Nainital, Honeymoon Trip in week 4, February, 2009

4travelonly

Hi, Friend looking for your suggestion regarding for my first trip to Nainital, Uttarkhand.
1. First of all, I want to know about the weather of Nainital in the last week of February.. specially for a lady (my wife) who’s native is Hyderabad..…she never faced chill winter season
2. Suggestion for hotel keeping in mind that it is honeymoon trip… what about Chevron Hotels (Rs. 4444 +8% tax for two persons for 2 days) or KMVN guest house or any other in your view…
3. My Budget of Rs. 20000 (for 3 nights) is OK or not..if not then what is the minimum budget should be…
4. Length of the stay four day and three nights is this OK or not..
My current plan is as follows:
26th February: Start from Lucknow for Kathgodam
27th February: Reach Kathmandu in morning then from their reach to nainital and check in the hotel take 1one hour rest then visit some local sites..like Nain lake for boating, Naina Devi Temple, Hanumangarhi, St.-John-in-the-Wilderness Church. In evening visit market…
28th February: Visit Sat Tal, Bhimtal, Naukuchia Lake and Kilbury
1st March: Visit Zoo, Sukha Tal, Mallital, Visit ropeway ride snow view and other remaining place in Nainital.
2nd March :, Naina Peak or China Peak, Lands End, Dorothy Seat & Tiffin Top, in the evening return to kathgodam and catch night train for Lucknow at 9:55 pm..

IInd Plan:
Instead for Nainital, go to Mussoorie and stay in Hotel Honeymoon Inn.. They are charging Rs. 9550/ (off seasons price ) for 3 nights honeymoon special room (http://www.hotelhoneymooninn.net/mus...html#honeymoon)
Your view about my plan and your suggestions is very important for me..please help me out
Thanks a lot…

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4travelonly

Dilliwala

Hi, do read the other Nainital threads in this forum - there's plenty of info in them.

1) It will be pleasant during the day when the sun is out, cold at night. Hotels generally provide enough warm bedding. The fancy ones will probably have room heaters, at mid-range hotels heaters may be charged for.

2) KMVN's most expensive room costs under 1000. Generally KMVN is a decent deal.

3) Yes, specially if you pay under 1000 a day for accom.

4) 28 Feb - leave out Kilbury and just concentrate on the lakes this day. Do it on 2nd March.
1st Mar - Sukhatal is a km from Mallital, which is simply the northern end of the lake. When you mention local sites and market on 27 Feb, these places get covered in that already.
Note: One KMVN is at Sukhatal, one at Snowview. 3rd one at Tallital.

4travelonly

Thanks a lot Dilliwala....
your suggestions are price less..

Is KMVN is good for honeymoon trip? if not then....any suggestions..

Dilliwala

Yes, the more pricey rooms are good enough.
Do look at other threads on Nainital for more hotel suggestions.

rajsree123

4travelonly

I stayed at the Tallital KMVN guesthouse in December and the room was very good. We took one of the lakefacing upper rooms and except for climbing the steps, it was wonderful. The KMVN people are very friendly and helpful. I was told by our driver that the Tallital area is less crowded and its got a fantastic view. We took a boat ride (absolute delight!) to the NainaDevi temple across the lake and then walked back through the markets to the guest house. We finished seeing pretty much everything around the lake in one day

I agree

blwetorch

Agreed............

you can also try the lake-side hotels, further up n the Mall-road...namely Elphinstone, Everest, Alka or Grand..........these are a lttle more expensive than the KMVN at Tallital....but I believe, they are better located.

4travelonly

Thanks a lot rajsree123 and blwetorch...
Now I am fixing KMVN (Executive room)...
Yesterday, i went to KMVN office they suggested me few more places. According to them:
From Kathgodam I have to go to Binsar (stay first night)
Second day kausani over night stay there
Third day Ranikhet over night stay there
Fourth day Nainital and stay there at least 2 night (where as I am thinking 3 night to finish all points in and nearby nainital)
Yes all this increase my initial budget (No issue...)
What you people suggest is this OK or you want to suggest any other palace or any other idea...
Please provide your valuable suggestions...

Dilliwala

I REALLY wudn't want to change hotels every night. Binsar is a good idea, but then I wudn't go to Kausani as well - the views are similar. Choose either, and stay for two nights.
You can also go to Ranikhet, no issue. I wud try to stay for two nights if poss.
And don't let KMVN browbeat you into anything you don't really want to do - it's YOUR holiday/trip!

blwetorch

Agreed with Dilliwala........Binsar and Kausani have almost the same view, so one of them can be avoided ( which one?...depends on how your logistics, stay arrangement, vehicles, etc work out).

Ranikhet seems to be close to Dilliwala's heart, and with good reason....so he is suggesting 2 nights there

Personally I prefer Nainital..........so my personal suggestion is give that extra day to Nainital.

Take your pick...you won't regret either of those options.

