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Naukuchiatal

Naukuchiatal is famous for its beautiful lake amidst forests and hills. It is one of the best places to find solace and peace in the hills away from the busy lifestyle of the cities. Its beauty lies in its tranquility. There is an underwater spring that nourishes the Naukuchiatal Lake.

Location and Geography

Naukuchiatal is located at the foothills of the Kumaon mountain range in the Nainital district, Uttarakhand. It is the deepest lake of Nainital with a depth of 175 feet and the altitude is 1220 metres. The length and the breadth of the lake are 983 and 693 metres respectively.

Mythology

It is believed that this lake was created by Lord Brahma after deep meditation or tapasya. The parikrama (going round the circumference of the lake) is considered sacred by the local inhabitants. There is also a small temple of Lord Brahma located near the KMVN guest house.

The literal meaning of the word Naukuchiatal is ‘the lake with nine corners’. It is also a belief that anyone who is able to see all the nine corners of the lake at a glance paves his path for salvation.

Places of Interest

Hanuman Temple built on the lines of the Vaishno Devi Shrine, is located on the main road to Naukuchiatal. It is famous for the big statue of Lord Hanuman, whose height is 52 feet. The temple has a beautiful location amongst the high mountains.

Bhimtal nearly 4 kms away, lies on the edge of the picturesque Bhimtal Lake. Bhimtal Lake is the largest in Kumaon. It got its name from ‘Bhim’, one of the Pandavas of the Mahabharata who built the famous Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple on the bank of the lake when the Pandavas were on an exile. There is an aquarium at an island in the centre of the Bhimtal Lake.

The Folk Culture Museum and the Victorian Dam are located around the Bhimtal Lake.

Other attractions are Butterfly Museum, Nag Temple at Karkotaka Hill and Pilot Baba Ashram at Gethiya.

Sattal located in the Kumaon Lake region, is a collection of seven lakes which are interconnected and is located amidst pine and oak forests at a distance of 19 kms from Naukuchiatal. Sattal is one of the few freshwater lakes in India that are still safe from pollution.

Mukteshwar located at a distance of 20 kms from Naukuchiatal, is famous for Mukteshwar Dham, the 350 year old temple of Lord Shiva. This place offers a majestic view of the peaks of Adi Nampa of Nepal stretching up to the Chaukhamba Peaks of Garhwal.

Jungliagaon is situated 8km from Naukuchiatal at a scenic spot, and is ideal for angling. There is good scope of wildlife photography and bird watching here.

Kainchi Dhamis famous for the Neem Karoli Maharaj whose ashram is located here.

Tea Gardens are the organic tea from the tea gardens at Shyamkhet is famous worldwide. Don’t forget to buy tea here!

Ghorakhal temple of Lord Golu is also famous especially among the local inhabitants.

Nainia Devi Temple the Nainia Peak (Cheena Baba Peak), Tiffin Top, Aerial Ropeway, Hanuman Garhi Temple, Mall Road, Tibetan Market, ARIES Observatory, Eco Cave Garden, Sariya Tal, Khurpatal and Botonical Garden are the other famous tourist attractions.

Almora, 72 kms away from Naukuchiatal, is a picturesque district in the Kumaon region, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Himalayas and an alluring grandeur of its natural beauty. It is famous for its rich cultural heritage, unique handicrafts, cuisine and its wildlife wealth.

Haldwani, more popularly known as the 'Gateway of Kumaon', is also worth visit.

Ramgarh is famous for its variety of Himalayan fruits and spectacular view of the snow covered Himalayas. 

Ranikhet, 73 kms from Naukuchiatal, is also a very beautiful hill station in Almora.

Other nearby places are Jeolikot, Binsar, Jageshwar and Corbett National Park.

Things to do

  • Tourists can enjoy boating and kayaking in the Naukuchiatal Lake. They can also do swimming as well as fishing in the lake. However a permit is required for fishing here.
  • Water zorbing on the lake is another attraction.
  • There is also a good walking track around the Naukuchiatal Lake.
  • Paragliding is the most adventurous and the most famous activity for the tourists in this region. Trekking is also another attraction.
  • Mountain bikes are also available on hire.
  • Naukuchiatal is a paradise for bird watchers.

Best time to Visit

The best time to visit is from March to June and from September to November. The winters are extremely cold and the rainy season extends from July to September. So, summers and the post monsoon season are the best times to visit the region.

Accommodation

There are hotels ranging from budget to luxury at good rates in and around Naukuchiatal.

How to Reach

Naukuchiatal is at a distance of about 26 kms from Nainital, 35 kms from Kathgodam, 86 kms from Ranikhet, 30 kms from Sattal, 41 kms from Haldwani, and 4 kms from Bhimtal. The closest metro city Delhi is at a distance of 320 kms.

By Air

The nearest airport to Naukuchiatal is Pantnagar Airport, Kasauni which is 35 kms away from Naukuchiatal city centre. The nearest International Airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi at a distance of 320 kms.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Naukuchiatal is Kathgodam Station at a distance of 35 kms. There are trains from Kathgodam to all the major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur, Pune, Bangalore, Nainital, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Dehradun, Lucknow, Cochin, Chandigarh, etc. Other nearby railway station is Haldwani at a distance of 33 kms and Rudrapur at 65 kms.

By Road

Naukuchiatal is well connected by road to the nearby places like Kathgodam, Nainital, Almora, Kaladhungi, Ranikhet, Ramgarh, Kotdwara, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Dehradun. Buses and taxis are easily available from Nainital, Kathgodam, Almora and other famous destinations.

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