Shimla or Nainital for week in August?

NBSF

I've been working on an itinerary for August-Sept. for some time now (no choice on timing) and recently decided to take out ~1 week of busy desert time to spend more time relaxed, greener, cooler environment with more options for outdoor activities, and some nice mountain scenery.

We have about 6-7 days to work with to get away from and then back to Delhi, and having done lots of reading, I think so far two options are sounding best:

1) Shimla and then a couple of days at another nearby place (Manali seems like it might be too far to include in a relaxing week?

2) Nainital, and possibly continuing to Almora and/or Kausani

I would very much appreciate any input from members regarding a few questions:

1. Which one would be the best experience, factoring in August weather? I've read a lot of posts on this and it sounds like August '07 was an especially wet one, and we might even have been stranded in Shimla had we been there...

2. If I was to assume that even if we can dodge rain it would probably be cloudy most of the time, would Himalaya views be reachable in either case?

3. Are there options for nicer resort-type hotels outside of Shimla but not too far away? Most of what I've found is on the guest-house end of things.

4. Do the stops I've listed sound like enough for a week? Anything you might add?

And of course, all things considered, where do you suggest we go for a relaxing but ocassionally active (like day hikes or renting a boat) week and also to hopefully take in some really beautiful scenery?

Thanks so much - can't wait for august to arrive!

Dilliwala

Hi there,

1. Both will be rainy, but I think Nainital/Almora is a better option.

2. You'll need a lot of luck. However a heavy downpour will sometimes clear the air for a while, and then the view is OUTSTANDING.
Be mentally prepared though for no views at all.

3. HP Tourism runs very decent hotels at Fagu and, further away, Narkanda. There's a few private places too; I read of a new one at Narkanda a few days ago, but don't recall the name. Search for "Narkanda" in the HP forum.
Nearer to Shimla is the very pricy Wildflower Hall run by Oberoi.

4. Yes, just right, considering you have to drive too. I wouldn't stay in too many places, day-trips are always possible to nearby places.
Boating at Nainital and the other lakes, 30 mins away. Day hikes can be done anywhere, UA or HP (watch out for leeches! Carry salt). Fix your destination first, then more fine-tuning can be suggested on this front.
Also take a look in the Trekking forum - plenty of info there. Cheers.

puchoo

IMHO if you do continue to Almora and Kausani then dont maybe not Shimla. But if its purely Nainital Vs Shimla then i would suggest Shimla...

Get off the main tourist path and you can find yourself in clean, quiet and really really green surroundings in which to relax while barely being as little as 45 minutes away from say mall road.

You can google the following and read up on them...

Potters Hill - just before Shimla, in the middle of a reserve forest, cottages , meals under the trees and open sky.....get the picture?

Naldehra - The Chalets Naldehra, this is after Shimla towards Mashobra. Lovely place, swiss cottages, excellent service, bonfires and barbeques, heated pool, spa...and affordable. Small treks and walks around the place.

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Cheers!

Sidharth

puchoo.wordpress.com

shashank.aggarwal

Shimla any day for me..better roads, well managed..

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Random Reviews

Piyush

I would rate Nainital better than Shimla...

puchoo

basis what?

Piyush

1)Nainital is not as conjusted as Shimla..
2) Lots of near by places to visit like
Bhimtal,Sat Tal,Naukuchiya Tal,
Snow View, Tiffin Top,Hanuman Temple(Hanuman Garhi),zoo etc
3) Cable Car, Boating
4) Nice places within 60km(2hrs journey) of radius like
Ranikhet,Almora,Ramgarh,Muktes hwar(excellent views of the Himalayas).
5) There is a observatory(ARIES) just 8-10kms from Naninital from where you can see the various planets of our solar system.

puchoo

1. It is , its just smaller.

2. Can say the same for Shimla.

3. Walking, trekking, cable car (at parwanoo anyway)

4. Kufir, Narkanda, Mashobram , Fagu , chail...

5. Skies are clear and bright enough to not need one.


Not trying to pick an argument. There are arguments against both places as well as in favour, at the end of the day its OP's choice....

jyotirmoy

I would choose Himachal because of better roads.

puchoo

Good to see you back Jyoti..where had u been all this while?

jyotirmoy

Hi puchoo,
Was busy planing my trip to Germany and also missed the last meet up

puchoo

Happy travels then!! Hope to see you before you go but unlikely i think given our plans as well.

Dilliwala

puchoo is disqualified on the basis that Shimla is his home-town and therefore he's biased (Parwanu for cable-car? Two hours away? Tsk tsk).


(Don't beat me up. But sorry to say, and see, that Shimla's become a concrete jungle in a way that Nainital hasn't. Yet)

Guys, let's not confuse the OP, who named specific circuits for comparison. This is not about Shimla vs. Nainital (altho between the two I wud choose the latter becos of the traffic restrictions at the former - very inhibiting).
Nor is a state-to-state road comparison relevant. The roads to and around Nainital/Almora are excellent (Rampur-Bilaspur is NOT in UA, UP to blame ), and that's what matters in this case. And they're a little less trafficked than NH 22.

puchoo

Atleast i was honest enough to say it was in Parwanoo..

shashank.aggarwal

Then what puchoo, you have all those lifts taking you from Circular road to Mall road...

Don't worry, I am with you on this, the food is amazing..the only food you get in UP and UA is crap..