Nainital
(1938 m / 6357 ft)
Nainital lies in the heart of the 'lake district of Kumaon' ('tal' means
'lake'), and is the largest hill station of the region. The town was
'discovered' in 1939 by an English businessman called Barron. It is the
birthplace of Jim Corbett, and the house where he lived is now a museum. The
lake itself is 3620 metres in circumference, a placid green lagoon nestling
amongst the hills.
The lake is surrounded by seven peaks: Cheena Peak (2610 m); Kilbury (2528
m); Laria kanta (2481 m); Deopatta and Camel's Back (both 2535 m); Dorothy's
Seat, also known as Tiffin op (2290 m) which was named after an English
woman, Dorothy Kellet, who died in a plane crash; and finally Snow View
(2290 m) which can be reached via the ropeway at the end of the Mall.
The Mall itself runs along the length of one side of the lake, and from
here one can take rowboats and peddle-boat rides.
There are plenty of hotels and restaurants along the Mall, and
cycle-rickshaws to take you around. The town has now become quite built up,
and during the season times, especially March - early July, becomes crowded
with holiday-makers.
Bhim Tal (1371 m/ 4498 ft)
Named after a character from the Mahabharata renowned for his extraordinary
strength, Bhim Tal is the largest of the lakes in this region in the centre
of which is a small island-restaurant.
There is a large Victorian dam at one end, terraced flower gardens on
either side. Rowing and peddle boats for hire.
Naukuchia Tal (1219 m / 4000 ft)
Naukuchia Tal (literally 'nine-cornered lake') is an equally serene
setting; a perfect spot for a picnic or for peddling gently across its still
waters. The trees which fringe the waters' edges are mossy, and are
festooned with creepers and orchids.
You can even buy orchid seeds from the tea-shack by the lake.
Sat Tal (1371 m / 4498 ft)
Sat Tal literally means 'seven lakes' and is a series of seven
interconnected tarns. The three main lakes are named Ram, Sita and Lakshman
after the main characters in the Hindu epic, Ramayana. It is a peaceful and
sleepy place, teeming with bird life, and lies 21 kilometers from Nainital.
Peddle-and rowing-boats are available for hire.
Almora (1650 m / 5413 ft)
Almora's renowned cultural and education centre has produced such
luminaries as Pandit Ravi Shankar, and the dancer, Uday Shankar. From here
one can see four ranges of hills - Banari Devi, Kasan Devi, Shyahi Devi and
Katarmal - and beyond them to the greater Himalayas and the peaks of Trishul
and Nanda Devi. According to legend, the Hindu god Vishnu dwelt here, and in
much more recent times it has been visited by lesser mortals like D.H.
Lawrence, Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens.
The town itself has a long and rich history; founded by Raja Balo Kalyan
Chand, one of the great rulers of the Chand dynasty in 1563, it was once the
capital of Kumaon. It was ruled by the Gorkhas from 1790 until the deposed
Chand rulers joined forces with the British to oust them in 1816.
Ranikhet (1830 m / 6004 ft)
Ranikhet' means literally 'Queen's Field' and was named after the wife of
the 12th century Raja, Sudhar Deve. It is the home of the Kumaon Regiment
which dates back to 1780, and was built up in the late nineteenth century by
the British for whom it was a popular retreat from the scorching heat of the
plains. A few kilometers from here one can visit the government Fruit and
Garden Research Station at Chaubatia, where you can not only wander through
the well-tended orchards and flower groves, but - if you pick your time
right (August - Sept) - also sample the fruits fresh from the trees.
Along the road to Almora is one of the highest golf courses in the world,
at Uphat. It is open to the public for a small charge, but closed during the
monsoons (July - Sept).
Kausani (1890 m / 6201 ft)
The 50 km drive from Almora to Kausani takes you alongside one of the most
beautiful, rich and fertile valleys in the region as the road winds beside
the Kosi river.
The town itself could almost be an Alpine village with sweet, clear air,
sharpened by the scent of the pine forests. Mahatma Gandhi stayed here in
1929 and here wrote his commentary on the Bhagvad Gita. The Anashakti Yoga
Ashram, where he stayed, is dedicated to continuing the Mahatma's philosophy
of life and has several guest houses. It is also the birthplace of the
famous Hindi poet, Sumitra Nandan Pant. Binsar(2412 m/ 7887 ft)
The forest of Binsar is a place of outstanding natural beauty, and served
as a summer retreat for the Chand rulers, and the British who came after. A
scenic spot from which one can see fine views of the Himalayas.
Corbett National Park
The
first governor of Uttar Pradesh, Sir John Hewett, opened Hailey National
Park in 1935 at the suggestion of Jim Corbett, a living legend at the time
for his exploits as a tiger-hunter, tracker, and writer. After his death in
1957, the park was renamed Corbett National Park in his honour.
The Park covers 525 square kilometres of mixed deciduous forests and chaur
grasslands, and is home to some 50 mammal species, 25 species of reptiles
and over 580 species of birds - as well as, of course, the King of the
Jungle: the tiger.
There are antelopes such as the nilgai and ghoral, monkeys (langur and
rhesus), hog deer, sambhar, chital and spotted and barking deer.
If you're lucky you might even spot a porcupine or a pangolin (scaly
ant-eater). There are 8 watch towers and the best time for spotting wildlife
is March - June. Elephant or jeep safaris are available, and fishing in the
magnificent Ramganga river is allowed with a permit. The Park itself is
closed from mid-June to mid-November, though the Corbett Museum at
Kaladhungi is open throughout the year. Entry fees and permits for using
video and stills cameras vary whether you are an Indian national or a
foreigner.
