Naukuchiatal is situated in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. It is one of the unexplored places in Uttarakhand and is often called as the treasure of natural beauty. In etymological terms, Naukuchiatal’s literal meaning is ‘lake of nine corners‘. It is so called because this small hill station is blessed with an amazing network of natural and artificial lakes. Naukuchiatal offers a plenty of tourist spots for the visitors. However, boating is considered to be the best among all the options. Imagine yourself sailing in a colorful wooden boat in the midst of thick green forests of Uttarakhand. Sounds tempting right? Apart from boating, this town also offers a significant number of adventurous activities like kayaking, fishing, rowing, paragliding and paddling. Here are top 5 places of Naukuchiatal that you should visit on your trip to this beautiful town.
1. Naukuchiatal Lake
Naukuchiatal Lake is undoubtedly the most breath-taking lake in the district of Nainital. This lake is situated at an altitude of 1219 meters above the sea level and is spread across 9 corners in the town of Naukuchiatal. This lake is surrounded by a thick network of oak forests and leaves a lasting impact on your mind and soul. Naukuchiatal Lake may also attract you for its mythological value. It is believed that one can attain enlightenment on having a view of all the nine corners of the lake from a single point. This lake is also surrounded by some exotic varieties of birds and wildlife.
Visitors also love this lake for the beautiful presence of butterfly species around this lake. All these features make this lake the most photo-perfect location of Naukuchiatal.
2. Bhimtal Lake
Bhimtal Lake has been named after Bhim from the Indian epic of Mahabharata. This lake is situated in the Bhimtal town of Nainital district and lies at an altitude of 400 meter. Bhimtal is a perennial lake and is one of the largest lakes in the state of Uttarakhand. This lake is widely known for the rich presence of flora species here. Other attractions of Bhimtal Lake include rich aquatic life and rare species of trans-Himalayan birds. It is believed that the species ofbirds that are found here are hardly to be seen in any other part of this town.
One of the rarest attractions of this lake is an island restaurant which is situated in the middle of this lake. You can also have a wonderful boating experience in this lake. So if you want to spend some peaceful time away from your busy city life, you should definitely head to Bhimtal.
3. Sat Tal Lake
Sattal Lake is an inter-connected network of seven freshwater lakes flowing in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is one of the cleanest and unspoiled lakes in Uttarakhand and is situated at a height of 1380 m. During the colonial rule in India, Sat Tal Lake was popular for thefarming of tea crop as it was a major business in the Kumaon region. Sat Tal Lake is marked by the presence of thick oak and Pine forests on the top and Mehragaon Valley behind it. This place also mesmerizes you withthe rich presence of migratory birds around the lake. One can also look for camp services in Sat Tal if they desire to spend their nights under the moon.
4. Hanuman Temple
Hanuman Temple, also known as the Vaishno Devi Mandir, is situated in the midst of thick green oak trees and is considered as the most divine Temple in Naukuchiatal. This temple is located in close proximity of the sacred Bhimtal Lake and houses a majestic 52 feet long statue of Lord Hanuman.
The entire Temple complex is surrounded by artificial caves which have been designed on the terms of famous Vaishno Devi Shrine. These caves lead to all the important places in the temple including the feet of Lord Hanuman’s statue, rest house for devotees, meditation center and the ancient Shani Temple. On your visit to Naukuchiatal, you should not miss visiting this temple as it stands as the symbol of devotion and faith of this small town.
5. Junglia Gaon
Junglia Gaon is one of the most underrated places in this region of Uttarakhand. Junglia Gaon takes around 20 minutes to reach from Naukuchiatal and is often considered as the paradise for angling lovers.
Junglia Gaonmesmerizes you with its rich varieties of wild flowers and fruit orchids which are not available in any other region of the Kumaon Valley. Manually carved gardens and forest walks through rich flora and fauna are other features of this place that leave you fascinated. A significant number of tourists also visit Junglia Gaon for wildlife photography and bird viewing. Junglia Gaon is a hidden treasure in the outskirts of Naukuchiatal and should not be missed.
Set in the most magnificent part of the Kumaon Valley, Naukuchiatal is a heaven for the lovers of lakes. Features like lush green oak forests, exotic butterflies, trans-Himalayan birds and numerous adventurous activities leave you stunned on your visit to this place. If you are planning a trip to this beautiful town, make sure that you have the above 5 places in your itinerary as these places will give you the most fulfilling experience of this town.
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