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The crescent of Nainital Lake seen from above, with boats on the water and forested slopes on both sides
ArticleVerified 2026-10-05

How to reach Nainital — distances and drive times

How to reach Nainital from Delhi, Kathgodam, Haldwani, Pantnagar and Almora by road, with measured distances and times and the nearest railway and airport.
Photo: Slyronit · CC BY-SA 4.0

How these numbers were made

From Delhi and Chandigarh we ask a public OpenStreetMap router for a free-flow car time. From Kathgodam and inside the hills we use our own BRouter routing. Buses are slower, and traffic and mountain roads add time, so treat every figure as the least you should plan for.

From where you are

  • Delhi: about 280 km, 5 hours free-flow, more in practice.
  • Chandigarh: about 456 km, 7 hours free-flow.
  • Kathgodam railway station: 36 km, about 80 minutes.
  • Haldwani: 43 km, about 90 minutes.
  • Pantnagar airport: 74 km, about 119 minutes.
  • Almora: 64 km, about 125 minutes.
  • Mukteshwar: 49 km, about 108 minutes.

By air, rail and bus

The nearest airport is at Pantnagar and the nearest big railway station is Kathgodam, on the edge of Haldwani. We have no verified train, flight or bus timetable, so check current services.

Once you are there

Nainital Lake and the Naina Devi Temple are in town. Kainchi Dham is about 18 km and 43 minutes out, Bhimtal Lake 47 minutes and Sattal 49. See things to do in Nainital, the one-day plan and the two-day plan.

Plans that include this

All Nainital itineraries →
Rows of boats with red cushioned seats moored on Nainital Lake, with forested hills across the water
Day plan · First visitleisure
One day in Nainital — the lake, the Naina Devi Temple and Kainchi Dham
A one-day Nainital plan: the lake and its boats, the Naina Devi Temple on the north shore, then the Kainchi Dham ashram on the Almora road. Free to copy.
Best Mar–Jun · Oct–Nov
See the plan →
Bhimtal Lake under a blue sky with houses on the slope beside it
1 night · 2 days · First visitleisure
Two days in Nainital — the lakes, Kainchi Dham and Sattal
A two-day Nainital plan: the lake, the Naina Devi Temple and Kainchi Dham on day one, then Bhimtal Lake and the seven lakes of Sattal on day two. Free to copy.
Best Mar–Jun · Oct–Nov
See the plan →

Questions people ask

How far is Nainital from Delhi?

About 280 km by road on our routing, where free-flow routing says 5 hours, and traffic and hill roads usually add several more. Wikipedia gives two figures, 314 km and 345 km, so published numbers vary. Plan on a full day with an early start, and leave Haldwani for the climb before the afternoon rain in the monsoon.

What is the nearest railway station and airport?

Kathgodam is the nearest big station, about 36 km and 80 minutes below Nainital on our routing, and Wikipedia says it is linked to nearly all major cities. Pantnagar airport is about 74 km and 119 minutes away on our routing, and Wikipedia says 71 km. Check current flights and trains.

What roads lead to Nainital?

Wikipedia says National Highway 109, formerly National Highway 87, runs from Haldwani, 40 km away, and State Highway 13 comes from Bajpur, 60 km away. On our routing Haldwani is about 43 km and 90 minutes. Almora is about 64 km and 125 minutes, and Mukteshwar about 49 km and 108 minutes.