Nainital Tour Packages from Delhi
Seven hours up NH9 or a night on the Ranikhet Express to Kathgodam – then Naini Lake, Kainchi Dham and the Kumaon ridges, timed to miss the Saturday queue at the town barrier.
Nainital is the Delhi family's Kumaon hill station: a town built around a lake at about 1,940 metres, a ropeway to Snow View, the Naina Devi temple at the Mallital end, and within an hour, the quieter lakes of Bhimtal and Sattal and the Neem Karoli Baba ashram at Kainchi Dham. It is close enough for a weekend – about 310 to 320 km, or seven to eight hours by car – and it has a railhead, Kathgodam, only about 35 km below the town, served by a morning Shatabdi and an overnight train from Delhi.
This page is only about Nainital from Delhi. It sets out what a trip costs for each way of travelling, the NH9 drive point by point and the quieter Kaladhungi alternative, the Kathgodam trains and the single Pantnagar flight, three plans from a two-night train weekend to five nights with Corbett, how to avoid Nainital's weekend queues and the Kainchi Dham shuttle, Delhi's school breaks and long weekends, and Kumaoni food. Trips are planned by our team in Ahmedabad and booked on WhatsApp or phone – we have no Delhi office – and each one is private, with your own cab and driver.
Updated November 2026 by the Vibrant Holidays team, Ahmedabad.
Nainital packages you can book now
Our latest Nainital packages on Vibrant Holidays — 2 to 9 nights. Every package can be customised for departure from Delhi.
Nainital package cost from Delhi (2026–27)
Our Uttarakhand packages start at ₹17,000 per person, with 24 live now. The bands below are per person on twin sharing with breakfast and dinner. Unless the row says train, they include a private cab from your door in Delhi NCR and back, shared by four adults in a sedan or SUV, with tolls, parking and driver allowance.
| Plan from Delhi | Standard (3★) | Deluxe (4★) | Premium (5★, lake-view or boutique) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 nights Nainital by train (Ranikhet Express up and back), local cab in the hills | ₹6,500 – 9,000 | ₹10,000 – 14,000 | ₹18,000+ |
| 3 nights Nainital and the lakes with Kainchi Dham, private cab from Delhi | ₹10,000 – 13,500 | ₹15,000 – 20,000 | ₹26,000+ |
| 4 nights Nainital 2, Mukteshwar 2, private cab | ₹13,000 – 17,000 | ₹19,000 – 25,000 | ₹33,000+ |
| 5 nights Nainital, Ranikhet or Kausani and Jim Corbett, Shatabdi up and cab back | ₹16,500 – 22,000 | ₹23,500 – 31,000 | ₹42,000+ |
What changes the price most: Saturday nights, Christmas to New Year and the Delhi summer vacation push lake-view rooms on the Mall 30–50% above a Tuesday in March. A room in Mallital or on the Mall costs far more than one on the Haldwani road or in Sukhatal, but saves the car and parking problem entirely. For a couple, the train plus a local cab is the cheapest way up; for four adults, a cab from home costs about the same per head and carries the luggage.
Extra on the ground: boating on Naini Lake (rowing boats, pedal boats and the yachts at the boat club), the Snow View ropeway, pony rides to Tiffin Top, Eco Cave Gardens, Bhimtal's paddle boats, Corbett jeep safari permits, the Kausani tea-estate walk, Nainital's town entry fee for vehicles where charged, lunches and tips. We name each line on your quote.
Delhi to Nainital by car, train, bus or air
By road on NH9: the drive in stages
| Point | About km from East Delhi | About hours (5 am start) | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghaziabad – Hapur | 60 | 1 | The Delhi–Meerut Expressway carries you as far as Dasna; clear the city by 6 am |
| Garhmukteshwar | 100 | 1¾ | The Ganga bridge; slow on Kartik Purnima and bathing days |
| Gajraula | 130 | 2¼ | The usual breakfast stop, with large highway restaurants |
| Moradabad (bypass) | 165 | 3 | Stay on the bypass; the city is slow |
| Rampur | 190 | 3½ | Turn north for Bilaspur and Rudrapur, or for Bazpur and Kaladhungi |
| Rudrapur – Haldwani | 230 – 275 | 4½ – 5½ | Haldwani town traffic is the worst bottleneck after Delhi itself |
| Kathgodam – Jeolikote | 280 – 300 | 5¾ – 6½ | The climb begins; a last chance for motion-sickness tablets |
| Nainital (Tallital barrier) | about 315 | 7 – 8 | Weekend queues start here; the Mall has restricted vehicle entry |
The Kaladhungi alternative: from Rampur, the road through Bazpur and Kaladhungi climbs to Nainital from the west, avoiding Haldwani and the Kathgodam climb. It is a little narrower and steeper near the top, but on a Saturday morning it can be faster, and it passes Jim Corbett's old home at Kaladhungi, now a small museum. Our drivers choose on the day.
