Nainital is a major tourist town in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India. Nainital is a town located in the Shivalik range in the north central India of Uttarakhand. Nainital, the city of lakes, is a famous tourist destination in Uttarakhand. Nestled amidst the snow-capped mountains, this place is surrounded by lakes. The most prominent of these lakes is Naini Lake after which the place got its name Nainital. That's why it is also called 'The City of Lakes. Nainital is very beautiful no matter where it is seen. It is called the 'Lake District of India because its entire place is surrounded by lakes. Its geographical feature is unique. The lowest temperature in Nainital ranges from 27.06°C to 8.06°C. Nainital's view makes Nain happy.
Geographical Situation
The city of Nainital is located in the Shivalik range in the northern Uttarakhand state of north-central India. Founded in 1841, the town is a popular tourist destination, situated at an altitude of about 1,934 meters above sea level. The city is situated around a beautiful lake and is surrounded by forest-covered mountains. Nainital is bounded by Almora in the north, Champawat in the east, Udham Singh Nagar in the south, and Pauri and Uttar Pradesh in the west. The Himalayan region in the northern part of the district and the plains in the south have pleasant weather throughout the year.
History of Nainital
Nainital was established in the year 1841 by a person named P. Berun. P. Berun was the first European. Nainital was the summer headquarters of the British. Nainital became a famous hill station in 1847, the British also called it 'Summer Capital'. Since then till today it has retained its charm. Nainital also emerged as a major center of education during the colonial period. This place was very much liked by the British for teaching their children in a better environment. He had also made elaborate arrangements for his entertainment.
The Naini Lake surrounded by hills and all its surrounding lakes had become the center of attraction and every European citizen started coming here with the longing to settle there. Later the British-Indian government declared Nainital as the summer capital of the United Provinces and during this time many European-style buildings were built here, the Governor's House and St. John's Church are wonderful examples of this construction art.
How Nainital got its name?
Nainital is counted among the major regions of the country. It comes in 'Chhakhata' pargana. The name 'Chhakhata' is derived from 'Shashtikhata'. Shashtikhata means sixty locks. Earlier there were sixty panoramic pools in this zone. That is why this region was called 'Shastikhata'. Today this area is more known by the name 'Chhakhata'. Even today, the Nainital district has the highest number of ponds.
Here 'Nainital' (Naini Lake) which comes under the Nainital district is the main attraction here. Nainital is situated at an altitude of 1934 meters above sea level in the foothills of high mountains in the shade of dense trees on all three sides. The length of this pool has been estimated as 1,358 meters, width 458 meters, and depth from 15 to 156 meters. The specialty of the water of Nainital is that the entire range and the shadow of the trees are clearly visible in this pool.
The reflection of the clouds covered in the sky is so beautiful in this pond that to see this type of image one comes to Nainital from hundreds of kilometers away. A flock of ducks roaming in the water, the sight of boats and colorful boats swaying on the swaying pools, and the beauty of the moon-starry night add to the beauty of Nainital's pool. The water of this pool also has its own specialty. Its water turns green in summer, muddy in the rainy season, and light blue in winter.
Naina Devi's Nainital
According to the legend, Uma, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, was married to Shiva. Daksha Prajapati did not like Shiva, but he could not avoid the request of the gods, so he married his daughter to Shiva even though he did not want to. Once Daksha Prajapati invited all the deities to his place in the Yagya but did not even invite his son-in-law Shiva and daughter Uma. Uma stubbornly reached this Yagya.
When she saw all the gods being respected and her husband and herself being humiliated at her father's Yagya at Kanarvan in Haridwar, she became very sad. She jumped into the havankund of the Yagya saying that 'I will make Shiva my husband in the next life also. As a result of the humiliation you have done to me and my husband, I fail your Yagya by burning myself in the havan kund of the Yagya.' When Shiva came to know that Uma had become sati, he was very angry.
He destroyed and corrupted the sacrifice of Daksha Prajapati with his Ganas. Seeing this fierce form of Shiva, all the gods and goddesses got into thinking that Shiva should not do the holocaust. Therefore the deities prayed to Mahadev Shiva and pacified his anger. Daksha Prajapati also apologized. Shiva blessed him too. But, seeing the burnt body of Sati, his disinterest flared up. He started traveling through the sky by placing the burnt body of Sati on his shoulder.
In such a situation, wherever the body parts fell, there were Shaktipeeths. Where Sati's eyes had fallen; There in the form of Naina Devi, Uma i.e. Nanda Devi got a grand place. Today's Nainital is the same place where the Nain of that goddess had fallen. The apparition of the eyes took the form of rhythm here. Since then, Shiva's wife Nanda (Parvati) is constantly worshiped here in the form of Naina Devi. If we also look at the texture of the rhythm of Nainital, then it is the 'Tal' of the shape of the eye. Due to its mythological importance, the superiority of this rhythm is greatly appreciated. Naini (Nanda) Devi has been worshiped here since the Puranas.