Nainital - Hill station in the Indian Himalaya

According to Hindu legend when the body of Shiva's consort, Sati, was dismembered, one of her eyeballs fell into the Himalayan foothills and the emerald green Naini Lake (or Tal) was formed.

Whether this is true or not there is no denying that Nainital is unbelievably beautiful and a magnetic draw for thousands of Indians particularly during the hot season when the temperatures down on the plains of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh may reach fifty degrees. The primary attraction of this resort is its cool climate, mountain views and holiday atmosphere.

It is the primary town in the region and trips to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Gangotri and Kedanarth can be made from here. I have also included journals about the tiger-infested Corbett National Park and the town of Ramnager that can be visited from Nainital.

The best advice I can give you is to pre-book accommodation. During the Indian summer the place gets very busy and most hotels are booked out. Most of the good hotels are on the lakefront, but the cheapies are away from the lake in the bungalow-covered hillsides.

These bungalows are a legacy of the British Raj who originally built Nainital as a retreat from the heat of the plains. Some are dilapidated but most are charming if you can climb the steps to the slopes above Naini Lake. There the bungalows have been kept up with verandahs, bird tables and little English gardens.

The only way to enjoy Nainital is to walk.

The circumference of the lake takes about two hours at a leisurely pace. But your main obstacle will be getting to the hill station itself. It is set 1,938 feet up in the Himalaya and has no rail link. The nearest one is Ramnager or Kathgodam. There you will have to catch a bus (unless you have your own transport) up to the Hill station.

The twisting, mountainous roads up to Nainital are exhilarating and terrifying in equal measure. And only a driver experienced with the Himalaya should attempt them. Those yellow buffers on the edge of the roads are there for a reason - people do go over the edge. But the scenery is spectacular (although the monsoon followed us up to Nainital) and you may get a chance to see wild monkeys in the sal forests lining the mountains.