boltQuick Facts10-sec scan
navigationHow I Did It
- check_circleTook the morning Shatabdi from New Delhi to Kathgodam (6:20am → 11:40am, chair car) — the only train I’d trust with kids and luggage.
- check_circlePre-booked a private taxi from Kathgodam to Nainital (~₹1,200) through our hotel — no haggling at the station with tired kids.
- check_circleStayed 3 nights in a family room near Tallital (~₹2,500/night) — quieter end, 15-min lakeside walk to Mall Road.
- check_circleBoating on Naini lake, cable car to Snow View Point, Naina Devi temple, one slow day at Bhimtal.
- check_circleAte at family restaurants; packed snacks for the kids for every outing.
alt_routeMy Route
- 1DelhiShatabdi, chair car, 6:20am
- 2Kathgodam11:40am
- 3↓ Private taxi, pre-booked~₹1,200~₹1,200
- 4Nainital, Tallitalfamily room 3 nights
- 5↓ Local: boating, cable car, Bhimtal day trip
- 6Nainital → Kathgodam → Delhireturn
articleMy Experience
June in Nainital with family is peak season — so you plan it like a military operation. We booked the Shatabdi and hotel three weeks out, and it paid off.
The morning train is the family hack: kids are fresh, the 5h20m ride has big windows and food service, and you’re in the hills by lunch. Our taxi waited at Kathgodam (hotel-arranged), and the 1.5h climb had the kids glued to the windows.
We kept the itinerary light. Day one: lake walk and boating. Day two: cable car to Snow View Point (go before 10am — later queues are brutal), Naina Devi temple, Mall Road evening. Day three: Bhimtal — quieter, prettier, kids feeding fish at the lake. Day four: slow breakfast, taxi down, afternoon train home.
The lesson: don’t overschedule a hill trip with kids. One activity a day, naps respected, everyone stays happy. Nainital is built for this pace — the lake does most of the entertaining.
account_balance_walletWhat I Spent
| Expense | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|
| Shatabdi tickets, Delhi–Kathgodam (return, 4 pax) | ₹4,800 |
| Kathgodam–Nainital taxi (return, pre-booked) | ₹2,400 |
| Family room, Tallital (3 nights) | ₹7,500 |
| Food (4 days, family restaurants) | ₹4,500 |
| Boating + cable car (family) | ₹1,500 |
| Bhimtal local taxi | ₹800 |
| Snacks, water, misc | ₹600 |
Prices are approximate and may vary.
Travelled: June 2025
lightbulbMoney Saver
Pre-booking the Kathgodam taxi through the hotel cost ~₹1,200 each way — station touts were quoting ₹1,800+ to tired families. And the Tallital room at ~₹2,500 was nearly half the Mallital lake-view rates for the same comfort.
verified_userReality Check
Booking early in peak June — the same hotel was quoting 40% more for walk-ins.
The private taxi. Shared jeeps are great solo; with kids and luggage, door-to-door was worth every rupee.
Not carrying motion-sickness medicine for the uphill drive. One kid, one bad hour — lesson learned.
The kids loved the cable car most — more than the lake.
Yes — same train, same pace. Maybe October next time for thinner crowds.
tips_and_updatesWhat I Wish I Knew
- June weekends sell out: book the Shatabdi and hotel 3+ weeks ahead.
- Cable car queues peak 11am–3pm — go early morning.
- Tallital is the calmer, cheaper end; Mallital is the postcard end. With family, calm wins.
- Carry a light jacket even in June — lake evenings are chilly.
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Written by the Wayfare founder — travelling the Himalayas on a budget and writing down everything, so the next traveler spends less.
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forumPriti
Is Nainital okay for elderly parents? The walking worries me.
The Mall Road stretch is flat and walkable, and taxis reach most viewpoints. Don’t make them do the full lake loop in one go — split it across two evenings like we did.
How did you book the Kathgodam taxi in advance?
I asked the hotel while booking the room — most Nainital hotels arrange Kathgodam pickups routinely. Confirm the price (~₹1,200) before you travel.
Is 4 days enough, or should I plan 5?
4 days was perfect — 2 travel days + 2 full days. A 5th only makes sense if you’re adding Mukteshwar or Pangot.
forum Traveler discussion (0)
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