Naini Lake & The Mall
About
Nainital lake is the green-blue, eye-shaped tarn at the heart of the town of Nainital 1.4 kilometres long and up to 27 metres deep. Mallital lies at its northern end, Tallital at its southern. Between them runs the Nainital mall road, a three-kilometre lakeside promenade where sunset walks, street food, and rowing have been the evening routine for generations.
Highlights
What makes this place special
Naina Devi Temple
The small shrine beside the Nainital lake marks where Sati's eye fell, giving Nainital its name and becoming a pilgrimage site since the 19th century.
Flats Ground
A wide open area at Mallital created after a 1880 landslide, it offers a great Nainital view and is now used for cricket, fairs, and photo stops.
Mall Road Promenade
The Nainital mall road is the three-kilometre walkway connecting Mallital and Tallital, lined with bakeries, book shops, and colonial-era hotels.
Things to Know
- •Boat rides cost ₹210-350 depending on type
- •Life jackets mandatory
- •Vehicle-free zone on The Mall in the evenings
- •Lake is shallow near shores; deep in the middle
- •Best photos are from the Flats at Mallital
- •Many heritage hotels front the lake
