Naukuchiatal is a small hill station in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. The hill station is located about 1,220 m above sea level, in the beautiful hills of Kumaon. The word ‘Naukuchiatal’ literally means ‘the Lake of nine corners’. The main tourist attractions here are the Naukuchiatal Lake and Bhimtal.
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Naukuchiatal[/caption]
Naukuchiatal Lake is the deepest of all the lakes in the Nainital region. The length of the lake is approximately 1 km and has a depth of around 40 mts. There is an underwater stream that keeps the level of water up to the brim all round the year. The lake is located at an altitude of 3,996 ft above sea level. There exisits a belief about the lake, if anyone takes a glimse of all the nine corners at once, then that person can attain nirvana. The valley offers an excellent opportunity of bird watching. This is the ideal place for bird watchers, nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts.
Bhimtal is a town, located at an altitude of 1,370 meters above sea level amidst the Kumaon hills. The place is known for the Bhimtal Lake. There is an island in the middle of the lake that offers migratory habitat for many rare Trans-Himalayan birds. The other main places to visit are the Folk Culture Museum and the Victorian dam located around the Lake.
There are many outdoor activities in Naukuchiatal that tourists can engage in such as swimming in the lake, boating & kayaking, paragliding, rock climbing, horse riding, nature walk, and bird watching. You must also visit the Art museum here which exhibits the exact local culture of the State. Travellers can also drive up to Pandegaon and go for hang-gliding over Naukuchiatal which offers an amazing eye-catching view of the lake and surrounding areas. The visitors can go for angling in the lake with the permission of the Irrigation Department.
The hill station has a pleasant climate throughout the year. The best season time to visit here is from March to June and September to November.
There are some good local restaurants in the hill station serving delicious food. The place is known for the popular ‘Bhuransh’, a local squash made from rhododendron.
The hill station has quite good places for accommodation. There are many budget holiday homes here that provide basic amenities for the travellers. You need to book your accommodation in advance as they can get filled up quickly.
The nearest airport is at Pantnagar, 80 kms away and the nearest railway station is at Kathgodam, 35 km away. There are connecting bus services and private taxis available to the hill station.
The lush green mountains and the shining blue waters make the place an ideal holiday destination to visit and explore.