by Rohit Kulkarni

Created on: November 09, 2008   Last Updated: April 19, 2010

As tourism to India has been booming year after year, more and more places of attractions to local as well as international tourists are climbing up the ladder of "hottest tourist spot". One such place is Nainital, in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is located in the outer Himalayas, known locally as Kumaon Himalaya. As much as being one of the most visited tourist destination, it is also a place of pilgrimage to Indian tourists who flock here especially during the summer. Like most of the tourist places in India, Nainital also has a history dating back to thousands of years back in time, perhaps right to the ancient Indian mythology era.

Nainital literally means "lake of the eye". Legend goes that when Lord Shiva was carrying the charred corpse of Goddess Parvati, her remains fell in various places on this land and the place where her eyes fell became a lake. Eyes, in Sanskrit, are called Nain, and tal is lake, hence the name Nainital. It is mentioned in some of the oldest mythological stories of India. The lake is also known as Tririshi Sarovar, since it is also believed that the lake was created by the three rishis or sages. According to this legend, having found no water in present day Nainital, they decided to dig a large crater and fill it up with the waters of Lake Mansarovar, of present day Tibet. Lake Mansarovar is considered holy in the Hindu religion, and hence it is believed, that a dip in
Naina Lake gains a man merit equal to a dip in Mansarovar.

Nainital as it is today is situated in a valley surrounded by three mountains, and scattered around this pear shaped lake. In fact, there are numerous other lakes in Nainital district, which has also given it a name, "Lake District" of India. It is a place where pristine and serene splendours of Mother Nature bless the sight of the beholder. With its diverse flora and fauna, and plenty of activities, it would perhaps be an understatement to call Nainital a "tourist's heaven". Along with its own places of attraction, Nainital can be made as a centre of the trip to the Kumaon Himalayas, as many other popular tourist spots can be easily reached from here. Nainital could be a perfect location for a short break for relaxation to an adventure trekking holiday to a simple sightseeing break.

For a perfect sightseeing break, begin day one with a stroll around centre of the town. Reserve the afternoon for a relaxed boat ride or yachting in Naini Lake while enjoying the enchanting beauty of Kumaon which

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