Nainital district is a district in the Kumaon division of the state of Uttarakhand in northern India. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Nainital, a hill station built around the pear-shaped lake of the same name. It lies in the southern foothills of the Kumaon Himalaya and forms a transitional zone between the Bhabar plains and the higher Himalayan ranges.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttarakhand |
| Division | Kumaon |
| Headquarters | Nainital |
| Largest city | Haldwani |
| Region | Kumaon Himalaya / Bhabar |
The district occupies the southern fringe of the Kumaon hills and extends into the adjoining Bhabar and Tarai belts. Elevations range from a few hundred metres in the plains around Haldwani and Lalkuan to over 2,500 metres in the upper hill ranges. The terrain is characterised by forested ridges, glacial-origin lakes, and perennial streams. Major rivers and streams of the district include the Gola, Kosi, Bhakra and Dabka.
Nainital district is well known for its cluster of natural lakes, which give the Kumaon region the popular name "Lake District of India." Important lakes include Naini Lake, Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal and Malwatal.
The district is administered by a District Magistrate and is divided into several tehsils, including Nainital, Haldwani, Kaladhungi, Ramnagar, Bhimtal, Dhari, Betalghat, Kosya Kutauli and Lalkuan. Major urban centres are Haldwani–Kathgodam (the largest urban agglomeration and the commercial hub), Nainital (administrative headquarters and tourist centre), Ramnagar (gateway to Jim Corbett National Park), Bhowali, Bhimtal and Kaladhungi.
The hill town of Nainital was developed as a British hill station after 1841, when the British trader P. Barron is generally credited with bringing the lake to wider notice. Nainital subsequently served as the summer capital of the United Provinces during the British period. After Indian independence, the area was part of Uttar Pradesh, and on 9 November 2000 it became part of the newly formed state of Uttaranchal, renamed Uttarakhand in 2007.
The present Nainital district was reorganised in 1995, when the southern tehsils of Udham Singh Nagar were separated to form a new Udham Singh Nagar district, leaving Nainital with its current boundaries.
The economy combines tourism, horticulture, agriculture, forestry and trade. Tourism is concentrated around Nainital town, the surrounding lake belt, and Ramnagar, which is the principal entry point to Jim Corbett National Park. Haldwani serves as the principal commercial and transport hub of the Kumaon region, with wholesale markets for fruit, grain and timber. Horticultural produce includes apples, pears, plums, peaches and litchi.
Kathgodam, adjoining Haldwani, is the northernmost broad-gauge railhead in the Kumaon hills and is the main rail gateway to Nainital. National Highway 109 connects the plains with Nainital via Haldwani and Bhowali. The nearest major airport is Pantnagar Airport in the neighbouring district of Udham Singh Nagar.
Hindi and Kumaoni are the principal languages of the district, with Kumaoni dominant in the hill areas. The population is predominantly Hindu, with significant Muslim and Sikh minorities, especially in the urban areas of Haldwani and Ramnagar. Local cultural traditions include Kumaoni folk music, the Aipan art form, and festivals such as Nanda Devi Mela held annually at Nainital.
The district is home to several notable institutions, including Kumaun University (headquartered at Nainital with campuses at Almora and Bhimtal), the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) at Manora Peak near Nainital, the G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment activities in the region, and the historic Sherwood College and St. Joseph's College, Nainital. The High Court of Uttarakhand is located at Nainital.
The district contains a portion of Jim Corbett National Park, India's oldest national park, established in 1936. Other tourist destinations include the lake towns, Snow View and Tiffin Top in Nainital, the Corbett Museum at Kaladhungi (the home of the naturalist Jim Corbett), Mukteshwar with its temple and observatory, and the bird-watching area around Sattal.