On our 6 days trip to Uttarakhand across Nainital, Corbett and Mussoorie region, we initially based ourselves in Bhimtal. And enjoyed a memorable staycation in Bhimtal. Bhimtal is a small town located 20km from the main Nainital City centre in the Kumaon district of Uttarakhand. Although it has limited options compared to Nainital when it comes to sightseeing and shopping. But due to it’s more peaceful surroundings and offbeat nature, it is gaining popularity day by day. Particularly as a preferred staycation destination when compared to Nainital. As it is much less crowded.
PS : If you are debating which place to choose between Nainital and Bhimtal – we have this comprehensive comparison of Nainital and Bhimtal to help you decide.
The main attraction of Bhimtal is the Bhimtal Lake. It is the largest lake in the Kumaon region of Uttrakhand. The Bhimtal lake has boating option. And an island in the centre that houses an aquarium and a cafe. There is a dam also at one end of the Bhimtal lake with a beautiful garden near it. Most of the staycation properties in Bhimtal are either walkable from the Bhimtal lake or provide surreal views of the Bhimtal Lake and the surrounding mountain ranges.
Suitable properties for accommodation in Bhimtal
You will find properties for staycation in Bhimtal across all budget ranges. From luxury to backpacking guesthouses, there is an option for staycation in Bhimtal for everyone. Here’s some properties that we really liked for a staycation in Bhimtal in terms of review, location and overall package –
Groomgo Blue Moon Resort Bhimtal
Both of the above are located 300 meters from Bhimtal Lake.
Saffron Stays Gardens on the Lake
The Rosefinch Sarovar Portico (almost 1 km from Bhimtal Lake)
Magpie Retreat at 200 meters from the Lake
The above are options for luxury staycation in Bhimtal.
Here’s a complete list of accommodation in Bhimtal that you can browse.
And last but not the least – Lake Hill Hotel Bhimtal where we stayed for our staycation in Bhimtal.
Our staycation in Bhimtal
We stayed at Lake View Hotel Bhimtal. This hotel is located at the closet proximity to the Bhimtal Lake. The boating point of Bhimtal Lake and the stairs that lead all the way to the lake are right across the road from the hotel. All the rooms on the first and second floor of Lake View Hotel Bhimtal have balconies facing the lake. And a beautiful view of the Bhimtal Lake and surrounding mountains right from the hotel room. The hotel also has an in house restaurant with decent menu options across Indian, Continental and Chinese.
We stayed in a room on the second floor of the hotel. And had a private lake facing balcony with couple of chairs and tables. The room size is ok, neither too cramped nor too large. It was definitely a budget option, not a luxury hotel or resort. Having stayed here, I can briefly summarise for you the pros and cons of Lake View Hotel Bhimtal.
Pros of Lake View Hotel Bhimtal
- The location of Lake View Hotel is the most prime in Bhimtal, with easy access to the Bhimtal Lake.
- There is beautiful view of the Bhimtal Lake from the hotel room balcony.
- Local shops, food stalls etc. are also a stone’s throw away.
- There are some basic restaurants near the Lake View Hotel Bhimtal.
- Courteous staff and prompt service, whenever we required.
Cons of Lake View Hotel Bhimtal
- The property is old and in need of maintenance. Paints are chipping, walls are showing cracks. While the pictures on the booking websites narrate a different story, room level is below what is projected in pictures.
- Hygiene can definitely be better. We were overall highly dissatisfied with the stained sofas, the evidently dirty curtains and similar such items.
- There is no lift in the hotel which can be an issue if you plan to stay with elderly.
- Food is pricy for the portion size provided.
- There is literally no campus. You need to park your vehicle nearby. And a lack of campus means not much option of recreational activities within the hotel premises. Something to think about particularly when visiting with kids, who look for engagement activities.
Having said that, Lake View Hotel can make for a good staycation in Bhimtal for couples, or group of friends. If the hygiene standards are improved a bit.
Things to do on a staycation in Bhimtal
Although there are ample sightseeing places in Bhimtal, and lots of places to explore nearby, I would suggest a different set of things to do on a staycation in Bhimtal. Because, to me, a staycation in Bhimtal would be meaningful if we take things slow and primarily focus on absorbing the serene natural surroundings. So, here’s my favourite things to do on a staycation in Bhimtal –
- Take a stroll along the Bhimtal Lake. Stop for views from different points. Enjoy some snacks while on your way. We did the same on the first evening that we spent in Bhimtal.
- Do boating on Bhimtal Lake. For a lasting and slow boating experience, it is best to hire a paddle boat that you can yourself paddle as per your desired pace.