4travelonly

Thanks a lot for Dilliwala and blwetorch…
After reading about both places (Binser and Kasauni)…..I am Fixing Binsar…..
I read about Chaukori …...is it same as Binser or different...Is it worth to go Chukori...If yes how much time is enough for this place...
Now few points about taxi….i am planning to take Indica or Alto…..via Anil (09719276921)..
1. As we know, it is Off season….. Is it not OK to Book Taxi in Advance…Is it not best to take taxi after reaching Kathgodam which one is economical and good option….?
2. Shall I take taxi for entire trip which is nearly 5 to 6 days. (Kathgodam to Kathgodam) or shall I take it only for 3 to 4 days, which cover Kathgodam ----Binsar--- Chaukori(if you people suggest)---Ranikhet ---Nainital. And left taxi after reaching Nainital…. Because I feel I can take local taxi in Nanital for in and around location of Nainital…
Please suggest me……
Thanks a lot for you valuable suggestion…..

blwetorch

It is definitely worth going to Chaukori......about 150 kms from Binsar. You can see the Himalayas from up close....much closer than in Binsar. It would take you about 6 hours drive to reach Chaukori via Bageshwar.........the roads are very good. But then, this means 2 continuous days of hectic traveling, assuming that the next day, you shall be returning ...all the way to Ranikhet( about 200 kms - 8 hrs drive. You can actually also consider dropping Binsar and going to Chaukori straight-away from Kathgodam( 270 kms - 10 hrs drive). That will save you a day, but can be quite hectic.

Your 2nd option of closing off the vehicle deal at Nainital, seems OK with me..........this will effectively save a day's money. There are a whole lot of options in Nainital for reaching Kathgodam. Again, I would prefer to book the vehicle in advance anyway. That can give you more time over telephone to strike a bargain......and also, it takes care of a sub-conscious botheration.
Also, check out these 2 threads below-:

Binsar & Chaukori - Heaven in Kumaon

chakrata chakori chopta or else

livinhimalayas

for a newbie to the mountains Nainital is interesting, but for old hands like Dilliwala and me, Ranikhet is a better bet. I would get tired of Nainital after a few hours and prefer Ranikhet to spend more time.
Of Kausani and Binsar, Binsar is definitely better. But keep in mind that I prefer the rugged rustic life of Garhwal to the moe manicured places of Kumaon, so my views are tempered by my preferences.

__________________
He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees. - Benjamin Franklin

blwetorch

Ranikhet, like many other hill-stations, is a place which takes some time to appreciate. For example, if you have the luxury of staying for a month......you'll get tired of Nainital...but Ranikhet will be very soothing.
For the normal tourists, who are always on a tight schedule, the latent charms of Ranikhet hardly registers on their minds. Almora too can be considered in this bracket.
On the other hand places like Kausani, Binsar, Chaukori, etc ( with a shocker of a Himalayan view)...or even Nainital ( with an electric atmosphere) easily attracts the fleeting mind/ attention of the lay tourists.
Ranikhet for 5 days is a good idea......but Ranikhet for just one night-halt or even 2 days is a waste of time...in my opinion.

Dilliwala

You know what? I've only stayed there once in my life, when I was 15.......months, that is. Haven't managed another stay yet.
But, having passed thru there twice in the last few years, I realised I like the drive in and out - with two hours of driving parallel to the snow ranges, it has got to be the best "snow drive" in UA, maybe the entire Himalaya too.
I wasn't going to suggest it for this trip though - but since 4t seems keen to visit, therefore I suggested 2 nights (you know what I think about single-night stays , only if unavoidable.)

You really don't have the time for Chaukori in 4 days. Unless you do 2 nights there (as blwetorch suggests, and I agree of course), and 2 nights Nainital - that's it. Otherwise all you'll be doing is driving around.
Leave Chaukori for another time.

Anil's rates are very reasonable - so if you're thinking that you may find someone cheaper, I seriously doubt it, at least not without spending a lot of time hunting. You see, all the local drivers know that someone hiring on the spot basically wants to get moving immediately and is not going to spend 2 hours just trying to fix up a taxi, so you won't have a lot of success bargaining. Besides, there's not much choice at KGM, you'll have to get off at Haldwani.
Other than that, I think it's better to book a bit in advance (certainly after your dates/tickets are absolutely final) becos you're not sending Anil any money, and what if he or his brother are both engaged when you arrive?

Yes, no prob to release the car at Nainital as blwetorch says.

I can do without Nainital town any time. I did find it useful though as a base for seeing surrounding areas - the lakes one day, Pangot/Vinayak another day, etc.

blwetorch

Yes, I agree.........fitting in Chaukori along with Binsar....and then coming back all the way to Nainital is a lot of hectic and daily driving, which is best avoidable, as Dilliwala suggests.
And as he suggests....keep Chaukori for a future tour....and limit yourself to Binsar, Nainital and Ranikhet..............that way, you remain within a comfortably drivable circuit....otherwise Chaukori takes you too far away......and increases the driving hours.