Nainital — Uttarakhand- India
Overview
Dehradun is the state capital & Nainital is the judicial capital of Uttarakhand. The Governor & the High court of the state, both are stationed at Nainital. Uttarakhand is historically been divided into two zones on the grounds of customs, language, culture and native living styles, namely Garhwal & Kumaon. Famous tourist spots like Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, etc are classified among the Garhwal region. Nainital is the headquarter of Kumaon part of Uttarakhand.
Nainital Altitude —
2084 Meters
District —
Nainital
State —
Uttarakhand
Spoken Languages —
Hindi || English: Majorly & Common
Kumauni: Regional & Common
Tibetan: Minorly & Uncommon
Most people involved in tourism industry here are fluent in english & hindi
Best Time To Visit Nainital —
● March to November — Mostly Pleasant & Warm Up To 30 °C
● December To February — Snowfall || Cold Up To -4 °C
☞ All around the year. Every Month have its own merits
Watch Out For In Nainital —
Curvy Hilly Roads || Too Crowded During North Indian School Vacations & Weekends
Nainital Is Also Known As —
● Lake City Of India
● Queen Of The Lakes
● Eye Shaped Lake
Must-Shop In Nainital —
● Scented Candles
● Art Craft Of Wood
● Pine Decoratives
● Brass Bells
● Woven Bamboo Fabric
● Locally Woven Woollens
● Native Fresh Fruits
● Fruit Squash
Must-Try In Nainital —
● Bal Mithai — Mamu’s Naini Sweets
● Punjabi Cuisine — Sher-e-Punjab
● Local Fruits — Bara Bazar
● Vegetable Maggi — Nescafe Maggi Point
● Momos — Embassy Restaurant
● Everything — Sonam Fast Food
● Boating — Naini Lake
USP Of Nainital —
Customarily ycleped the City Of Lake, the Nanital’s speciality is the cleanliness & immaculately maintained natural clear freshwater lakes. In all, there are just about 20 lakes in Nainital.
History & Culture
Legends Of Nainital —
Mythological Reference-
Nainital is among one of the Shakti Peets of Indian Mythology. According to ancient narratives, the body parts of Mata Sati fell in different parts of the Indian subcontinent. The whole body of Mata Sati fell at fifty-one such locations & each spot was renowned as a Shakti Peeth. There is one shakti Peeth each in China & Sri Lanka, three each in Nepal & Pakistan, seven in Bangladesh and the rest thirty-six Shakti Peeths are in India.
Nainital is one of the places where the left eye of Mata Sati dropped. This is believed to be the cause behind the eye shape of Naini Lake. The name of the town is also a conjunction of two terms “Naini” expresses the eye & “Tal” which is in the native language means the lake and the amalgamation of two words that conclude to Nainital. The temple devoted to Mata Naini is located in the northern part of the lake.
Recent History Of Nainital-
Somewhere around 1815, Britishers were able to conquer both the Garhwal & Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand. A quarter-century later a sugar trader Mr P. Barron on a hunting trip in the jungles of Nainital lost his way and somehow reached the Naini Lake. He was deeply mesmerized by the natural beauty of the spot. He was a visionary & constructed structures around the lake. Within a decade, the inhabitable farthermost part of Kumaon forest turned out to be a vacation paradise for Britishers.
Local Cuisine —
In the presence of the Tibetan community, Nainital local food has shades of Pahari, Tibetan & Continental cuisine and with the emergence of Nainital as a popular tourist destination, its current cuisine has some blend of north Indian & Punjabi food too.
Popular Food-
1. Thukpa-
It is a noodle soup with steamed veggies and also with chicken, served with Tibetan bread made of barley or millets.
2. Bhatt Ki Churkani-
A nourishing healthy dish, with black soy & rice as its prime ingredients.
3. Aloo Ke Gutke-
A delicious dish with potato as its chief ingredients, fried with local spices& chillies.
4. Thenthuck-
Tibetan style noodle soup, available in both vegetarian & non-vegetarian version, filled with dough, broth, meat & vegetables.
5. Phanu-
It is almost similar to the “Dal” cooked in the northern & middle zones of India. Three lentils or more, urad, arhar, moong are boiled with minimum spices. It’s a soupy recipe dish with lots of proteins.
6. Kaufli-
Prime ingredients of Kaufli are Spinach & Fenugreek leaves, with green Chilies, Ginger & Garlic, cooked to a thick gravy.
7. More Dishes-
Thechwani || Chainsoo || Sisunaak Saag || Gulgula || Ras || Baadi || Arsa
Local Alcoholic Beverage-
♦ Kacchi — Barley based distilled liquor common amongst Bhotiya tribe
♦ Jaan — Local beer, prepared by fermentation of boiled rice
Fairs & Festivals —
1. Uttarayani Mela-
The mela is a commercial affair but it has high cultural, social & political importance. The political & social workers use these platforms to spread local movements. Blankets, carpets, mattresses, bamboo articles, copper & iron pots, herbs & spices & much more are sold at the fair.
2. Phool Dei-
Phool Dei, a festival of beauty & prosperity. It is celebrated in the month of March & April of every year, the locals decorate their homes with flowers to attain the blessings of the almighty.
3. Nanda Devi-
Amongst the most popular of the festival, dedicated to Nanda Goddess is celebrated all across Kumaon. The fest lasts for a week & generally held in the month of September. Attended by a large number of devotees, folk dance & songs are the main attraction of the fair.
4. Khatarua-
Celebrated in mid of September, Khatarua typically is a festival for Kumaon people involved in agriculture. Bonfires are held, people dance around the fire, songs are sung & cucumbers are offered to the fire as a symbolic representation of the destruction of evil. The fest also signifies the start of autumn.
5. Olgia-
Also known as Ghee Sakranti is celebrated on the 1st day of the Hindu calendar month Bhado which is usually around mid of August. The festival emblematizes good harvest, gifts are exchanged between families, friends, farmers & landlords. Ghee is applied on the forehead as a thanksgiving to God for a good harvest.
6. Other Festive-
● Harela
● Shradotsav
Uttarakhand majorly being Hindu population, hence most Hindu festivals like Deepawali, Dusshera, etc are celebrated and in unique manner
Culture —
Majorly Hindu Pahadi || Bhotias || Muslims || Sikh || Tinge Of Jain, Christians & Buddhist Population
Uttarakhand is divided into 13 Districts but culturally its divided into Garhwali & Kumaoni communities
Important Info
Helpline Numbers —
B.D Pandey Male Hospital Nainital: 05942–235012
B.D Pandey Female Hospital Nainital: 05942–235986
Uttarakhand Tourism: 0135–2624147 | 2722323
Control Room Tourism: 0135–2559898 | 2552626 | 2552627
E-mail UTDB: info.utdb@gmail.com Fax UTDB: 0135–2559988
Click to view other helpline numbers by Uttarakhand Government