- Spend sometime with the local community. We had general chit chat with the local shops in the surrounding when we stepped out. And while we enjoyed some snacks and tea on our first evening in Bhimtal, the lady running the stall was so nice to invite us to the Ramlila by locals that was scheduled the same night right besides the lake. (We visited here during Dussehra vacation)
- The most favourite ritual for our kids during our staycation in Bhimtal was to feed the ducks and pigeons on the bank of the lake morning and evening. These ducks are well accustomed to the visitors feeding them. They would soon start following us for more. And even knock their beaks against our shoes to demand food !! Feeding the birds and animals in the natural surrounding is a very rewarding experience that I would encourage you to try on staycation in Bhimtal. Just make sure to feed them what is suitable for them so that it doesn’t impact their health adversely.
- Just sit in the balcony or lawn of your resort or hotel. And enjoy the views of the surroundings. For most part of the time that we spent in our hotel, we were glued to the balcony, enjoying the morning views of the lake across the empty street, the warmth of the sun in the afternoon and the sunset from our balcony in the evening. One night, we even had dinner in the balcony enjoying the glittering lights from across the hills and their reflections in the lake.
- You can also boat to the island in the center of the Bhimtal Lake. It has an aquarium and a cafe.
- There are lots of offbeat trekking paths all around Bhimtal that you can take.
- Go for paragliding over the Bhimtal Lake and Mountains
Other things to do a staycation in Bhimtal if you have more time
If you have ample time on your staycation in Bhimtal and you feel like exploring places in and around Bhimtal, there is plenty to do. Some of these include –
- A day of sightseeing in Bhimtal. That includes boating on the Bhimtal Lake, visiting the island cafe in the center of the lake and the dam at one end of the lake. Also, viewpoints like Hidimba Parvat. And you can explore some old temples like Bhimtal Mahadev Temple, 17th century Bheemeshwar Temple and Karkotak Temple. There is also a beautiful butterfly park with abundant varieties of butterflies. You can spread the complete sightseeing to a couple of days to keep it light.
- Take a day trip to Nainital from Bhimtal and explore places and things to do in Nainital, including a walking tour of mall road Nainital.
- For a more serene day trip, enjoy a trip to Mukteshwar, Almora or Ranikhet.
General tips on visiting Nainital or Bhimtal
How to reach Bhimtal ?
You can reach Bhimtal by road from major towns like New Delhi and Dehradun, which also have airports. Or, you can reach Kathgodam through a train. Kathgodam is the nearest railway station to Bhimtal. From there, you can get a shared taxi or bus to Bhimtal. You can also book buses from all major cities of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh or New Delhi to Bhimtal. We took a round trip cab from New Delhi to Bhimtal for our trip. We took this route from New Delhi to Bhimtal –
New Delhi International Airport -> Gaziabad -> Muradabad -> Rampur -> Rudrapur -> Haldwani -> Bhimtal
And covered the same in around 8 hours including a one hour long breakfast halt on the way.
We also visited Corbett and Mussoorie along with Nainital on this trip. For a trip to Nainital from Bhimtal or vice versa, public transports like buses and shared taxis are readily available to travel between Nainital and Bhimtal.
What is the best time to visit Bhimtal?
For enjoying extreme winter, December end to February are best months to visit Bhimtal. However, it doesn’t snow in Bhimtal. While to enjoy milder climate and greenery, visit right after the monsoons, in the month of October and November. Crowd is also thin in this season as it’s the beginning of tourist season in this region. Summers have started getting harsher. And monsoons often lead to landslides in this region. So, it is best to avoid the summer and monsoon months from April to September. However, if you live nearby, you can always plan a staycation in Bhimtal during any month of the year by keeping an eye on the weather.
How many days are sufficient to explore Bhimtal and around?
To visit Bhimtal, 2 days are enough. And if you want to explore some more places around Bhimtal, like Almora, Ranikhet, Binsar, Mukteshwar or Nainital etc. then you might want to add one day for each place you plan to visit around.
What to pack for a trip to Bhimtal?
Irrespective of which month you are visiting Bhimtal, always keep one layer of woollen cloths, particularly for kids. As, temperature changes suddenly and dips when it rains. If visiting in the peak winter months, you will need proper thermal inners, gloves, caps, heavy winter jackets and snow shoes etc. When we visited at the end of October, it was mildly cold in the day and colder in the night. We needed a layer of light jacket in the day and a heavier jacket at night. The younger kids < 5 years of age might require another additional layer of clothing.
What other places can I visit with Bhimtal?
After exploring Bhimtal and Nainital, we went for a relaxed vacation in Jim Corbett National Park. And further took a road trip from Corbett National Park to Mussoorie. And spent a few days in Mussoorie. Before returning back home.
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