Why are tourists staying away from Nainital? It's not just Pahalgam

Nainital: Taxis without trips, idling boats, sleepy shops, and Mall Road without crowds—an uneasy calm prevailed in Nainital post-Pahalgam this summer. For the City of Lakes dwellers, who eke out a living entirely on tourism, this was the saddest of the summer seasons, with up to 90 per cent fall in tourists' footfalls. Market sources put the total loss to the industry at Rs 60 Crore and demand government intervention for promotions.    

With just a few hours' journey from the National Capital Region (NCR), the lake city was the most sought-after one by travel buffs, not only from the hustle and bustle of polluted New Delhi, but also from other states of Maharashtra, UP, and Punjab, during summer. When the temperature of New Delhi soared, crossing the 40-degree mark, it was usual for the city folk to take a break from the scorching heat, seeking refuge in the coolness of the hills in the lake city. But that regular crowd is missing. 

Founded in 1841 by the British, the city is perched at an altitude of approximately 6360 feet above sea level in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, in the outer Himalayas. The city was built around the Naini Lake, bordering the Mall Road with long lines of shops and hotels on one side and a panoramic hillock on the other. There are a dozen tourist attractions on the hills which can be easily accessed hiring a taxi. The cool climate is the major selling point of the hill town. The industry players wonder where the regular tourists are! Did they shift to some alternative destinations?

Nainital Hotels and Restaurants Association president Digvijay S Brisht told Onmanorama that post Pahalgam, the hotel industry experienced its worst this season with just 10 to 15 per cent occupancy. "There was a major impact", he said, adding that though there were signs of recovery in the last few days, the season is almost over. "If the present trend continues, we hope the month of June will be a bit better", he said. 

The city folk start feeling a sense of despair the moment you step down from the train at Kathkodam, the nearest railhead to Nainital, from where the uphill journey begins. There were fewer tourists, and half the waiting taxis to Nainital had no passengers. The driver of our cab, Hussein Khan, narrated the bleak phase of life they were in this season. "Last year we had a great season with a high flow of tourists", he said. "I had to run up to five trips a day to Nainital as all the taxis were that busy", he said. "Nowadays we hardly get one trip for each", he added. 

Massive loss
Tourists keep off the lake city, and the season registers a drop of up to 90 per cent in footfalls with a revenue loss of Rs 60 crore. While crossing the entry point to the 'Mall Road', one can see the endless line of tourists' taxis, e-autorickshaws and long lines of boats on the lake.  and the clamour of boatmen, taxi drivers and touts of hoteliers, sitting idly. "We have more than 5000 people, including drivers and tourist guides in the city who depend on the industry to earn a living", said Ankith Arya, who owns a tourist taxi. "At each point on the 'Mall Road', you would hit up a dweller who would offer you a boat ride for a throw-away fare or another one offering you a luxury stay for as low as Rs 1000 per day", he said. "This season we have already cut down our taxi fares up to 30 per cent as there is a desperate push and pull for customers", he pointed out.  

"I have never seen such a calm city in May, where normally it was tough to stroll in the Mall Road in the evenings", said Faisal Malick, a Kashmiri trader on the 'Mall Road'. "We are very much worried about the sudden drop in footfalls as it would be tough for us to survive", he said. "On one hand, there are fewer tourists and on the other hand, people are scared to spend", he noted. 

It's not just Pahalgam
Along with the Pahalgam impact, many of the stakeholders also believe that the city is losing its old grace, with the lumpen elements in communal garb increasingly jeopardising the peace in the city. The old charm of the city is also gradually vanishing along with the greenery of the surrounding hills, it was pointed out.  

The signs of the fall were there on the horizon even before the Pahalgam terror attack. The downturn started on April 20 when there was a crime in the city which witnessed a spurt of communal violence after an aged man raping a minor girl. Instead of taking the legal course, the issue was over-politicised, forcing the authorities to impose a curfew. In no time, scared tourists had flown down, and the news spread like wildfire, with all tourists cancelling bookings.  Later in May, when there were signs of recovery, there came the Pahalgam issue and border tensions.  

Along with the Naini Devi Temple, the city also has a beautiful mosque, which was built in 1882 by the British for Muslim soldiers. The stakeholders urge travel buffs to visit the city and lend a helping hand to revive tourism. 

How to reach Nainital
One can reach Nainital by train to Kathkodam, the nearest rail head (35 km approx.) or at Haldwani (40 km approx.) The train travel will take around 6 hours from New Delhi. Taxis are plying to Nainital from both cities. One can use a shared taxi, paying Rs 250 to Rs 300 for the trip or hire one. The fare starts at Rs 1200 for small cabs and will increase in tune with the size and comforts. The nearest airport is Pantnagar airport, which is 40 km away.

Tourist attractions in Nainital
The Naini Lake is the major attraction of Nainital, around which the city was built. One can have a morning and evening stroll around the lake. Boat rides and other water activities are available to cheer crowds.  For shoppers, Mall Road is the best place to buy unique curios, Kashmiri fabrics, bags, and many eateries.  Apart from Naini Lake, there are six more lakes in Nainital attracting tourists. The Snow View point, Naina Devi temple on the hill top, the Naina Peak, and the Nainital Zoo are other tourist attractions. 

Best season to visit
The best seasons to visit Nainital are summer (March to June) and autumn (September to November).
Where to stay? 
There are enough hotels/lodges/resorts around Naini Lake and other parts of the city. A double room costs around Rs 1000 per day.