Bhimtal by road: distance, time and taxi fare
Bhimtal lies about 300 km from Delhi, reached via NH9, Moradabad, Rampur, Haldwani and a short 22 km climb from Kathgodam, typically 7 to 8 hours. It is the first lake you meet in the Kumaon hills. A RutzIndia.com sedan costs Rs 10,800 Pay Now to Reserve one way and an Innova Crysta Rs 17,100 Pay Now to Reserve, excluding 5% GST.
Most Delhi families head straight for Nainital and spend their holiday in a traffic jam on the Mall Road. Those in the know stop twenty-odd kilometres earlier, at Bhimtal. The lake here is larger than Naini Lake, set at about 1,370 metres in a broad bowl of forested hills, with an island in the middle, a seventeenth-century Shiva temple on the shore and a sleepy town that still feels like it belongs to its residents. You can row, walk the lakeside road, eat corn on the cob by the dam, and be at Nainital, Sattal or Kainchi Dham within half an hour when you want company.
Because Bhimtal is the closest of the Kumaon lakes to the plains, it also works brilliantly as a base: close enough to Kathgodam station for easy arrivals, yet high enough for cool summers. RutzIndia.com offers one-way drops and weekend round trips from Delhi NCR, station and airport pickups, and multi-lake itineraries that string Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal, Sattal and Nainital together with the driver staying with you.
What to do in and around Bhimtal
On and around the lake
- Boating on Bhimtal lake. Rowing boats and paddle boats run from the jetties along the lakeside road. Rates are fixed by the local authority and displayed at the counters.
- The island aquarium. A small aquarium built on the lake's island, reached by boat, which children enjoy. Check timings at the jetty.
- Bhimeshwar Mahadev temple. A stone Shiva temple near the dam, traditionally dated to the seventeenth century and the reign of the Chand king Baz Bahadur, and linked in legend to Bhima of the Mahabharata, who gave the lake its name.
- Victoria Dam and the lake walk. The dam at the lake's end is a popular evening spot for tea, bhutta and sunset. The full lakeside road makes a pleasant walk.
- Folk Culture Museum. A small private museum near the town with Kumaoni folk objects, rock art records and traditional crafts.
Nearby lakes and outings
- Naukuchiatal (about 5 km). The lake of nine corners, quieter still, with boating and paragliding take-offs on the surrounding hills in the dry season.
- Sattal (about 20 km). A cluster of small lakes in dense oak and pine forest, beloved by birdwatchers for its variety, with kayaking and nature trails.
- Hidimba Parvat. A forested hill above Bhimtal with an ashram and legends of Hidimba, Bhima's wife.
- Kainchi Dham (about 17 km). The ashram of Neem Karoli Baba on the Almora road, which draws large crowds, especially on its foundation day in mid-June, when traffic around Bhowali can stall for hours.
- Nainital (about 22 km). The Mall Road, Naina Devi temple, the ropeway and the lake; see our Nainital by road guide.
The Uttarakhand Tourism Bhimtal page and the Nainital district tourist places list have more on the lake district.
The drive: Delhi to Bhimtal
Delhi to Rampur
Your chauffeur leaves Delhi on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and joins NH9 at Dasna, running through Hapur, across the Ganga at Garhmukteshwar, past Gajraula and around Moradabad to Rampur. This is fast, tolled highway with good food stops; Gajraula is the classic breakfast halt. Expect around 4 hours.
Rampur to Kathgodam
The road then crosses Bilaspur and Rudrapur into Uttarakhand and runs up to Haldwani, the busy gateway town of Kumaon. Traffic here can be heavy, particularly in the afternoon. Kathgodam, the railhead, sits at the very foot of the hills just beyond.
The climb to Bhimtal
From Kathgodam the road climbs about 22 km through forest, with wide bends and views back over the plains; it is one of the easier hill approaches in Uttarakhand and typically takes under an hour. Bhimtal appears suddenly as you crest the last ridge. From Delhi the whole journey usually takes 7 to 8 hours.
Travelling by train? Kathgodam station is just 22 km below Bhimtal, and many families take a morning train and let us handle the last stretch. Pantnagar airport is about 60 km away. We meet every arrival with a name board, track delays, and wait 30 minutes free after a domestic landing.
When to visit Bhimtal
- March to June: the main season, with pleasant days and cool evenings. Summer weekends and school holidays bring crowds to the lake district, though Bhimtal stays calmer than Nainital.
- July to September: monsoon. The lakes are full and the forests lush, but visibility drops and slips can slow the Kathgodam road.
