View from Pangot

330 kms northeast of  New Delhi in the Kumaon Himalayas lies the Nainital Lake Valley (29° 22' 60N and 79° 27' 0E) and adjacent hill resorts. The Nainital area (1938m) lies in the central Himalayas and is a vantage point to view the great Nanda Devi massif.  The Pangot area (1900m) lies 15 kilometers past Nainital and is on the road to Vinayak past Kilbury. 
The area and its surrounding hills has a record of 200+ Himalayan bird species.
 

Mixed forests dominated by thick ban-oak, pine and rhododendron cover most of the area and surrounding hills. A large part of the landscape is characterized by dense vegetation. Numerous perennial creeks and streams crisscross the area.

District Nainital (Kumaon) covers the tropical, subtropical, temperate, sub alpine and alpine zones. The terai & bhabhar belt  presents the climate of the plains while the deep valleys with elevation upto 1000 Mts. play host to flora and fauna typical  of hills as well as plains. The middle Himalayan ranges to 2000 Mts and the sub alpine region upto 2500 Mts complete the eco-zones.

Temperature: Low 3^oC (winter); High 27^oC (Summer)

Where to stay: The Jungle Lore Birding Lodge is recommended.  

Best Time: October to March

Sattal

Sattal is situated 328 kms northeast of  New Delhi in the Nainital Lake Valley. Sattal (1370m) surrounds 7 interconnected freshwater lakes (now 5) set amidst thick oak and pine forests.
The area and its surrounding hills holds many lower altitude Himalayan bird species and is always worth visiting.
 

Twin lakes of Sattal from the Resort

Where to stay: The Sat Tal Forest Resort, overlooking the lakes from a 1,000 feet above is recommended.
Email: satatlforestresort@gmail.com; Mobile:9810107116 
Website: Sat Tal Forest Resort  

Best Time: October to March