Nainital by road: a chauffeur-driven weekend from Delhi to the Kumaon lakes

Nainital by road: distance, time and taxi fare from Delhi

Nainital is the heart of Kumaon's lake district: a pear-shaped lake at around 2,000 metres, hemmed in by seven hills, with a busy bazaar at each end and the Mall running along its eastern shore. The British developed it in the mid-nineteenth century as a summer retreat and the summer seat of the provincial government, and the old buildings are still everywhere: the neo-Gothic Raj Bhavan, schools with chapels and clock towers, churches tucked into the forest, and boathouses on the water.

For Delhi families, Nainital is the most popular hill weekend after Mussoorie and Shimla, and for good reason. The lake is lovely at every hour, the air is cool when the plains swelter, and within an hour's drive you have Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal, the Kainchi Dham ashram and the orchards of Mukteshwar. The catch is the town's size: traffic and parking are genuinely difficult in peak season. A chauffeur who knows the lots, the one-way systems and the right time to arrive is worth every rupee.

What to see and do in Nainital

• Naini Lake. Row, paddle or take a yacht-club style sailing boat across the lake. Boats leave from Mallital at the north end and Tallital at the south; rates are posted at the stands.
• Naina Devi temple. On the northern shore at Mallital, a revered temple to the goddess after whom the town is named, busy at dawn and dusk.
• The Mall. The lakeside promenade linking Mallital and Tallital, lined with shops, cafés and candle-makers. Evening walks here are the Nainital ritual.
• Snow View. A viewpoint on the hill above Mallital, reached by ropeway or on foot, looking north to the snow peaks of the Kumaon Himalaya on clear days.
• Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat). A hillside viewpoint reached by a forest walk or a pony ride, with long views over the lake and valleys.
• Eco Cave Gardens. A series of small interconnected caves and gardens, great fun for children.
• High Altitude Zoo. A hillside zoo with Himalayan species, reached by a steep walk from Mallital.
• Raj Bhavan. The Governor's summer residence, a grand Victorian building with a golf course; guided tours are sometimes offered, subject to rules and fees.
• The lake district. Bhimtal (about 22 km), Sattal (about 23 km) and Naukuchiatal (about 26 km) are quieter lakes for boating, birdwatching and walks. See our Bhimtal by road guide.
• Kainchi Dham. The ashram associated with Neem Karoli Baba, about 17 km from Nainital on the Almora road, visited by devotees from across the world. Its annual foundation-day gathering in mid-June draws enormous crowds and traffic controls.

Kumaoni food is worth seeking out: bhatt ki churkani, aloo ke gutke, ras-bhaat and the sweet bal mithai from Almora. The Mall's bakeries and momo stalls fill the gaps.

The road from Delhi to Nainital

Delhi to Moradabad and Rampur (about 185 km)

Leave Delhi via the Ghaziabad side on NH9, a broad highway through Hapur and Garhmukteshwar, where it crosses the Ganga, then Gajraula and Moradabad. The stretch has good food stops and several toll plazas, which we bill at actual cost. Leaving before 6 am makes a big difference to the Ghaziabad section.

Rampur to Haldwani and Kathgodam (about 80 km)

At Rampur the road turns north through Bilaspur and Rudrapur into the Terai, flat country of fields and forests, reaching Haldwani and then Kathgodam, the railhead at the foot of the hills. Haldwani's traffic can be slow; your chauffeur may use a bypass where possible.

Kathgodam to Nainital (about 35 km)

The ghat climbs through Ranibagh and Jeolikote, gaining height quickly with a series of bends. It is a well-maintained road but heavy with traffic on weekends. There is an alternative approach via Kaladhungi on the western side, useful when combining Nainital with Jim Corbett; see our Jim Corbett by road guide.

Arriving by train or air: Kathgodam station is about 35 km from Nainital, and Pantnagar airport about 70 km. We meet trains and flights with a name board; for flights we track arrival times and wait 60 minutes free after international arrivals and 30 minutes after domestic ones, then charge the hourly rate. Our Delhi to Nainital taxi page lists the full route fares, and our Delhi taxi service handles pickups anywhere in NCR.