By train to Kathgodam (as of November 2026)
| Train | Leaves | Reaches Kathgodam about | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kathgodam Shatabdi (12040) | New Delhi, about 6.20 am | Noon | Lunch in Nainital; a full afternoon by the lake |
| Uttarakhand Sampark Kranti (15035) | Old Delhi Junction, 4 pm | 10.45 pm | After a half day at work; night in Haldwani or a late drive up |
| Ranikhet Express (15013) | Old Delhi Junction, about 10 pm | 5 am | Friday-night departure for a two-night weekend |
All three run daily. From Kathgodam station, Nainital is about 35 km and 1 – 1¼ hours by cab; Bhimtal is 40 minutes. Our driver waits at the station exit with your name. The return Shatabdi leaves Kathgodam in the afternoon and the Ranikhet Express runs overnight back to Old Delhi, so both a day return and a Monday-morning arrival are possible. Shatabdi and Ranikhet Express tickets for summer and Christmas weekends sell out within days of the 60-day reservation window opening.
By bus
Uttarakhand Transport and private operators run buses from ISBT Anand Vihar to Haldwani and Nainital, including overnight AC services, taking about eight to nine hours. Buses are cheap but end in crowded bus stands at dawn; a train is usually more comfortable for families.
By air to Pantnagar
Pantnagar (PGH) is about 65–70 km from Nainital, roughly two hours by road. As of November 2026 we could see only one non-stop from Delhi, an IndiGo flight leaving IGI around noon and landing about an hour later. Door to door it saves little over the Shatabdi, so we suggest it mainly for seniors who find seven hours in a car too long.
Three Nainital plans built around Delhi weekends
2 nights – Ranikhet Express on Friday, home on Monday morning
- Friday: Ranikhet Express from Old Delhi at about 10 pm.
- Saturday: Kathgodam at about 5 am; drive up before the traffic and reach Nainital by 7. Early check-in requested; breakfast by the lake. Naina Devi temple, rowing on the lake before the afternoon wind, then the Snow View ropeway. The Mall from Tallital to Mallital in the evening.
- Sunday: Leave at 7 am for Kainchi Dham, ahead of the weekend shuttle crowd, then Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal for the day. Drop to Kathgodam for the overnight train.
- Monday: Old Delhi before dawn, home in time for office.
3 nights – private cab with Kainchi Dham midweek and Mukteshwar
- Day 1: 5 am pick-up anywhere in Delhi NCR; breakfast at Gajraula; Nainital by early afternoon, avoiding the Saturday-morning queue if you can start on a Thursday. Lake walk in the evening.
- Day 2: Tiffin Top on foot or pony, Eco Cave Gardens, Nainital Zoo and the Raj Bhavan grounds where open for visitors.
- Day 3: Kainchi Dham early on a weekday, when you can usually drive to the parking; on to Mukteshwar for the view of the Nanda Devi and Trishul peaks, Chauli ki Jali and the old IVRI campus. Back by evening.
- Day 4: Leave by 9 am via Kaladhungi and the Corbett museum; lunch at Gajraula; Delhi by evening.
5 nights – Shatabdi up, Ranikhet or Kausani, Corbett, cab home
- Day 1: Kathgodam Shatabdi from New Delhi; lunch in Nainital; boating in the afternoon.
- Day 2: Nainital and the lakes at an easy pace.
- Day 3: Drive to Ranikhet (about 2 hours) for the cantonment, the golf ground at Upat and Jhoola Devi temple; or continue to Kausani (about 4 hours) for the widest Himalayan panorama in Kumaon and a tea-estate walk.
- Day 4: Down to Jim Corbett near Ramnagar; Garjiya Devi temple on the Kosi.
- Day 5: Morning jeep safari in Jhirna or Bijrani, or Dhikala from 15 November; afternoon at the resort.
- Day 6: Drive Corbett to Delhi, about 6 hours via Moradabad.
Each plan is private: your own cab and driver in the hills and your own dates. Large Delhi families travel as a private group in a Tempo Traveller.
