City of the lake - Nainital

Months of hectic work schedules had tired us out, and the onset of summer just made the feeling worse. To take a break, we decided to visit Nainital on a weekend. A thursday evening saw us take an overnight train to Kathgodam, the last train station on the route to many famous hill-stations, including Nainital, Ranikhet and Kasauni. We reached Kathgodam early in the morning. We could see the hills, and feel the cool, fresh mountain breeze. Nainital is about 60 kms from Kathgodam, and needs a 1.5-2 hours drive.

The one claim to fame that Nainital has, is a large, natural lake - Naini Jheel. Our first view of the lake, against a backdrop of the hills, and devoid of the boats in the early hours, was enchanting. The lake is mango-shaped; along one arc of the lake is the mall road, the main market, and a number of hotels. Along the other arc, in the shadow of the hills, is a pedestrian walkway. Most of the city centre surrounds the lake.

Naini Jheel in early morning

After checking out a few hotels, we finalised one right on the mall road, offering a great view of the lake from the terrace in front of our room. We freshened up and rested for a while, and then set out to explore.

A carnation growing in a pot in the hotel

There is not much to explore though. All one can do, is walk up and down the mall road, take boat rides in the lake, go up the hill to a view point via the cable car; and this is what we did during our two day stay. On the mall road, quite a few hawkers were selling fresh strawberries and mulberries which they carried in a basket. Boat owners stood along the lake, on the mall road, and even at the hotels' entrances, coaxing tourists to take a ride in their boats. Most of the shops on the mall sold the "specialities" of the place - embroidered dress material, wooden handicrafts, and of course, candles.

Nitin contemplates a strawberry

We strolled down the mall road, towards one end of the lake. At this end, there is the boat club, the Tibetan market, and several public buildings. Further down the same road is the main city market, and the cable car terminal. We decided to ride the cable car, which goes to the top of one of the mountains. From the cable car, high in the air, we could view the entire lake, and most of the city.

View of Naini Jheel from the cable car

Near the cable car terminal, an amusement park was under construction. A little climb up the hill took us to a viewpoint from where the snow-covered himalayan peaks could be seen. The view was rather hazy though - in the hills the view is typically clear in the morning only. But the cable car ride was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

At the snow view point

Later in the afternoon, a boat-wallah persuaded us to take a ride around the lake, in his rowboat. We asked about the depth of the lake, and were told that it was more than 40 feet deep in the centre. The boat didn't look very sturdy, and we were rather scared. As the boat took us along the periphery of the lake, we took in a number of temples right on the shore, as well as a few churches and catholic schools with their distinguishing steeples, near the lake, and far in the hills.

The boat-wallah

Part of the city as seen from the lake

A temple on the shore

Nitin tries to row the boat

After the boat ride, we again strolled down the road to the Tibetan market. Here, across the city sports arena, is a large mosque, beautiful in white against the green hills.

The mosque

The next morning we made an early start.

On the terrace

We were game for a local sight-seeing tour, knowing well that the "points" the taxi-drivers promised to take us to would not amount to much. The first site that we visited was a snow-view point, a part of the road, from where we could get quite a clear view of the Himalayas, despite the clouds and mist.

Snow covered peaks of the Himalayas

The lake

After coming back, we loitered about in the Tibetan market for a while. Then, weaving through the market, we reached the entry to the walkway that lines the other side of the lake. We walked along at a leisurely pace, taking in the natural beauty - water on one side, and the mountain on the other, under the cool shade of the trees.

The municipal office near the Tibetan market

Ducks reside at the back of the public library

After taking a complete round of the lake, we still had time to take yet another boat ride. A couple of sail boats had set out in water to take the advantage of the pleasant weather and the nice breeze. With their colourful striped sails, they made a very pretty picture.

Sailing over the winds

It was later afternoon by this time, and we prepared to leave for Kathgodam, to catch the train back to Delhi. As we waited for the taxi, we clicked a picture of a small, prety church which is almost on the mall road, but almost hidden from view by a dense growth of trees.

The Church