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Things to Do in Pangot

Pangot is a beautiful and serene village in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. This charming village is popular across the nation for its rich and diverse birdlife, which makes it a paradise for birdwatchers and photography lovers. During the winter season in the Upper Himalayas, a myriad of bird species migrate to Pangot. Passing through the forested areas of Chenna Peak Range via Snow View Point and Kilbury National Park provides excellent birding habitats. Here, you can see over 580 bird species, including the Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Spotted and Slaty-backed Forktail, Himalayan Griffon, and Khaleej Pheasant.

Apart from birdwatching, Pangot offers a range of activities for nature lovers and adventure seekers. The dense oak, pine, and rhododendron forests surrounding Pangot are perfect for trekking with your friends. Some of the infamous trekking trails in Pangot include routes to Naina Peak and Corbett National Park. Camping in this region is also a unique and memorable experience that allows you to spend a night under the stars and enjoy a cozy bonfire.

If you want to explore the local culture and traditions, Pangot offers a unique opportunity to interact with the friendly villagers and learn about their way of life. You can also visit nearby attractions like Nainital Lake and Eco Cave Gardens through Nainital tour packages.

Nainital Lake

Nainital Lake is one of the best natural freshwater bodies in the state of Uttarakhand. Being a lake in midst of a bustling township, it receives huge tourist attraction. It is a crescent shaped lake with Naina Devi Temple at one end.

Location: It is located in the city of Nainital which lies in Uttarakhand. The Sukhatal and Tallital bustands are nearby and thus you can choose to opt for roadways while travelling to the place in public transport.

Highlights: There is a famous Nainital Boat Club which offers yachting facilities at the lake. You can enjoy boating through the lake with the calm and serene atmosphere.

Price: The Nainital Boat club charges Rs. 350 for boating you around the lake. If you want to pedal the boat yourselves, you will get them for Rs. 150 per hour. Other boatmens will boat you for Rs. 210 in the Nainital Lake.

Eco Cave Gardens

It is one of the most popular gardens in Nainital which tourists often visit and apart from the visitors, even the residents come here often because of its nice atmosphere. The natural park is maintained and taken care by the local administration.

Location: It is located at the Sukhatal region of Nainital and falls on the Kaladungi road. Reaching here is not a hassle as most of the transportation facilities are nearby.

Highlights: There are many interconnected rocky caves as well as hanging gardens. The garden makes the most out of the hilly regions in which it is located. Even for children, it is a lot of fun due to the presence of a lot of activities on offer.

Price: The price for adults is Rs. 20 and that for children is Rs. 10. If you want to carry a camera along, you have to pay a fee of Rs. 25 for the same.

Kainchi Dham

It is one of the most famous ashrams in our country. There are many followers of Kaninchi Maharaj who believe in his teachings. If you want to go through a spiritual journey, this place is a must visit.

Location: It is at a distance of 9 KM from Bhowali and 17 KM from the town of Nainital.

Highlights: The place was visited by tech legend Steve Jobs in his earlier days. He also advised Mark Zuckerberg to have a visit here. It is believed that the place enhances spiritual enlightenment of oneself and thus most of the people visit for the same reason. In the annual Bhandara held on June 15, more than 1 lakh people are fed at the place.

Best time to visit: You can visit the place during anytime of the year however, if you want to stay inside Kanchi Maharaj-ji's ashram, you have to personally write a letter to the manager.

Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat)

Among the various picnic spots in Nainital, this is one of the most loved spots for tourists and residents alike. The Tiffin top is also famously known as the Dorothy's Seat. This place was built by the British Army officer Col J.P. Kellet. The name of the place was decided as such because people used to come here to have their food.

Location: It is located at a height of around 2300 meters on the Ayarpatta hills. The place is around 4 KM drive from the Nainital town and it is quite convenient to get there.

Highlights: From the place, you can have a look of the Nainital town in a 360 degree view. Also, you get a stunning view of the Kumaon hills from the Dorothy's seat.

Best time to visit: You can visit the place any time you want as it has no time restrictions. You must consider the climatic conditions before going to the place.

Naina Peak

Want a stunning view of the snow capped Himalayas from Nainital? Naina peak is the place you must head to. The road which gets you there is through a pleasant forest of deodar, cypresses and rhododendrons. It is quite a beautiful experience both reaching there as well as on top of the mountain.

Location: The peak is at a distance of 6 KM from Mallital where you can get a bus or some other public transportation facilities to take you to the top.

Highlights: What people love most about the place is the view of snow capped Himalayas from Naina peak. It is something which makes the whole experience worthwhile. Naina peak is also the highest peak of Nainital through which you get a bird's eye view of the whole city, the Himalayas and the Kumaon hills. The atmosphere there is calm and serene which makes the experience even better.

Snow View Point

If we check out the most visited tourist spots in Nainital, Snow view point is surely the most visited and loved spot by people all over. The mountain also has a temple to which residents worship. While you move in the cable rope, you can have a great view of the Nainital lake.

Location: The point is around 3 Km from the town of Nainital and you can travel there through either cable rope or your car. If you are comfortable, you can also visit Snow view point by walking there or book a taxi if you prefer it.

Highlights: From the top of the mountain, you can have a full view of the city which looks just marvelous. If you notice, there will be a place which says The highest mountain in the British empire. Before Sikkim became a part of India, Naina Devi was India's highest peak.

Kilbury Bird Sanctuary

Kilbury bird sanctuary is the ultimate destination for anyone who loves watching birds. Due to this reason, it is also called as the bird watcher's paradise. Most of the people who visit the place are frequent visitors who take time out of their lives to watch birds and fulfil their desires. This sanctuary is placed in midst of the reserved forest of Nainital.

Location: Kilbury Bird Sanctuary is at a distance of 12 KM from Nainital. You can choose to reach here through any convenient public transport or your private vehicle. Many affordable options like taxis are available from Nainital to bring you here.

Highlights: The bird sanctuary has more than 580 different species of birds which is a delight for all the bird lovers. Some of the most famous birds which are a part of this sanctuary include Brown wood owls, white throated laughing thrushes, forktails and many other birds.

Naina Devi Temple

Located atop the Naina hillock near northern shore of the Naini Lake, the Naina Devi Temple is one of the most revered temples in Northern India. It is a famous Shakti Peeth of Hindu religion and draws devotees from all over the country. It is believed this was the place where eyes of Sati’s corpse fell when Lord Shiva carried her.