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TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Nainital is a valley surrounded by mountains. Nainital has pleasant summers, and chilly winters, Nainital receives snowfall between December and February. It is believed that The Naini Lake is one of the 64 religious sites where parts of the charred body of Sati (Parvati) fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva. The spot where Sati's eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or lake of the eye.

Places to see in Nainital: Naina Devi Temple, The church of St. John, Raj Bhavan, Snow View, Naina Peak, Tiffin Top.

Bhimtal is a town in Nainital district, about 22 kilometers from Nainital. The major attraction in Bhimtal is the Bhimtal Lake which has an island at its centre. Bhimtal is an ancient place named after Bhima of Mahabharata. Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple, an old Shiva temple in the bank of Bhimtal lake, is believed to have been built when Bhima visited the place during the banishment (vanvas) period of pandavas. About 5 km from Bhimtal is a hill known as Hidimba Parvat. The hill is famous for its Nag temple in the region and on every Rishi Panchami thousands of people visit the temple and worship the Nag Karkotaka Maharaj.

Ranikhet is a hill station and cantonment town in Almora district. It is the home for the Kumaon Regiment (KRC) & Naga Regiment and is maintained by the Indian Army. It is situated at an altitude of 1869 metres and within sight of the western peaks of the Himalayas. Ranikhet becomes very cold in the winters and remains pleasant in summers, and is best enjoyed from March to October. Ranikhet gets snowfall in the winter. The reserve forests of Pine, Oak and Deodar in Ranikhet, host a vast bio-diversity of flora and fauna.

Almora is a cantonment town, bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand surrounded by thick forests of pine and fir trees. Flowing alongside the city are rivers of Koshi, (Kaushiki), and Suyal (Salmale). The snow capped Himalayas can be seen in the background. Almora has many noted temples, including Kasar Devi, Banari Devi, Chitai, Jageshwar. A sun temple (there are only two in the world) is located at Katarmal within a short distance from the town.