How to Reach Nainital by Train, Flight, Road, Volvo, Own Vehicle

Nestled in the lap of mountains blanketed in snow and lush valleys dotted with lakes, Nainital is a picturesque hill station in Uttarakhand. Perched at an altitude of 1938 meters, the hill town is the perfect place to beat the heat and dust of the plains. Named among the best hill stations of Uttarakhand, the town makes its mark as best summer destinations in India as well as winter getaways. Tourists have all the 3 accessible options to reach Nainital – road, flight, and railhead.

These are the best ways to reach Nainital

Nainital By Air

The nearest airport to Nainital is in Pantnagar. The distance between Nainital to Pantnagar is 70 km (approx.) The travel time ranges between 3-4 hours (approx.) depending on your desired location in Nainital. The airport in Pantnagar is well connected to major domestic destinations like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Bangalore.

Nainital By Train

Train travel is an affordable mode of transport to reach Nainital. One can board the train to Kathgodam – the nearby railhead in Nainital. It is located 35 km (approx.) from Uttarakhand’s Lake Town. Regular trains from the metro cities or nearby cities are connected with Kathgodam.

Nainital By Road

If you don’t want to come by flight or train, a road journey is another best way to reach Nainital. This way of going to Nainital is famous to the people of Delhi. The average distance between Delhi to Nainital is 305 km (approx.) Therefore, the travel time would be between 7-8 hours (approx.)

Nainital By Own Vehicle

Among the most beautiful experiences in Uttarakhand, the Drive to Nainital finds its place. There are basically two routes to go to Nainital from Delhi. One route leads from Rampur, while a shorter distance is from Kaladungi. The length of 265-300 km depends on the route chosen. It takes more than 6 – 7 hours through the beautiful scenery of the Himalayas. To drive on your own, you need to have a spacious vehicle with enough space. An experienced driver can navigate the winding roads, while a novice shouldn’t attempt the drive.

Nainital by Car

Traveling to Nainital by your own car/vehicle is suggested only if you live in Delhi, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Lucknow, or other nearby towns of Nainital. This is because India’s northern region has a relatively shorter travel distance and time than India’s southern, western, and eastern regions.

Check out the Ways to reach Nainital from Nearby Destinations

How to Reach Nainital from Delhi

Delhi to Nainital by Train

Traveling to Nainital by train from Delhi is the most cost convenient method. Nainital does not have its railway station. The nearest railhead to Nainital is in Kathgodam, 35 km (approx.). The railway station is well connected with metro Indian towns like Delhi, Lucknow, Howrah, etc. The train to Nainital from Delhi is between 7-8 hours (approx.).

Delhi to Nainital by car

If you are traveling by Car/own vehicle, it is the best option to reach Nainital from Delhi. The best road to reach Nainital by your car is; Delhi-Hapur-Moradabad (Bypass) – Rampur-(Bypass)-Rudrapur-Nainital. The average time to reach Nainital is 305 km (approx.). Talking about the travel time, it is usually between 6-7 hours (approx.). To drive on your own, you need to have a spacious vehicle with enough space. An experienced driver can navigate the winding roads, while it’s best for an amateur not to attempt the drive.

Delhi to Nainital by bus

Good road connectivity offers an incredible journey from Delhi to Nainital by a bus while you enjoy mesmerizing views. Buses from Anand Vihar Bus Terminal frequently run to Nainital. The average travel time by bus to reach Nainital from Delhi is 7-8 hours (approx.) with a distance of 305 km (approx.) You can book both AC and non-AC cars online from several travel operators.

Delhi to Nainital by Volvo bus

Traveling from Delhi to Nainital by Volvo bus is an affordable mode of transport to reach Nainital. The air-conditioned Volvo buses offer the most popular mode of transportation to reach Nainital from Delhi by road. It takes approximately 7-8 hours (approx.) to reach Nainital by Volvo bus. The online booking system is the most convenient for booking AC and Non AC Volvo bus tickets. It allows you to choose from a range of travel operators and choose your preferred seat. In addition, the super luxury AC Volvo buses offer entertainment options like dual LCD screens with a central audio system for enjoying music.

How to Reach Nainital from Kathgodam

The distance between Nainital and Kathgodam is approximately 35 km, which takes about an hour or so to travel. There are two major ways of traveling from Kathgodam to Nainital: via Taxi and the other by bus. Both these means of transport are readily available outside the railway station. You can also commute in a sharing cab to divide the cost.

How to reach Nainital from Chandigarh

There are all three ways to reach Nainital from Chandigarh. All of them are described below:

By Air: You can take a flight from Chandigarh Airport to Pantnagar Airport and then take a taxi. Pantnagar Airport is approximately 68 km from Nainital.

By Road: Regular interstate buses ply between these cities, and you can get your ticket in one of those. The road connectivity is fairly smooth, making Chandigarh’s road trip equally comfortable and amusing.

By Train: While you choose railways to commute between Nainital and Chandigarh, you must take a train to Ramnagar. From Ramnagar, you will have to take a bus or a cab to Nainital. The distance between Ramnagar and Nainital is approximately 63 km, and it will take around 2 hours to reach the destination.

How to Reach Nainital from Dehradun

There are three ways to travel to Nainital from Dehradun. Here is how you can:

By Flight: You can take a flight from Jolly Grant to Pantnagar Airport and then take a taxi to Nainital. You will have to cover approximately 68 km to reach Nainital from Pantnagar Airport.