Situated in the Pangot village of Nainital, the Guano Hills have an excellent track for long walks. A trail through the Guano Hills takes you through a thicket of oak, deodar and bamboo. A few may be lucky enough to spot rare species of birds such as the black-chinned babbler and gray woodpeckers. Many more flora and fauna can be traced by nature lovers and enthusiasts.
Land’s End stands high at an altitude of 2118 meters and gives a panoramic view of the neighboring hills and the green valley surrounding Nainital. The main attraction of this point is the splendid view of the Khurpatal lake. One can take a vehicle to reach Barapathar and then walk up a distance of one km to reach this spot.
True to its name, the Land’s end is a spot that marks the dead end. Located about four kms from the town of Nainital, Land’s end is an easily reachable spot and does not need a long or steep climb.
Naini Lake is the backbone of the city of Nainital, for it is after this lake that Nainital was named. Most prominent of all the lakes, Naini Lake is surrounded by green hills, the beauty of which is breathtaking and should be captured as a photographic memory forever.
Naina peak or China peak as it is known, is located at an altitude of 2611 meters and is the highest peak of the town. Distanced about six kms away from the town, a ride on a pony or horses can take you to the Naina Peak. The Naina Peak opens up to a beautiful panoramic view of the snow laden Himalayas in the west to the Api and Nari peaks in the east.
An excellent view of the Nainital city in its complete grandeur can be obtained from the high altitude of this peak. The best way to view the entire scenario would be through the lenses of a binocular!
A ropeway or cable car ride is the best-known way to access the snow view point. Just as the name implies, one can view the snow laden Himalayas from this view point. At an altitude of 2270 m, the Snow View point is situated on top of the Sher-ka-danda ridge. At a distance of 2.5 kms from the town of Nainital, this is the most easily accessible hilltop.
Tiffin Top, referred to as Dorothy’s Seat is a terrace hill top atop the Ayarpatta hill, located at a distance of 4 km from the central town of Nainital. At a height of 7520 ft above sea level, Dorothy’s seat is a stonework bench built in memory of Dorothy Kellet, an English artist.
As the name suggests, the Cloud’s end is the end of Mussoorie. Located at a distance of about 6 km west of the Library, the Cloud’s end can be reached through the Hathipaon road from Happy Valley. Continue staying on your right till the road reaches a fork. Thick jungles cover the entire area, and a 2 km walk further up takes you to the Benog Wildlife sanctuary.
This stretch promises a wonderful refreshing walk, with the vast spread of flora and fauna all around. You can even drive your car if you do not wish to travel on foot.
The history of Gun Hill dates back to the pre-independence period. It is said that a canon was fired from the Gun Hill every afternoon to help people know the time and adjust their watches. At a height of about 400 ft above the Mall, the Gun Hill now accommodates the water reservoir of Mussoorie.
A ropeway ride can take you to the Gun Hill or you can take a bridle path that deviates from the Mall. You can capture a truly photogenic view from this spot, with the Mall and the snow capped peaks of Himalayas on either side of the hill respectively.
The vast stretch of Happy Valley road houses the IAS Academy, Tibetan temples and the Municipal Gardens. The Happy Valley area lies on the western side of Library Point and leads to the far end of Mussoorie, that is, the Cloud’s End.
The Happy Valley area indeed promises a happy feeling with so many places of interest to explore, be it estates, gardens or temples. Almost every tourist spot in Mussoorie passes through the Happy Valley area. A walk past the Kala School from Happy Valley, which forks past the police station, can take you to the Hathipaon Park Estate.
A 6 km trek downhill from Mussoorie leads you to the amazing Jharipani Falls. Alternately, you can take the route to the Jharipani Main Market via St George’s boarding school. A refreshing thirty-minute walk from the market takes you to the falls and promises to leave you spellbound!