The town of Nainital is located in the Kumaon foothills of the outer Himalayas, set in a valley at the edge of Naini Lake, surrounded by mountains. Naina Peak is the highest peak in the town at 2,615m. It is possible to walk the 6km from the town to the top of the peak, from where there are fantastic views of the snow clad Himalaya, as well as a panoramic view of Nainital town itself.
The Naina Devi Temple, located on the northern shore of Naini Lake, was destroyed in a landslip in 1880 and was later rebuilt. Either side of the temple are the deities of Mata Kali and Lord Ganesha.
The Governor’s House was built in 1899, originally as the summer residence of the governor of the North West Province, before becoming the summer residence for the Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces. Currently, it is the official guest house for the governor of Uttarakhand and for visiting state guests. The complex consists of a two-storied mansion with 113 rooms, a large garden, a swimming pool, and golf links. You must obtain prior permission before visiting.
The hill station town of Nainital was founded only in 1841, with the construction of the first European house by a sugar trader from Shahjahanpur. Soon, the town became a health resort favoured both by British soldiers and by colonial officials and their families trying to escape the heat of the plains. By the 1880s, Nainital had developed as an exclusive English preserve. Change came early in the 20th century, when Indian bureaucrats and professionals began arriving in town as part of the annual migration of the state government of the United Provinces to Nainital every summer. The British presence in Nainital continued to decline and was gradually replaced by a growing Indian presence.
