Nainital is one of the easiest hill getaways from Delhi. It sits roughly 300 km away, you can reach it overnight by train or bus, and you can do a full trip on a small budget or spend more for lake-view rooms and private cabs. The tricky part is knowing what each piece really costs before you book.
This guide breaks down the Nainital trip cost from Delhi item by item: train, bus, car and flight fares, hotel rates, food, sightseeing tickets and local taxis. At the end you will find three sample budgets for a 2-night, 3-day trip, plus figures for couples and families.
Nainital Trip Cost from Delhi at a Glance
Here is the short answer for a 2-night, 3-day trip, per person, with two people sharing a room. Prices were checked in November 2026 and move with season and demand.
| Budget Style | Cost per Person | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ₹5,500 to ₹7,500 | Sleeper train or ordinary bus, shared taxi, budget hotel, local food |
| Mid-range | ₹11,000 to ₹15,000 | Shatabdi or AC bus, private cab from Kathgodam, 3-star hotel, a lake tour |
| Premium | ₹25,000 and up | Flight or self drive, lake-view resort, private cab for all sightseeing |
How to Reach Nainital from Delhi and What It Costs
There is no train line to Nainital itself. Most travelers take a train or bus to Kathgodam or Haldwani and then cover the last stretch by road. You can also drive the whole way or fly to Pantnagar.
By Train: The Most Popular Option
Three daily trains run from Delhi to Kathgodam. Fares below are approximate one-way figures, so always confirm on IRCTC before booking.
| Train | From | Departs | Arrives Kathgodam | Approx. Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathgodam Shatabdi (12040) | New Delhi | 6:20 AM | 11:55 AM | Chair Car from about ₹550, Executive from about ₹1,200 |
| Uttar Sampark Kranti (15035) | Old Delhi | 4:00 PM | 10:45 PM | Sleeper and AC classes, roughly ₹250 to ₹1,300 |
| Ranikhet Express (15013) | Old Delhi | 10:05 PM | 5:05 AM | Sleeper and AC classes, roughly ₹250 to ₹1,300 |
The Shatabdi is the quickest at about five and a half hours, and its fare includes meals served on board. The Ranikhet Express is the favorite for budget travelers because you sleep through the journey and reach Kathgodam at dawn, which saves a night of hotel cost. For the return, the Shatabdi (12039) leaves Kathgodam around 3:15 PM and reaches New Delhi around 9 PM.
By Bus
Buses leave every night from Anand Vihar ISBT, with some private operators also boarding at Kashmere Gate, Akshardham and RK Ashram Marg.
- Ordinary UTC or UPSRTC buses: around ₹350 to ₹450 to Haldwani or Kathgodam
- Private AC seater and sleeper buses: roughly ₹700 to ₹1,400, higher on long weekends
- Journey time: about 7 to 8 hours
Read the drop point before you pay. Many buses stop at Haldwani or Kathgodam and you pay separately for the ride up the hill. Some private operators include a shared cab or mini bus to the Nainital bus stand at Tallital.
By Car or Self Drive
Delhi to Nainital is about 300 km by road via Moradabad, Rampur and Haldwani, and takes 7 to 8 hours with breaks. A car that gives 15 km per litre will use about 40 litres for the round trip. With petrol near ₹95 a litre in Delhi, that is about ₹3,800 in fuel, plus tolls and parking.
Split between four people, driving is often the cheapest way to travel. The catch is parking. Spots near the lake fill up fast in peak season, so ask your hotel about parking before you book, or use the Sukhatal parking lot.
A one-way outstation taxi from Delhi usually costs ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 for a sedan, depending on the operator and season.
By Flight to Pantnagar
IndiGo runs daily non-stop flights from Delhi to Pantnagar, the nearest airport, in about an hour. Fares usually sit between ₹3,000 and ₹8,000 one way, with festival and holiday dates at the top of that range. Pantnagar is about 65 km from Nainital, so add around 2 hours and a taxi fare of ₹2,000 to ₹3,000.
Kathgodam to Nainital: The Last 35 km
The road from Kathgodam to Nainital is about 35 km and takes 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Shared taxi (Bolero or Sumo): about ₹250 to ₹350 per seat, leaves when full
- Local bus from Haldwani or Kathgodam: under ₹100, slower and crowded
- Private taxi: about ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 for a hatchback or sedan, more for an SUV
Hotel Costs in Nainital
Your hotel is usually the biggest single expense. Rates depend on three things: season, weekday or weekend, and whether you want a lake view.
| Hotel Type | Off-Season (per night) | Peak Season (per night) |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse or budget hotel | ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 |
| 3-star near Mall Road | ₹2,500 to ₹4,500 | ₹4,000 to ₹7,000 |
| Premium or lake-view resort | ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 | ₹9,000 and up |
The swing between seasons is large. Some Mall Road hotels charge less than half in October compared with December, and Friday and Saturday nights cost much more than Tuesday or Wednesday. Tallital, at the south end of the lake, usually has cheaper rooms than Mallital at the north end. You can also stay in Bhimtal or Bhowali and pay less, though you will spend more on taxis.
Food Costs
Food in Nainital is reasonably priced unless you eat at hotel restaurants for every meal.
