While Nainital is one of the best known tourist destinations in Uttarakhand, India. Famous for it’s enchanting lake and the views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. At the same time, Bhimtal is a lesser known lake town almost 20km from the main town of Nainital. As the tourist footfalls in Nainital are constantly increasing year on year. Bhimtal has emerged as an alternative destination to Nainital. However, often, the question that comes to mind is – Nainital or Bhimtal which is better and where to go? If you are also having this question in mind, I will try my best to answer it today. As, on my own 6 days trip to Uttarakhand including Nainital, Bhimtal, Corbett and Mussoorie, I got the chance to explore both Nainital and Bhimtal.
When the question comes that Nainital or Bhimtal which is better, it really depends on the perspective involved. What I mean is, what we are looking for in our destination really determines which one will be better suited for us. So, let me explain the difference of Nainital vs Bhimtal from different perspectives.
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Nainital or Bhimtal which is better for a staycation
If you are looking for a quiet staycation in the lap of nature, then Bhimtal wins hand down. Bhimtal is a perfect destination to slow travel, explore less and experience more. You can find beautiful accommodations along the lakeside in Bhimtal. Which provide beautiful views of the Bhimtal Lake and the surrounding mountains. You can enjoy quiet walks along the lake, boating in the lake, snacks from the limited stalls around the lake and quiet meals either at your staycation accommodation or nearby hotels. couple of our preferred staycation locations in Bhimtal are –
Staycation accommodation options in Bhimtal
Lake Hill Hotel Bhimtal – Where we stayed in Bhimtal. This hotel is located right besides the access and boating point of the Bhimtal Lake. We enjoyed very serene views of the Bhimtal Lake from our room and balcony. The boating point and lake were at a stone’s throw from the hotel. And there were quiet a few dining options nearby apart from the in house dining in the hotel itself.
Lake Retreat Bhimtal Bhimtal located 300 meters from Bhimtal Lake.
Nature’s Green Resort, Saffron Stays Gardens on the Lake, The Rosefinch Sarovar Portico almost 1 km from Bhimtal Lake, Magpie Retreat at 200 meters from the Lake or Lake & Woods for the most luxury staycation in Bhimtal.
Staycation accommodation options in Nainital
Nainital, on the other hand, will be more crowded. The lakeside accommodations in Nainital will not give you the same sense of peace and tranquility as Bhimtal. As the mall road of Nainital buzzes with tourists in large number, exploring the Mall Road Nainital on walking tours till late nights. And there are many shops and other activity centres surrounding this area. However, if you must choose a staycation in Nainital, I highly recommend staying a little farther from the mall road Nainital and the main city centre. Some of the accommodation of our choice include –
However, once again, you can get better staycation in Bhimtal at the same price when compared to Nainital. Simply because Bhimtal is not as popular yet. However, there are limited accommodation options in Bhimtal when compared to Nainital. So, one must book way in advance to choose the best.
Here’s a complete list of accommodation in Bhimtal and here’s a list of accommodations in Nainital to choose from.
Nainital or Bhimtal which is better for sightseeing and buzzing activities
If you are a first time visitor, or, you like sightseeing when you visit places, then Nainital should be your preferred destination. Because, Nainital town is much larger and there are far more sightseeing options in Nainital than Bhimtal. To keep you busy and active through a sightseeing, Nainital has much more to offer. To give you an idea, here’s a list of places to explore in Bhimtal –
- Bhimtal Lake – the largest lake in Kumaon district
- The Island in the middle of the Bhimtal Lake where one can reach by boat. It has an aquarium and a cafe
- View points outside the town of Bhimtal including Hidimba Parvat
- A couple of temples including Bhimtal Mahadev Temple, 17th century Bheemeshwar Temple and Karkotak Temple
- Bhimtal Dam on one end of Bhimtal Lake that has a small garden
- Some museums including Folk Cultural Museum
- A butterfly park
There are not many shopping options in Bhimtal. And the number of cafes and restaurants is very limited. As such, one can easily cover the above places to see in Bhimtal in one day.
When it comes to sightseeing in Nainital, following are the places to visit and things to do in Nainital.
- Naina Devi Temple – one of the many Shakti Peeth Temples of India
- The Nainital Lake that provides a wonderful boating experience
- Mall Road in Nainital that is always buzzing with activities
- Aereal Cable car ride to the top of mountains
- Snow View Point where you can reach either using the cable car or by hiring a local taxi
- Nainital Zoo
- Tiffin Top viewpoint
- Land’s end – a serene picnic spot
- Eco cave gardens – a recreational park with a series of caves
- Tibetan Market or Bhutiya market
- St Johns Wilderness Church
Apart from this, the mall road in Nainital has a buzzing market which has all kind of shops including branded shops, local shops and even souvenir shops and street market. The road is as well dotted with numerous cafes, restaurants, fine dine options and road side food stalls. So, if you are looking for a vibrant destination that has a lot to offer in terms of food, sightseeing and activities and you don’t mind little crowd then Nainital is your destination.