Beating the weekend rush: traffic, parking and Kainchi Dham
Nainital's problem is not distance but the last five kilometres. On long weekends and in May and June, the queue at the town entry can take longer than the climb from Kathgodam, and in May 2026 a long weekend left traffic stuck for hours around Nainital and Kainchi Dham. The district police issue a traffic plan every Friday for the weekend; on the busiest days vehicles are held at parking areas outside the town and visitors are carried in by shuttle. How we plan around it:
- Time the climb: reach Kathgodam before 9 am or after 6 pm on Saturdays and long-weekend days. Leave Nainital before 10 am on Sunday, or stay on to Monday.
- Book parking with the room: many Mall Road hotels have no parking at all. For a self-drive we choose a hotel with confirmed parking or one on the Haldwani road with space.
- Leave the car: once in town, walk the Mall or use cycle-rickshaws and the ropeway. Driving between Tallital and Mallital on a weekend wastes an hour.
- Kainchi Dham on weekdays: since early 2026 the police have run a weekend shuttle, stopping private vehicles at Bhimtal and Bhowali. In October 2026 more than 50,000 people came in a single weekend, and the district proposed advance registration with a daily cap; as of November 2026 that was not final. On the 15 June foundation-day fair, no private vehicles go near the ashram at all. A Tuesday to Thursday visit, early in the morning, is far calmer.
- Delhi exit: on Friday evenings NH9 through Ghaziabad and Hapur crawls. A 5 am Saturday start beats a 6 pm Friday start by hours.
Delhi holidays that suit Nainital
- Christmas weekend: 25 December 2026 is a Friday. Nainital's Mall is lit up and full; book by November.
- Directorate of Education winter break: 1 to 15 January 2027 for Delhi government schools. Cold and mostly clear, with a chance of light snow on the higher ridges such as China Peak and Kilbury; never certain.
- Republic Day: 26 January 2027 is a Tuesday, so a Monday off makes four days.
- Holi and Good Friday: both fall in late March 2027. Rhododendrons, mild days and good value before summer.
- Summer vacation: roughly mid-May to the end of June. The busiest weeks of the year; travel midweek and book by March.
Month by month: Nainital for Delhi travellers
| Month | Nainital weather | Delhi then | Our view |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 0 – 12°C; occasional light snow | Winter break 1–15 Jan; fog on NH9 at dawn | Good for a cosy break; drive after sunrise |
| February | Cold, clear | Exams | Quiet and good value |
| March | Mild; rhododendrons begin | Holi, Good Friday | Very good |
| April | About 10 – 24°C | Heat building | Very good |
| May | Pleasant | Above 40°C; vacation from mid-May | Peak; weekdays only |
| June | Pleasant until the monsoon, often late June | Vacation continues | Peak; Kainchi fair on 15 June |
| July – August | Monsoon; landslides on hill roads | Monsoon at home | Only with flexible dates |
| September | Rain easing late | Pleasant evenings | Late month |
| October | Clear, crisp; long Himalayan views | Dussehra; smog begins | Excellent |
| November | Cool, sharp views from Snow View and Mukteshwar | Diwali; worst air | Excellent; Dhikala opens 15 Nov |
| December | Cold; frost in the mornings | Christmas weekend | Busy last week |
Food and practical tips for Delhi travellers
- Eating on the way: Gajraula's big highway restaurants are the standard breakfast stop; after Haldwani, options thin out until Nainital, so eat before the climb, and lightly.
- In Nainital: North Indian vegetarian food is everywhere on the Mall, along with momos and street corn by the lake. Pure-veg and Jain meals are arranged at our hotels with notice.
- Try Kumaoni dishes: bhatt ki churkani (black soybean curry), aloo ke gutke, ras-bhaat, and for sweets bal mithai and singori from Almora, sold in Nainital's Bara Bazaar.
- Clothes: even in May, evenings drop to about 14°C; from November to February bring a heavy jacket, caps and gloves.
- Driving your own car: keep FASTag topped up, carry the car's papers and pollution certificate, use low gear on the Jeolikote and Kaladhungi descents, and avoid the hills after dark in the monsoon.
- Lake and ropeway timing: boats and the ropeway get long queues by late morning on weekends; go at opening time.
- Corbett: safari permits are released online with daily limits and need each passenger's ID; send details as soon as dates are fixed.
Why book your Nainital trip from Delhi with Vibrant Holidays
- Planned remotely, stated plainly: our team works from C G Road in Ahmedabad and has planned trips for 11 years. There is no Delhi office; plan on WhatsApp or phone and get every document as a PDF.
