)
  • 11:40 am (arriving at Kathgodam)
  • Distance covered- 281 km
  • No. Of Stations Crossing- 5 (6th being the Kathgodam itself)
Uttar Sampark Express Delhi to Nainital Train
  • Train no. – 15035
  • Time Taken – 6 hours and 45 minutes
  • Train Timing – 4:00 pm (departs from Delhi)
  • 10:45 pm (arriving at Kathgodam)
  • Distance covered – 278 km
  • No. Of Stations crossing- 10
Ranikhet Express Delhi to Nainital Train
  • Train no. – 15013
  • Time Taken- 8 hours 15 minutes
  • Train Timing- 1:00 pm (departs from Jaisalmer)
  • 9:10 pm (reaches Delhi)
  • 5:05 am (arrives at Kathgodam)
  • Distance covered – 1217 km (as in from Jaisalmer to Kathgodam)
  • No. Of Stations Crossing- 41 (from Jaisalmer to Kathgodam)

People often opt for the third train despite being the fact that it is the slowest because of its cleanliness and punctuality.
Get ready to experience the rhythmic trails, soothing breeze, frizzy hair, and stunning mind-blowing beauty of nature. Especially if you love to tour via train and is in love with nature (most importantly mountains).

A lot can happen while traveling through a train! You might become friends with people you have never met before but still shares a common interest and even if not, then still you can share your area of interests and build a bond. You get to play with random kids passing by or just sitting next to you, call for a coffee or/and some other snacks, keep a count of the stations, watching other trains, passing from tunnels, passing through mountains, over the bridges, and finally wait for the destination over ta-da.

Also, check-out  Why Mussoorie’s Mall Road is so Famous?

WHICH IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT NAINITAAL?

The location maintains pleasant weather throughout the year except for winter months. The temperature is mild at most of the time but in winter it becomes really, and I mean it, really cold. The climate of this place is regulated by the lake which showers rain almost every afternoon.

Boating at Nainital

But still. We are needed to maintain our tradition to provide you with the answer to the question which is the best time to visit this particular location and the answer to this would be from April to June and then in September to October. If you are fond of snowfall and want to make your journey like once in a lifetime then it would be the month from January to March.

If you love snow do checkout Snowfall In Mussoorie Timings.

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN NAINITAL

Naini Lake Nainital

This dreamy city is full of majestic wonders and picturesque landscapes just like paintings of Claude. It secures a place in the list of top 10 hill stations in India. Quiet and little Naini Valley at an elevation of about 2084 m (as per the data available to Kumaon Vikas Mandal Nigam) with a lake located at the center. It is one of the most visited hill stations in Northern India. Not only for solo but this destination is also popular among couples and especially newlywed honeymooners. Allow me to introduce you to this marvelous place.

Naini Lake Nainital

First and foremost – Take a lake tour-OBVIOUSLY! If you are in Nainital and you do not visit this lake the journey not only remains incomplete but rather it might never have even started ever. Also, enjoy other lakes around the city as in Naukuchiyatal (lake with 9 corners), Bhimtal (with the island in the middle), and Sattal, Khurpatal (the hoof-shaped lake). The lakes are near in distance so that it might not take much time of yours to visit each one. It merely takes half of your day. This is a perfect gateway to those who are in search of peace and want to spend some time with themselves in a surreal manner amidst the calm yet wonderful nature. There are also few isolated lakes like Panna, Sita Tal, and Ram Tal. You can also pay a visit to the aquarium in Bhimtal. You can also enjoy the boat rowing, and just simply sit by the lakeside.

Naini Peak aka Cheena Peak(trekking)

The second-best place to visit in Nainital would be the Naini peak which is also known as Cheena or China peak. It is the highest point of the place. It has always been one of the major tourist attractions. It is like an extra dose of adventure in your prevalent and perpetual boring life. Don’t worry, the trek is an easy one. You will pass through thick forests of Deodar, Cypress, and Pine.

Just before reaching there at a distance of 200 meters is a stall kind of thing where you get tea or coffee and Maggie (the price is between 50 to 100 rupees including the veggies), what else a man could wish for, hot noodles at the top of the view AH just perfect. The beauty you witness is worth the time and energy spent on the trek. Getting down hardly takes 40 minutes while reaching up is about 2 hours.

Chandani Chawk of Nainital, Mall Road

Well, after the lake view and trekking you might be hungry no? So, why not eat at the CHANDANI CHAWK of Nainital? No, it is nothing like the busy bazaar in Delhi, this place is quite a fascinating retro on the Mall Road of the place. The interior and architectural style of the place has been inspired by the original Chandani Chawk of Delhi to beguile the tourists and it actually works (grinning). It mostly serves Punjabi Cuisine along with the famous DILLI KI CHAAT.

Snow View of the Himalayas

Reaching there would take a cable car or ropeway. This place is a sort of miniature fun park. If nature allows you a clear sky day you would be able to witness the beauty of the far-fetched snow-clad Himalayan mountain range.

Eco Cave Garden

Have you ever played Temple Run and got awestruck at the view of those caves which seem so unreal to exist well yeah it is something like that. It would be time for a little adventure. There are about six caves to choose from; the easiest being the Tiger Cave and the most difficult would be Bat Cave in which you would have to crawl literally.

Governor’s House

Why going to London to visit Buckingham Palace while you have your own in India? Kidding. Well, the British rulers missing their home place built it in their style and gave us this beauty. It is also a must-visit.

St. John Church

St. John Church is tucked in an isolated hill in Mallital, this Gothic-style Church stands aloof of all the noise and the hustle-bustle of the city.

Hanuman Garhi

You must have witnessed a lot of sunsets in your life but this place offers a totally different feel, here the sun does not just hide behind the mountains but spectacularly disappears in the sky magnifying all our experiences associated with nature.

IF YOU FEEL TIRED? Forget about the hi-fi spas, it is time to get a Desi Head Massage in Nainital! You have to take one of these hillbilly-style massages. It costs around 50 to 100 rupees only.

Still, Juggling between Nainital Vs Manali, Do checkout Delhi to Manali Travel Guide

Well, the list just gets bigger and bigger. There are a lot of places you can visit but, on a time-limited tour these places would do the justice. If you have got time you can visit Corbett National Park, Gurney House, attend Shardautsav (October visitors only), Kilbury, Pangot, Skating at Zoomland, Shop at Tibetan Market, Learn Rock Climbing, visit Nainital Zoo, etc.

Hope it helps. ENJOY!

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