Good Time
Nainital in March
Uttarakhand, India
March wakes Nainital up. Daytime temperatures climb to 15-18°C, rhododendrons start blooming red across the hillsides above Cheena Peak, and the lake turns a proper emerald green. Tourist numbers are moderate — maybe 5,000-8,000 visitors per weekend — enough to feel alive but not suffocating. Hotel rates start climbing from the February floor but remain 30-40% below May peaks. This is the month where Nainital is actually pleasant without being overrun.
The March story
The Nainital-Mukteshwar road opens up as a spectacular day drive — 50 km of curving mountain highway with clear Himalayan views on the left and terraced orchards on the right. Tiffin Top and Dorothy's Seat hikes are ideal now: warm enough to walk comfortably, cool enough to not sweat through your shirt. Boating on Naini Lake is back in full swing, and early mornings (6-7 AM) give you mirror-still water before the paddle boats churn it up. Mall Road pedestrian zone buzzes with evening strollers but you can still find a bench. The Naina Devi temple draws moderate crowds — 20-minute darshan lines versus 90 minutes in peak season. Holi falls in March most years and Nainital celebrates with color play around the Flats area near the lake. If you want the best single month in Nainital — the one where weather, crowds, and costs all align — March is the answer.
Why March scores 4/5
Weather
March wakes Nainital up. Daytime temperatures climb to 15-18°C, rhododendrons start blooming red across the hillsides above Cheena Peak, and the lake turns a proper emerald green.
Roads & Access
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 4/5. rescue: SDRF Uttarakhand (1070). helpline: Tourist helpline: 1364. ambulance: 108. police station: Nainital Kotwali (05942-235424). nearest hospital: B.D. Pandey Government Hospital, Nainital
Network
JIO: Yes, BSNL: Yes, AIRTEL: Yes
Kids
Kid-friendly (5/5) —
Elevation
1,938m — Low altitude, no issues
Who should go
- ✓First-time travelers
- ✓Senior citizens
- ✓First-time visitors wanting the definitive Nainital experience
- ✓Hikers targeting Tiffin Top, Dorothy's Seat, and the Cheena Peak trail
- ✓Families with school-age kids during the brief Holi break window
- ✓Photographers — rhododendron bloom plus clear skies plus green lake
Who should think twice
- ✗Snow seekers — winter is over, the ridges are bare
- ✗Visitors on extremely tight budgets — prices are climbing from the off-season floor
- ✗Anyone wanting a solo, meditative retreat — the town is waking up and weekends get lively
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3/5 | January Nainital is cold, quiet, and occasionally dusted with snow. |
| February | 3/5 | February is the tail end of Nainital winter. |
| Marchviewing | 4/5 | March wakes Nainital up. Daytime temperatures climb to 15-18°C, rhododendrons start blooming red across the hillsides above Cheena Peak, and the lake turns a proper emerald green. |
| April | 5/5 | April is pre-season Nainital at its warmest sweet spot: 20-24°C days, single-digit humidity, and skies so clear you can count Himalayan peaks from Snow View. |
| May | 2/5 | — |
| June | 2/5 | — |
| July | 2/5 | — |
| August | 2/5 | — |
| September | 4/5 | September is monsoon's messy exit. The first two weeks still get 100-150 mm of rain with occasional heavy bursts. |
| October | 5/5 | October is Nainital's second-best month after March. |
| November | 4/5 | November is Nainital going to sleep. Temperatures drop sharply: 8-12°C days, 2-4°C nights by month-end. |
| December | 3/5 | December splits into two Nainitals. Early December (1-20) is cold, grey, and empty — a continuation of November's gloom at 4-8°C daytime. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Contact local transport
Elevation
1,938m
Difficulty
easy
Budget tier
mixed
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in March
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