Bhimtal, named after the mythological Bhima of the Mahabharat, is near Nainital in Uttarakhand. The city has come up around one amongst a group of the many natural lakes in Nainital, the Lake District in the state.
The small green city at an altitude of 1370 meters in the Kumaon Hills in the lessert he Himalaya, is at a lower elevation than Nainital, winters could be a pleasant all the year around destination. In summer it can get hot and the winters are not as cold at the hill stations. As it is closer to Delhi than Nainital, it is fast becoming a popular weekend getaway from the city.
Dotted with small temples atop the green Kumaon hills, and natural H2O lakes in shut proximity, Bhimtal could be a serene city, good for relaxation and pleasing destination. Most visitors stop here en route to Nainital, but one can stay at the numerous hotels in Bhimtal and make excursions to the nearby lakes and temples. Boating in the lake is a favorite pastime, as this lake is bigger than the Nainital Lake and not as crowde
As Bhimtal is a quiet town, you can enjoy the solitude, the beautiful natural setting, take walks around the lake and trek to the other lakes, which are a few kilometers away. Dense oak, pine trees and shrubs surround all the freshwater lakes.
Nature lovers can watch the migratory birds and butterflies around the lakes. There are many species indigenous to the area. The lakes also have fish in them, but fishing is prohibited. The local people have also set up private camp sites near the lakes.
Best Time to visit
Bhimtal is a year round destination, though the best time to visit is from March to June in summer and September to November in winter. In the months of December and January, it is cold in Bhimtal but not as cold as in the surrounding hill stations of Uttarakhand. In Monsoons in July and August, the hill roads are not very good to travel and are landslide prone.
Shopping
This steel city, being a major industrial region, is not much known for shopping. However, the place houses some good market areas, which provides different options for shopping to both its residents as well as tourists. Civic Center, one of the oldest shopping places, is among the favorable shopping destinations of the locals. This place gives opportunity to get indulged in long time shopping that attracts shop lovers the most. The other two famous shopping complexes of this city are Akash Ganga and Gangotri. Apart from selling various types of modernized products, these market places of Bhilai even offers varied local handcrafted items.
Image by his restless eyes,aniruddha.kibey Under Creative Common License.