Have you ever got stuck while planning a quick 2-day trip to Nainital?
Planning a trip can be tedious, but planning it on a tight schedule is even more challenging. Well, I have got you covered!
Nainital, a hill station in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, attracts lakhs of tourists every year and never fails to wow them with its beauty. This small town has everything you need for your next getaway. Let’s dive into how to reach, where to go and what to eat on a budget 2-day trip to Nainital.
2-Day Budget-Friendly Nainital Itinerary
How To Reach?
You can take an overnight bus or train from Delhi, which will drop you at either Haldwani or Kathgodam.
Haldwani is 43 km away from Nainital and takes 1.5 hours to reach.
Kathgodam is 35 km away and takes 1 hour to reach Nainital.
Day 1
Reach Nainital by 10 am (taking the buffer so you don’t suffer), freshen up and have a loaded breakfast because you will be going for an adventurous ride.
Head straight to Naina Devi Temple and start your day by taking blessings from Naina Devi. Along the way, you will also witness the Naina Lake and Mall Road, but for now, we will focus on visiting the temple first.
Next, take a mini-adventure trek to Naina Peak and enjoy the scenic view from a height of 8579 ft. The stretch is around 6 km, offering a stunning views of the Himalayas. You can complete the trail within 2 hours.
After a joyful trek to Naina Peak, move to another popular sightseeing place in Nainital, which is the High Altitude Zoo and enjoy being a wildlife enthusiast. You will get to see Sambar, Leopard Cat, Himalayan Bear, Royal Bengal Tiger, Tibetan Wolf and many more.
Now, head to Mall Road for lunch and try some local delicacies of Uttarakhand
After a fulfilling day, it is time to relax. After you are done with your lunch, walk down to Naina Lake – The Best of Nainital, take a boat ride and enjoy the stillness of the water. With that end your Day 1 in Nainital.
(I know you must be wondering about the budget. Don’t worry, the detailed cost breakdown is at the end of this blog.)
Day 2
Let’s start the day again with a loaded breakfast and seek blessings from Neem Karoli Baba. From Nainital, take a local bus or shared/private taxi and reach Kainchi Dham in 1 hour (recommendation: hire a private taxi for the day to avoid any commuting hassles). Stay there for 1-2 hours, take blessings and offer prashad and kambal.
Next Stop: Visit Bhimtal Lake. Enjoy a variety of adventurous water sports.
Head to Cave Garden, another popular place to visit in Nainital and get the spooky feel of the narrow cave path discovery. You can also try a zipline.
Head back to Nainital and have a late lunch after another fun-filled day.
Now that you are done with all the popular places in Nainital, it is time to sit around the Naini Lake and enjoy the scenic view with a mild, cold breeze.
With that, pack your bags and move to Kathgodam or Haldwani for your overnight journey back to Delhi.
Budget
Bus/Train to Nainital from Delhi – ₹400–₹1,500 (one way)
Bus: ₹400–₹700
Train to Kathgodam + Taxi to Nainital: ₹1,200–₹1,500
Entry To Naina Devi Temple – Free
Entry To Naina Peak – Free
Entry To High Altitude Zoo – ₹50 per person
Entry To Neem Karoli Baba Ashram – Free
Bhimtal Adventure Water Sports – ₹500 to 1000 per person depending upon the number of activities.
Entry To Cave Garden – ₹50 per person
Food – ₹1000 to ₹1800 (2 Day) per person
Commute – ₹1000 per person for shared taxi (may vary depending upon your usage and bargaining skill)
Total – An estimated ₹4500 per person
This is a detailed itinerary for your next quick Nainital trip. Enjoy!
