Hotel Himalaya

Overview

About this property

Hotel Himalaya is a heritage hotel in Tallital, Nainital, near the bus stand and at one end of the lake. Its own site says it was built in 1918 and was the first hotel in the area to cater to the native elite when Nainital was an English hill station. With more than a hundred years behind it, the hotel keeps an old-world feel while adding modern comforts.

The location is the main reason to pick this hotel. Its own site says it is within walking distance of Mall Road and gives a view of the lake amid the misty mountains. Its own FAQ page says it is about 1 km from Naini Lake and Mall Road, and close to the bus stand. That means you can walk to the lake and the Mall, and you can also catch a bus without a long trip across town.

The hotel's own site lists spacious rooms, ample parking space, free WiFi, a restaurant, a conference hall, a games room, a kids play area, a basketball court, a badminton court and mini golf. For a family stay, that list matters: children have places to play, adults have a restaurant and a conference hall, and cars have parking space, which is not easy to find in Nainital.

Hotel Himalaya suits families and groups who want a heritage stay at the Tallital end of the lake, with room to play and park. It is not a small, quiet guesthouse. It is a larger hotel with shared spaces and games, and that suits guests who like some activity around them. If you want a very quiet stay, the lake-facing rooms and cottages are the better pick, since they sit at the higher part of the property.

Tallital itself is worth a note. It is the lower end of Nainital, where the bus stand sits and where the town feels more everyday than the Mall side. Staying here means you are close to transport and to the lake, but away from the busiest shopping stretch. For guests arriving by bus or taxi, that is a practical advantage: you reach the hotel first, settle in, and then walk or drive to the Mall when you are ready.

At a glance

What you get here

Everything above is taken from the hotel's own website. If something is not listed here, it means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Rooms

Six room types, from standard to lake-facing cottages

The hotel's own FAQ page says guests can pick from six room categories: Standard Rooms, Economy Rooms, Heritage Rooms, Deluxe Lake Facing Rooms, Heritage Family Suites, and Lake Facing Cottages. That range covers most trips: a simple room for a short stay, a heritage room for an older feel, a family suite for a group, and a cottage for a lake view.

The lake-view rooms are the ones to pick if the view matters to you. The hotel's own FAQ page says the Deluxe Lake Facing Rooms and the Lake Facing Cottages give views of Naini Lake, and that the cottages sit at the highest point of the property. A standard or economy room will not give you the same mornings, so pick a lake-facing type if you want to wake up to the water.

The Heritage Family Suite suits families who want more space in one unit. The hotel's own site talks about spacious rooms and large accommodations, and a family suite is the practical way to keep everyone together. The Heritage Room suits couples who want the older character of the hotel without booking a suite or a cottage.

Room types and prices change with the season, so the hotel's own website will have the latest list. We do not show prices here because they change often, and we do not want to show you an old price. If you book a lake-facing room, it is worth asking the hotel which floor or block it is in, since the cottages sit higher than the main rooms.

Food & drink

Where to eat

Mountain Spice Restaurant is the hotel's dining room. The hotel's own FAQ page says it serves Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with both buffet and à la carte options. That covers the day's meals in one place, which is useful on a cold or rainy Nainital day, and useful after a long walk around the lake.

The hotel's own site also lists room service and daily housekeeping among its facilities. Room service matters here because the hotel is large and the lake end of town gets busy: on a tired evening, eating in your room is a simple option. The hotel's own page also lists laundry services, a bell desk and a luggage room, which help on a longer stay.

Outside the hotel, Mall Road is about 1 km away, with bakeries, cafes and restaurants. The Nainital habit is cake and pastries with a lake view, and the Mall is the place for that. For the latest menus and meal timings at Mountain Spice, the hotel's website is the right place to check, since timings can change with the season.

One small tip: if you stay for one night only, try to have at least one meal at the hotel. The restaurant serves three cuisines, so most guests will find something they like, and eating at the hotel saves a walk back from the Mall in the evening, when the Tallital road can be busy.

Things to do

A day of lake, Mall and games

A good day at Hotel Himalaya starts at the lake, about 1 km away. Take a boat in the morning, when the water is calm and the town is still waking up. Then walk to Naina Devi Temple on the north shore, before the crowds build. The walk from Tallital to the lake is part of the day, and it is an easy one.

After the lake, walk the Mall Road. It is the town's promenade of shops and eateries, and the bakery stop for cake and coffee is part of the ritual here. The Tibetan Market is also worth a look. Snow View Point is a viewpoint above town, and Eco Cave Garden is a fun stop for children, with caves to walk through.

Back at the hotel, the afternoon is for its own games. The hotel's own site lists a mini golf course, a basketball court, a badminton court, a games room and a kids play area. That is a full afternoon for a family without leaving the hotel, and it is a good option when the weather turns or when younger children need a break from walking.

In the evening, dinner at Mountain Spice ends the day well. If you have a second day, Bhimtal and Sattal are the quieter lakes nearby, and the hotel's own site says both are about an hour's drive away. Himalaya Darshan Point is about 20 minutes away, according to the hotel's own site, and it is a good short trip for a view over the hills.

Amenities

Most popular amenities

These are the amenities confirmed on the hotel's own website. Anything not listed here means we could not confirm it from the official site, so we have not written it.

Location

Where it is, and what is near

Nainital is a lake town in the Kumaon hills. Naini Lake sits at its centre, with Mall Road running along the water and the town rising up the slopes on both sides. Most of what visitors come for — boating, the Mall, the temples and the viewpoints — is within a short walk or drive of the lake.

Naina Devi Temple stands on the lake's north shore, and the Mall Road promenade of shops and eateries runs along the water. Above the town, Snow View Point and Tiffin Top (Dorothy's Seat) give wide views over the lake and the hills. Bhimtal and Sattal, quieter lakes a short drive away, are the usual second-day trip.

Getting here

How to reach the hotel

From Delhi, the road runs flat to Haldwani on NH-9, then climbs into the hills to Nainital. The Delhi to Nainital drive is about 258 km. Start early in summer, and expect slow traffic on the climb at weekends.

The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, about 35 km from Nainital, and the nearest airport is Pantnagar, about 70 km away. Tallital bus stand is about 3 km from the lake area. From Kathgodam or Pantnagar, the rest of the journey is by taxi up the hill road.

Your Cheapcab driver knows the Nainital road well. Tell him your hotel name — the Ayarpatta and Mallital hotels sit on different sides of the lake, and the approach roads differ.

Best time

Best time to visit Nainital

March to June is the most popular time in Nainital, with pleasant days and cool evenings. October and November are clear and quiet, and good for views. Winter brings cold nights, and the higher ridges can see snowfall.

July to September is the monsoon. The hills turn green, but rain can slow the roads and hide the views. If you travel in the monsoon, keep your plans flexible.

Good to know

Before you book

Nainital sits at about 2,000 metres, so evenings are cool even in summer. Carry a light jacket through the year, and warm clothes in winter.

Mall Road is a walking promenade in the evenings. Cars do not go everywhere in the town centre, so expect a short walk from the taxi drop to some hotels.

Weekend traffic on the climb from Haldwani is real. An early start from Delhi makes the drive much easier.

The hotel's own site says the Lake Facing Cottages sit at the highest point of the property. If stairs or a slope are a problem for anyone in your group, ask the hotel about access before booking a cottage.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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Hotels are not included in the taxi fare — book them directly. Hotel photos unki official websites se li gayi hain.