My Nainital Trip: Thunder, Scooters, and a Night of Fake Jamming
A few days after coming back from Jaipur, the travel bug hadn’t left me. This time I wasn’t going solo. My best friend and I decided to head to Nainital, with almost no planning and a lot of enthusiasm.
The Bus We Almost Missed
We were taking an overnight bus from Delhi’s Kashmere Gate, but we didn’t exactly know where the pickup point was. We wandered around trying to find it, and by the time we spotted the bus, we were minutes away from missing it. Thank god we didn’t.
We travelled the whole night and reached Haldwani in the morning. From there we took a connecting shared taxi up to Nainital, and by the time we arrived, it was already afternoon.
A Scooter at 500 Rs a Day
The moment we got down, we were surrounded by people renting out scooters. We took one on the spot for Rs 500 per day, which felt like a fair deal. It ended up being one of the best decisions of the trip, and you’ll see why in a bit.
Back at GoStops
Just like in Jaipur, I had booked a GoStops hostel here. I’d say this one was better than the Jaipur branch. The crowd was younger and there were a lot more people around, which gave the place a lively vibe.
One fun thing about this hostel chain is that you can order food anytime you want, since the kitchen is open 24×7. The quality varies from time to time: some dishes are decent, some are bad, and some are genuinely good. But take my advice and never try their veg momos. Haha, it was a nightmare.
We settled into our dorm, which we shared with two other couples, had lunch, and got ready for our first adventure.
The Tiffin Top Trek (and the Lightning Bolt)
After lunch, we headed to Tiffin Top. It’s a trek, and here’s my tip: wear proper shoes. We hadn’t planned any of this, so we were in our normal shoes, and there were several moments where we almost slipped and cracked our heads open.
Halfway up, it started drizzling, and then the thunder began. Just a few metres from us, there was a loud crack, and we saw a lightning bolt hit a tree with a huge spark. We prayed all the way to the hilltop. Haha.
After almost an hour of hiking, we reached the top and the view made it all worth it: a partial view of Nainital town that was truly mesmerising. There were small shops selling snacks, so we sat down with Maggi, tea, and water.
Softies and a Boat Ride on the Lake
Back down at the lakeside, we got ourselves a softie, which is supposed to be ice cream but… isn’t quite? I still can’t explain it.
Then came the highlight. We took a boat ride to the middle of the lake, and it was one of the best things you can do in Nainital. 10/10, would recommend. By the time we finished the ride, it was dark.
We found a pretty cafe/bakery and grabbed something to eat. I only remember the cheesecake, and I’ve completely forgotten the rest. We went back to the hostel, had dinner there, and called it a night.
Neem Karoli Baba’s Temple
The next day we visited Neem Karoli Baba’s temple. To be honest, we didn’t know who he was until we got there and learned about him. Here’s a tip: if you’re going by four-wheeler, leave early in the morning, or you’ll be stuck in hours-long traffic. Since we had a scooter, we reached much faster. That was the payoff I mentioned. Even so, the crowd there was unreal.
Trying a Kumaoni Thali
Shortly after, we visited an authentic Kumaoni restaurant and ordered a Kumaoni thali. As someone from a Nepali and northeastern background, I’d tell everyone to try it at least once. I’d rate the food a solid 6/10.
Bhimtal: Big, But Less Pretty
We also visited Bhimtal Lake, which looked bigger than Nainital’s lake and quite similar, but comparatively less pretty. You won’t notice a huge difference between them, though.
The Musical Night
The night before we left, the hostel organised a musical night. My friend and I were so excited that we were the first ones to reach the hall. Then the music started, and we realised we didn’t know any of the songs. Maybe one or two, but nothing new. So we did the only sensible thing: we pretended to jam along. It was a funny experience, and one I won’t forget.
Final Thoughts
Nainital was the kind of trip that works best when you don’t over-plan it. A nearly missed bus, a lightning strike a few metres away, a scooter that saved us from traffic, and a hostel night full of fake jamming made it a memory I’ll keep.
Have you been to Nainital? Tell me your favourite spot in the comments.