By road
~22 km from Nainital
North India · Uttarakhand
Bhimtal, Uttarakhand
A larger, quieter lake than Nainital's · ~22 km from Nainital
Getting there
By rail
Kathgodam, ~22km
By air
Pantnagar Airport, ~55km
Best time to visit
March to June and September to November — mild and clear
Don't miss
Bhimtal Lake
Bhimeshwar Mahadev temple
Naukuchiatal
Sattal
Things to do
Boating to the lake's island
Paragliding
Birdwatching at Sattal
Lake walks
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Krishan09 · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Light woollens, walking shoes
A quieter corner
Sattal's cluster of seven lakes in the oak forest
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bhimtal?
March to June and September to November — mild and clear. What to pack: Light woollens, walking shoes.
How do I get to Bhimtal?
The nearest airport is Pantnagar Airport, ~55km. The nearest railway station is Kathgodam, ~22km.
What is there to do in Bhimtal?
Boating to the lake's island, paragliding, birdwatching at Sattal, lake walks. A quieter find: Sattal's cluster of seven lakes in the oak forest.
What should I eat in Bhimtal?
Kumaoni dishes, bal mithai and hot tea by the lake.
About Bhimtal
- Lakeside
- Hills
Where it is
Bhimtal is a lake town in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, India, in the Outer Lesser Himalaya at about 1,370 m, around 22 km from Nainital.
History
Bhimtal is named after Bhima of the Mahabharata, and the old Bhimeshwar Mahadev temple stands by the lake; the town lay on the old route between the Kumaon hills and the plains.
People
Bhimtal's people speak Kumaoni and Hindi, and the town is a quiet market and lake town where boatmen, shopkeepers and farmers from the surrounding villages meet.
Known for
- A large lake with an island
- The Bhimeshwar Mahadev temple
- The lakes of Naukuchiatal and Sattal nearby
- A quieter pace than Nainital
Did you know?
Bhimtal's lake is larger than Nainital's and has a small island in its middle.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.