Nainital district in the Uttaranchal state is blessed with scenic natural splendor and varied natural resources. Dotted with lakes, Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India. The most prominent of the lakes is Naini lake ringed by hills. Nainital is referred to in the ‘Manas Khand’ of the ‘Skanda Purana’ as the Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, the lake of the three sages, Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha who were reputed to have arrived here on a penitential pilgrimage, and, finding no water to quench their thirst dug a hole and siphoned water into it from Mansarovar the sacred lake in Tibet.

Nainital is known as one of 64 ‘Shakti Peeths’. These centres were created wherever parts of charred body of Sati fell, when Lord Shiva was carrying around her corpse in grief. It is said that the left eye (Nain) of Sati fell here and this gave rise to patron deity of town Nainital. It is said that the lake is formed in the emerald eye shape. Naina Devi temple is located at the northern end of the lake. Thus the name of Nainital originated from Naina and tal (Lake).

The Nainital district, with an area of 3422 sq km, lies in the Kumaon division. To it’s north is Almora district and to its south lies the Udham Singh Nagar district. Champawat district flanks it in the east and district of Pauri Garhwal is in the west. It is located approximately in between 80º 14’ and 78º 80’ east longitude and 29º 00’ and 29º 05’ north latitude. On the northern side lie the Himalayas while on the southern side lies the plains making the resultant climate of the district enjoyable one. Some of the important places in the district are Nainital town, Haldwani, Kaladhungi, Ramnagar, Bhowali, Ramgarh, Mukteshwar, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal.

Geographically the district is divided in to two zones viz. Hilly and Bhabhar. The hilly region in outer Himalayas is known to geologist as Krol. The highest peak of the district is Baudhansthali 2623 m high near Binayak adjoining Nainital town. The hilly region of the district. The hilly region of the district has a number of lakes; Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Khurpatal, Nainital, Malwatal, Harishtal, and Lokhamtal are some of the well known ones.

The foothill area of the district is known as Bhabhar. The name Bhabhar is derived from a tall growing grass growing in the region.

Kosi is the main river of the district. River Kosi arising out of Koshimool near Kausani flows on the western side of the district. There are number of smaller rivulets like Gaula, Bhakra, Dabka, Baur etc. Most of these have been dammed for irrigation purposes. Nainital district has good received good rainfall in recent years. As per 1999 records total average rainfall of district was 1338.08 mm while total average rainfall up to Aug 2000 was 1602.69 mm.

Flora

Some of the important trees and bushes that grow in Nainital are Oak (Banj) Quercus incana, Pangar Aesculus indica, Akhrot Junglans regia, Hill Pipal Populous ciliata, Angu Fraxinus miscrantha, Chinar Platanus orientalis, Hisalu Rubus lasiocarpus, Kunj Rosa moschata, Kilmora Berberis asiatica, Surai Cupressus torulosa, Buruns Rhododendron arboreum, Deodar Cedrus Deodar, Weeping Willow Salix acmophylla, etc.

The Bhabhar region has Babul, Kikar etc. in abundance besides Sal, Khair, Shisham as big trees. The Bhabhar grass and lantana form the undergrowth. Some of the aquatic vegetation found in the district is, Potomageton pectinatus, Potomageton crispus, Polygonum glabrum, Polygonum amphibium, Polygonum hydropiper and Hydrilla verticellata.

In its Tarai & Bhabhar belt a number of medicinal trees, shrubs and herbs grow like Vijayasar, Arjun, Bhilwa, Varun, Gambhari, Kutuj, Tejpatra, Priyangoo, Danti, Sarivah, Shwet Sarivah, Brahmi, Satwahi, Patha, Bhringraj, Punarnava, Kamal & Kamalni, Gokhru, Anatmool, Marodfali, Talwarfali, Ashok, Kaliyali, Pipli, various species of Mentha and so on. In the middle Himalayan range we find Daruharidra, Timoor, Manjishtha, Sugandhabala, Samayava, Manduparna, Dhooplakkar, Talish, Devdaru, Padam, Vidhangabhed, Kakoli, Ksheerkakoli, Lahsuniya and so many other plants. The sub alpine zone of this district grows various other species of Daruharidra, Sugandhabala, Banapsa.

Many of these plants have a great commercial importance. These are widely used in indigenous system of medicines like Ayurveda, Yunani, and Aamchi (Tibetan System).

Fauna

Animals: Himalayan Langoor (Presbytis schistaceous), Invus rhesus (Monkey), Urssus Tibetans (Rich), Black-capped Marten (Martes flavigula), Indian Porcupine (Hysrix leucura), Wild Boar (Sus indicus), Barking Deer (Cervulus aurens), Brown Flying Squirrel (Pteromys petaurista), Goral (Nemorhoedus goral).

Birds: Jungle crow (Corvus macrohynchoes), Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus), Streaked Laughingthrush (Trochalopteron lineatrum), Grey-winged Blackbird (Turdus boulboul), Himalayan Treecreeper (Certhia himalayana), Short-billed Minivet (Pericrocotus brevirostris).

Fishes: The important species of fishes found in Nainital are, Red-finned Mahseer (Tor tor), Yellow-finned Mahseer (Tor putitora), Hill Trout (Schizothorax sinuatus, Schizothorax richardsoni, Schizothorax plagiostornus) and the Mirror Carp (Cyprinus carpis).