- October to December: clear skies, crisp air and fewer visitors, ideal for walks and boating in the afternoon sun. Diwali and the year-end holidays fill hotels.
- January and February: cold, with occasional light snow on the surrounding hills. Nights drop to near freezing.
No permits are needed. Paragliding and water sports are paid directly to licensed operators; confirm safety gear before you take part.
Chauffeured options and Bhimtal fares
All prices are based on our per-km rates and are before 5% GST. We add tolls, parking and any state charges exactly as incurred, and a driver night allowance of Rs 1,500 for each night the car is away from base. Round trips are billed on actual kilometres or 250 km per calendar day, whichever is more. Direct fares to the neighbouring lake town are on our Delhi to Nainital taxi page.
| Bhimtal booking | Compact sedan | Innova Crysta | Tempo Traveller | Force Urbania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Bhimtal, one way (about 300 km) | Rs 10,800 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 17,100 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 23,400 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 30,600 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Kathgodam station to Bhimtal (about 22 km, minimum fare applies) | Rs 3,960 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 6,930 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 10,740 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 14,850 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Delhi weekend round trip, 2 days (about 600 km) | Rs 21,600 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 34,200 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 46,800 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 61,200 Pay Now to Reserve |
| Delhi lakes circuit, 4 days (1,000 km billed) | Rs 36,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 57,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 78,000 Pay Now to Reserve | Rs 1,02,000 Pay Now to Reserve |
- Couples and small families: a compact sedan is ideal on the easy Kathgodam climb.
- Families of five or six: an Innova Crysta on rent gives space for luggage, pram and picnic gear.
- Office offsites and big family groups: a Tempo Traveller in Delhi or a Force Urbania for a more premium group ride.
- Before or after the trip: our taxi service in Delhi covers airport runs and local 8 hr/80 km hire.
All cars are within four model years. No charge applies if you cancel more than 72 hours before pickup; otherwise it is 10% within 72 hours, 50% within 48 hours and 100% within 24 hours or on a no-show. Read the cancellation policy for more.
A 3-day Bhimtal lakes itinerary
Day 1: Delhi to Bhimtal (about 300 km). Leave Delhi by 6.30 am, breakfast at Gajraula, lunch in Haldwani, and reach Bhimtal by mid-afternoon. Row out to the island at sunset, then walk to the dam for tea.
Day 2: The lake circuit (about 70 km of local driving). Morning at Sattal for birdwatching and kayaking, lunch at Naukuchiatal, afternoon visit to Kainchi Dham (avoid mid-June), and back to Bhimtal for dinner. Or spend the afternoon in Nainital for the Mall Road and Naina Devi temple.
Day 3: Bhimeshwar temple and home (about 300 km). Early darshan at the Bhimeshwar Mahadev temple, a lakeside breakfast, and a drive back to Delhi by evening. With more time, continue up to Mukteshwar or Kausani; see our Mukteshwar by road guide and Kausani by road guide.
Where to stay and eat in Bhimtal
Hotels line the lakeside road and the slopes above it, from the state tourism corporation's lodge and simple family guesthouses to lake-view resorts and quiet cottages on the road to Sattal and Naukuchiatal. Rooms facing the water are worth the extra cost. For total peace, stay at Naukuchiatal or Sattal and drive into Bhimtal for boating.
Food is mostly North Indian and Kumaoni, with good roadside corn, momos and tea by the dam, and bakeries selling fresh bread and cakes. Fruit stalls in summer sell plums, apricots and peaches from nearby orchards. Carry some cash; smaller stalls may not take UPI when the network is weak.
Bhimtal with children and elders
Bhimtal is one of the gentlest hill holidays for mixed-age families. The drive from Kathgodam is short and not especially twisty, so even travellers prone to motion sickness usually manage well. The lakeside road is flat enough for a pram or a slow evening walk with grandparents, boats are available with covered seating, and the island aquarium and Sattal's kayaks keep children busy. Choose a hotel at lake level rather than one up a steep lane, and ask the driver to plan short hops of 30 to 45 minutes between outings rather than one long day.
Practical tips for a Bhimtal road trip
- Avoid peak jams. Summer weekends, long holidays and the Kainchi Dham foundation day bring heavy traffic around Bhowali. Travel mid-week if you can.
- Parking by the lake is limited. Your driver will drop you at the jetty and wait at a designated spot.
- Life jackets on the water. Insist on them for every rider, children especially.
- Pack a light jacket. Even in May, evenings by the lake are cool.
- Leave early on the way home. The Haldwani and Moradabad stretches slow down in the afternoon.
- Keep the car for day trips. Local taxi unions operate in the lake district, and having your own driver saves haggling for each outing.
