VANAMCOVE 
Bhimtal
Bigger, quieter lake than Nainital
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- Island boat morning
- Lakeside lunch
- Karkotak temple
- Badi lake rim
- Sunset promenade
Geography & terrain
Bhimtal sits at about 1,370 m in the Kumaon hills of Nainital district, Uttarakhand — a lakeside town around the largest lake of the region (its water body more than double Nainital's), strung on the ridge roads 22 km north of Nainital and 330 km from Delhi, with the lake's island, eucalyptus fringes and hills cascading behind it.
History & culture
Named after Bhima of the Mahabharata — the lake's long boulder is linked to the Pandava's resting stone — the town's modern story began as a British-era hill retreat (the haveli-era lodges and the 19th-century lake-girt Badi lake above it); its quiet growth as Nainital's calmer sibling, with the island's aquarium and the Karkotak temple on the far shore, rounds the identity.
Where to stay
Budget
₹1,000–2,500/nightMid-range
₹2,500–5,000/nightComfort
₹5,000+/nightThings to do
Bhimtal island
Lakeside promenade
Karkotak temple
Badi lake
Sattal cluster
Eat & drink
- Kafuli (spinach curry)
- Bhatt ki dal (black soybean)
- Aloo ke gutke
- Bal mithai (Almora sweet)
Getting there
- Fly
- Dehradun (DED)
- Train
- Haridwar, Kathgodam, Dehradun stations
- Road from Delhi
- 250–450 km depending on valley
- Getting around
- Shared taxis and buses on hill roads
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹3,000–8,000 (1 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹1,000–5,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Activities
- ₹700–1,100
Month by month
Practical info
- Language: Hindi (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Connectivity: Patchy in high valleys — offline maps essential
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The island boats stop in the evenings — take them by early afternoon
- Sattal's lakes need a car — the walk-ups are steep
- March–June and September–November are the clean-window seasons; winter is crisp and cold
Frequently asked questions
For peace, space and lakeside cafes — most visitors find it the calmer, more modern base; Nainital has the mall-road bustle.
Yes — 45 minutes apart, day trips work both ways.
Buses and taxis from Kathgodam (30 km) and Nainital; the road is lined with lake towns.
Bigger, quieter lake than Nainital
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
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