Shervani Hilltop

Overview

About this property

Shervani Hilltop is a garden resort on the Nainital hillside, 2 km from Mall Road. Its own site says it was established in 1960 and became a resort in 1981, and calls it the first garden boutique resort in the Kumaon region. The resort is a set of cottages with wooden floors and refined furnishings, spread over a green mountainside rather than stacked in one block.

The setting is the point here. The resort sits away from the town's noise but close enough that Mall Road is a short drive. Its own site promises views of dense forest and the Naini Lake, and the gallery photos show gardens, lawns and cottage exteriors that match that description.

With 48 rooms, this is a mid-size resort, not a small guesthouse and not a big hotel. Rooms range from Super Deluxe to Premium Rooms and Suites, and every room has a sit-out area, wooden flooring and modern fittings. The sit-out is a real feature in Nainital — mornings and evenings are best spent outside, looking at the hills.

Shervani Hilltop suits families and couples who want a quiet, green stay near the lake without staying on the Mall itself. It also suits small events: the open lawn hosts up to 260 guests and the banquet hall takes 60, with a projector, audio-visual equipment and Wi-Fi. If you want gardens, cottages and calm, this is a strong pick. The resort's own site sums itself up in a few words: gardens, regional cuisine, weddings and conferences, indoor activities, free Wi-Fi, cosy rooms and sit-out areas — and the stay matches that list.

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

Cottage rooms with sit-outs

The resort's own site lists 48 rooms: Super Deluxe Rooms, Premium Rooms and Suites. The rooms are in cottages with wooden floors and fine furnishings, and every room has a common sit-out area. The gallery shows spacious rooms with balconies, wooden details and views of the surrounding green.

The sit-out area is worth picking a room for. Nainital mornings are cool and clear, and a private sit-out lets you have tea outside without going to a common area. Premium Rooms and Suites give you more space; Super Deluxe Rooms are the simpler pick.

Rooms come with modern amenities, and the resort's site stresses comfort and space rather than luxury for its own sake. The rooms in the gallery look clean, warm and simply elegant, with no fuss.

Room types and prices change with the season, so the resort'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.

Food & drink

Where to eat

The multi-cuisine restaurant serves dishes from 7 AM to 10:30 PM, and its own site says you can savour local Kumaoni flavours or international cuisine there. For a resort stay, having one reliable restaurant all day matters, and this one covers breakfast through dinner.

The Nursery Cafe is the second venue: a garden-themed lounge open from 11 AM to 7 PM, serving fast food, beer and breezers. It is the casual option — a garden seat, a cold drink and a snack, rather than a full meal.

Outside the resort, Mall Road's bakeries and cafes are 2 km away. For the latest menus and meal timings at the resort's own venues, the resort's website is the right place to check.

Things to do

A day of lake, gardens and views

A good day at Shervani Hilltop starts with the resort itself. Walk the gardens in the morning, when the light is soft and the birds are out — the resort's own site lists bird watching among its activities, and the green hillside is the reason.

Then go down to Naini Lake and Mall Road, 2 km away. Boating on the lake, a walk on the Mall, and a bakery stop are the classic Nainital day. Naina Devi Temple on the north shore and the viewpoints above town — Snow View and Tiffin Top — fill the rest of the day.

Back at the resort, the afternoon is for its own activities: treks, basketball, indoor games and bird watching, all listed on the resort's site. The resort also mentions a visit to the Astronomical Observatory as a unique experience — ask at the resort, since it depends on the day.

In the evening, dinner at the multi-cuisine restaurant, or a casual drink at the Nursery Cafe before it closes at 7 PM, ends the day well. If you have a second day, Bhimtal and Sattal are the quieter lakes nearby, and Kilbury and Pangot are the birding direction.

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.

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.