- Dhaba thali or simple meal: ₹150 to ₹250
- Mid-range restaurant on Mall Road: ₹400 to ₹700 per person
- Snacks, momos, chai and bun tikki: ₹50 to ₹150
Plan on ₹500 to ₹800 per day on a budget, or ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 per day if you want sit-down meals and cafes.
Sightseeing and Activity Costs
Many of the best things in Nainital are free, including the walk around the lake, Mall Road in the evening and the Naina Devi Temple. Here is what the paid ones cost.
| Activity | Approx. Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Snow View ropeway | ₹300 adult, ₹200 child (round trip) | Runs about 10 AM to 4 PM |
| Boating on Naini Lake | About ₹250 to ₹450 per boat | 6 AM to 6 PM, life jackets required |
| Lake tour by taxi (Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal) | ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 per car | Half to full day |
| Naina Devi Temple | Free | On the north shore of the lake |
| Kainchi Dham | Free entry, taxi extra | About 17 km from Nainital |
Snow View Ropeway
The aerial ropeway starts in Mallital and climbs to Snow View Point at about 2,270 metres. On a clear day you can see Himalayan peaks such as Nanda Devi and Trishul. Go early, because queues build up after midday in peak season, and the ropeway can pause in bad weather.
Boating on Naini Lake
You can choose between rowing boats with a boatman and self-driven paddle boats. Rates are set by the local authorities and displayed at the prepaid counters at both ends of the lake, so buy tickets only from those counters. Night boating is not allowed.
Sample Budgets for a 2-Night, 3-Day Nainital Trip
These are per-person estimates for two people sharing a room, starting and ending in Delhi.
| Expense | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Kathgodam and back | ₹600 to ₹1,000 (sleeper or ordinary bus) | ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 (Shatabdi or AC bus) | ₹7,000 to ₹14,000 (flights) |
| Kathgodam to Nainital and back | ₹500 to ₹700 (shared taxi) | ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 (private cab, split) | ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 (private cab, split) |
| Hotel (2 nights, half of a room) | ₹1,200 to ₹2,500 | ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 | ₹9,000 and up |
| Food (3 days) | ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 | ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 | ₹4,000 and up |
| Sightseeing and local travel | ₹800 to ₹1,200 | ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 | ₹3,000 and up |
| Total | ₹5,500 to ₹7,500 | ₹11,000 to ₹15,000 | ₹25,000 and up |
Cost for a Couple and a Family of Four
- Couple, mid-range: about ₹22,000 to ₹30,000 total for 2 nights
- Family of four, self drive: about ₹25,000 to ₹35,000 total, since fuel and one family room are shared
- Friends group of four on a budget: about ₹5,000 to ₹6,500 each by car with a budget hotel
Best Time to Visit Nainital for Lower Prices
- March to June: pleasant weather and peak crowds, so book hotels early
- July and August: monsoon rain and landslide risk on hill roads, with low hotel rates
- September to November: clear skies, good mountain views and fair prices
- December to February: cold, with a chance of snow, and a spike around Christmas and New Year
If price matters most, travel midweek in September, October or November. Avoid long weekends, when both hotel rates and traffic on the Kathgodam road go up sharply.
Money-Saving Tips
- Take the Ranikhet Express both ways to save two nights of hotel cost.
- Book trains on IRCTC as soon as the reservation window opens, which is 60 days ahead for the Shatabdi.
- Stay on the Tallital side or in Bhowali for cheaper rooms.
- Use shared taxis for the Kathgodam stretch if you are traveling solo or as a couple.
- Book a single taxi for the lake tour and split it with your group.
- Eat at local dhabas near the bus stand and around the Bara Bazaar area.
Comparing a hill trip with a beach holiday? See our Goa trip cost from Delhi guide for a side-by-side budget.
Suggested 3-Day Itinerary
- Day 1: Reach Kathgodam early, ride up to Nainital, check in, walk around Naini Lake, visit Naina Devi Temple and spend the evening on Mall Road.
- Day 2: Morning boating, Snow View ropeway, then a lake tour of Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal by taxi.
- Day 3: Stop at Kainchi Dham on the way down, then catch the afternoon Shatabdi or a night train back to Delhi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Nainital trip from Delhi cost?
A 2-night, 3-day trip costs about ₹5,500 to ₹7,500 per person on a budget, ₹11,000 to ₹15,000 at mid-range, and ₹25,000 or more for a premium trip, assuming two people share a room.
What is the cheapest way to go from Delhi to Nainital?
The cheapest way is an ordinary UTC bus or a sleeper class train to Kathgodam, followed by a shared taxi or local bus to Nainital. The full one-way trip can cost under ₹700.
Which train is best for Nainital from Delhi?
The Kathgodam Shatabdi is the fastest, leaving New Delhi at 6:20 AM and reaching Kathgodam at 11:55 AM. The Ranikhet Express is best for budget travelers since it runs overnight from Old Delhi.
How far is Nainital from Kathgodam?
Nainital is about 35 km from Kathgodam railway station. The drive takes 1 to 1.5 hours, and a shared taxi seat costs about ₹250 to ₹350.
Is 2 days enough for Nainital?
Two nights and three days is enough to see Naini Lake, Mall Road, Snow View and the nearby lakes. Add a day if you want to visit Kainchi Dham or Mukteshwar at a relaxed pace.
What is the Nainital ropeway ticket price?
The Snow View ropeway costs about ₹300 for adults and ₹200 for children for a round trip. Tickets are sold at the counter in Mallital.