- Timings that avoid the queues: pick-up, train and Kainchi Dham visit set for the quiet hours, with the driver choosing Haldwani or Kaladhungi on the day.
- Hotels chosen for parking and walking: car access and parking confirmed, or a Mall-side room where you will not need the car.
- Private trips only: your own cab and driver; extended families travel as a private group on their own dates.
- Support throughout: 24×7 WhatsApp help on the trip and the toll-free 1800-313-4262. IATA-accredited; member of TAAI, TAFI, ADTOI and IATO; recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
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Get a Free Quote WhatsApp 9089090790Nainital tour from Delhi: FAQs
How much does a Nainital tour package from Delhi cost?
Our Nainital packages currently start at ₹17,000 per person for 2 nights. Most of our Nainital packages fall between ₹25,000 and ₹40,000 per person. The final cost depends on the travel month, hotel category, number of travellers and whether flights from Delhi are added. Open any package below to see exactly what is included, or ask us for a quote with flights.
How far is Nainital from Delhi by road?
About 310 to 320 km via Hapur, Moradabad, Rampur and Haldwani on NH9, then the climb from Kathgodam. A private cab takes seven to eight hours with a breakfast stop at Gajraula. Leaving Delhi by 5 am avoids the worst traffic in Ghaziabad and at the Nainital entry.
Which train is best from Delhi to Kathgodam?
For a daytime trip, the Kathgodam Shatabdi leaves New Delhi at about 6.20 am and reaches Kathgodam around noon. For a weekend, the overnight Ranikhet Express leaves Old Delhi at about 10 pm and arrives about 5 am. Both run daily. Nainital is then about 1 to 1¼ hours by road.
Can we do Nainital from Delhi in a weekend?
Yes. Take the Ranikhet Express on Friday night, spend Saturday at the lake and ropeway and Sunday at Kainchi Dham and Bhimtal, and return on Sunday night's train to reach Delhi early Monday. By car it is tighter, since seven to eight hours each way leave little time.
Is there a flight from Delhi to Nainital?
The nearest airport is Pantnagar, about two hours from Nainital. As of November 2026 we could see one IndiGo non-stop from Delhi, leaving around noon. Including airport time, it saves little over the Shatabdi, so we suggest it mainly for senior travellers who cannot manage a long car journey.
How do we avoid traffic jams in Nainital on weekends?
Reach Kathgodam before 9 am or after 6 pm on Saturdays, leave Nainital before 10 am on Sunday, and stay in a hotel with confirmed parking or within walking distance of the Mall. On peak days police hold vehicles outside town and run shuttles, so arriving early matters.
Can we drive to Kainchi Dham on a weekend?
Usually not right up to the ashram. Since early 2026 police have run a weekend shuttle, stopping private vehicles at Bhimtal and Bhowali, and the 15 June fair is shuttle-only. Advance registration with a daily cap was proposed in October 2026 but not final as of November. Weekday mornings are far easier.
Is Nainital crowded during the Delhi summer vacation?
Yes. From mid-May to the end of June, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana holidays overlap, and Nainital is among the busiest hill towns in North India. Travel Sunday to Thursday, book by March, and consider Mukteshwar or Bhimtal for half your nights, as both are calmer.
Does it snow in Nainital during the Delhi winter break?
Sometimes, but it is never certain. Light snow falls on Nainital and the higher ridges such as China Peak in some winters, usually between late December and February. Delhi government schools break from 1 to 15 January 2027. Mukteshwar is higher and has slightly better chances.
Can we combine Nainital and Jim Corbett from Delhi?
Yes. Corbett's Ramnagar side is about two hours from Nainital and about six hours from Delhi, so it fits well at the end of a trip. Jhirna is open all year, Bijrani from mid-October, and Dhikala from 15 November. Permits are limited daily, so book early.
Should we drive our own car from Delhi to Nainital?
Many Delhi families do, and the road is good up to Haldwani. The hard parts are the hill climb, weekend queues and scarce parking in town. Book a hotel with parking, keep FASTag topped up, and leave the car parked once you arrive, using the Mall and ropeway on foot.
Do you have an office in Delhi for Nainital bookings?
No. Our team in Ahmedabad plans the trip on WhatsApp or phone. You get a day-wise plan with named hotels and a clear quote, pay online against an invoice, and receive train tickets, vouchers and the driver's details as PDFs, with 24x7 support while you travel.