When to go to Nainital

• March to June: peak season. Clear lake views in spring, then warm days as Delhi heats up. Weekends from mid-May to June are extremely busy; weekdays are far easier.
• July to September: monsoon. The hills are green and the lake full, but landslides can affect the Kathgodam ghat and views are often clouded. Traffic is lighter.
• October to December: crisp and clear, with the best Himalayan views from Snow View and Tiffin Top. The Nanda Devi Mahotsav, a major Kumaoni festival, is usually held around September or October.
• January and February: cold, with occasional snow on the higher points and sometimes in town. Snow days bring a rush of visitors from the plains.

For local notices, traffic and parking plans, the Nainital district administration is the official source, and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, the state's Kumaon tourism corporation, lists government-run guesthouses in Nainital and the lake district.

RutzIndia.com chauffeured trips to Nainital

Nainital bookings range from quick weekends to week-long Kumaon circuits. All our cars are within four model years, and our drivers know the Kathgodam ghat and Nainital's parking system.

• Weekend round trips from Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon and Ghaziabad, with the car staying with you in Nainital.
• One-way drops to Nainital, Bhimtal, Sattal or Mukteshwar hotels.
• Kathgodam station and Pantnagar airport pickups, billed per kilometre.
• Kumaon circuits adding Mukteshwar, Ranikhet, Almora or Kausani; see our Mukteshwar by road guide.
• Group travel in 12 to 26 seat Tempo Travellers from our Delhi Tempo Traveller fleet.

A two-day round trip covers about 600 km, more than the 500 km two-day minimum, so actual distance is billed. Three days carry a 750 km minimum, which easily covers a lake-district loop. The driver's night allowance is Rs 1,500 per night. Fares exclude 5% GST, and tolls, parking and any town entry charges are billed exactly as paid. Pay by card or UPI through the booker; companies receive GST invoices. Compare other hill routes on our fares page.

Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup. Inside 72 hours we charge 10%, inside 48 hours 50%, and inside 24 hours or for a no-show the full fare, as set out in our cancellation policy.

Book a Delhi to Nainital cab

A three-day Nainital plan by car

Day 1: Delhi to Nainital (about 300 km). Leave by 5.30 am, breakfast around Garhmukteshwar or Moradabad, lunch in Haldwani and climb the ghat in the early afternoon. Check in, then a boat ride and an evening walk on the Mall.

Day 2: The lake district (about 90 km). Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal in a loop, with boating at one of them and a picnic lunch. On the way back, stop at Kainchi Dham if it is open and not on a festival day.

Day 3: Viewpoints and home (about 310 km). Snow View by ropeway at opening time, Naina Devi temple, then descend to Kathgodam and drive back to Delhi, arriving by late evening.

Four days? Add Mukteshwar's orchards and cliff-edge temple, or Ranikhet's golf course and cantonment, about 50 to 60 km from Nainital.

Practical tips for Nainital

• Parking is the challenge. Nainital has a handful of public lots, including the large area at the Flats in Mallital, and they fill quickly in season. On peak weekends, authorities sometimes hold cars at the town's edge and run shuttle services when lots are full. Confirm parking with your hotel in advance; your chauffeur will manage the rest.
• Mall Road rules: vehicle movement on the Mall is restricted at certain hours, and parts are one-way. Expect to walk short distances.
• Time your arrival: reach Nainital before noon on Fridays and Saturdays, and leave before noon on Sundays, to avoid the worst of the Kathgodam ghat traffic.
• Local taxis and boats: short hops such as the Mallital–Tallital run are often easier by local shared taxi or rickshaw; boats and ponies charge posted local rates.
• Weather: afternoon showers are common even in spring. Carry a light rain jacket and a warm layer year-round.
• Entry fees: Snow View ropeway, the zoo, Eco Cave Gardens and Raj Bhavan tours all charge fees that are revised periodically; check at the counter.