PS: Here’s our complete list of things to do in Nainital in a day.
Nainital or Bhimtal which is better for adventure lovers
Both Nainital and Bhimtal offer certain adventure activities. For instance, I was amazed to see paragliding options available in Bhimtal. As well as ATV riding option. However, the number of options are much more in Nainital when compared to Bhimtal. So, if you are specifically looking for adventure activities then you should stay in Nainital. Some of the adventure activities for which you will find numerous options in Nainital include –
- Trekking along with overnight camping. As there are several trekking trails and camping sites right outside of Nainital
- Paragliding
- Rock climbing
- Paraselling
- Water Zorbing on the lake
- Mountain Biking
- Ropeway riding
So, if you want to enjoy adventure activities then choose to stay in Nainital as your base.
Nainital or Bhimtal which is better for shopping and food options
When it comes to shopping then Nainital has much more options than Bhimtal. From branded shops to local shops to souvenir shops, there are many options in Nainital when compared to Bhimtal. As we explored Bhimtal and walked alongside the lake, we found limited shops selling locally made items. Most of the shops catered to local population. They had daily use items and snacks like biscuits and ice creams. And some stalls alongside the lake which opened towards the evening and offered snacks like butter-bun, maggie and tea or coffee. The number of restaurants and eateries outside of the hotel premises was quiet limited in Bhimtal. And I couldn’t spot any fine dine options apart from the ones offered inside the campus of luxury accommodations.
While, the streets of Nainital have many more food and shopping options. While on our day trip to Nainital from Bhimtal, we bought some refrigerator magnets, some souvenirs. And explored the local market which had a large variety of woollen items on sale. We also enjoyed hot chocolate, coffee, and several food items along the way in different beautiful cafes, restaurants etc. The Mall Road itself has many fine dine options, quaint cafes and easy on the pocket food options as well. So, if you are someone who will like to explore the buzzing market of your destination and explore food options outside of your accommodation, then definitely go for Nainital.
What is the best way to explore Nainital and Bhimtal
Hope the above helps you determine whether Nainital or Bhimtal which is better for you to go explore and spend time. Personally, I would like to marry the best of both Nainital and Bhimtal. How? By staying in Bhimtal. And a one day of sightseeing in Nainital on a day trip from Bhimtal. This way, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. If you have visited places in South India, I would put a simple analogy for you – while Nainital is more like the main town of Ooty, Bhimtal is like Coonoor 🙂
Here’s some general tips on exploring this region of Uttarakhand , applicable irrespective of which destination you choose.
General tips on visiting Nainital or Bhimtal
How to reach Nainital or Bhimtal ?
You can reach Nainital or 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 Nainital or Bhimtal. From there, you can get a shared taxi or bus to Nainital. You can also book buses from all major cities of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh or New Delhi to Nainital. We took a round trip cab from New Delhi to Nainital and Bhimtal for our trip.
We also visited Corbett and Mussoorie along with Nainital on this trip. The distance from Nainital to Bhimtal can be covered in 1 hour. Public transports like buses and shared taxis are readily available to travel between Nainital and Bhimtal.
What is the best time to visit Nainital or Bhimtal?
For snowfall and snow sports, visit Nainital in the peak winter season of December end to February. 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 quick weekend getaway to Nainital or a staycation in Bhimtal during any month of the year by keeping an eye on the weather.
How many days are sufficient to explore Nainital or Bhimtal?
To explore the attractions in the town of Nainital itself, 2 days are sufficient. Similarly, to visit Bhimtal, 2 days are enough. As discussed above, you can also do a day trip to one of these places from the other. And if you want to explore some more places around Nainital and Bhimtal, like Almora, Ranikhet, Binsar etc. then you might want to add one day for each place you plan to visit around.
What to pack for a trip to Nainital or Bhimtal?
Irrespective of which month you are visiting Nainital or Bhimtal, always keep one layer of woollen cloths, particularly for kids. As, temperature changes suddenly and dips when it rains or snows all of a sudden. If visiting in the peak winter months, you will need proper thermal inners, gloves, caps, heavy winter jackets and snow shoes. 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. Also, generally the temperature of Bhimtal and Nainital are almost the same. With Bhimtal being just a couple of degrees higher.
Other places to explore around Nainital or Bhimtal
Since both Nainital and Bhimtal are located very close to each other, you can explore the same set of places from both of these.
For instance, you can take a trip to Jim Corbett National Park wherein you can do a tiger safari in Jim Corbett National Park and enjoy a beautiful staycation in Jim Corbett National Park in one of the many beautiful resorts that it has. And further take a road trip to Mussoorrie or Rishikesh like we did.
Or, you can go a little further up in Himalayas and enjoy an offbeat and relaxing vacation in one of the many beautiful places here like Almora, Ranikhet, Binsar or Auli.
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