Naina Devi Temple
#2of 9 places to visit in NainitalNainital, Uttarakhand
Also known as Naini Devi Mandir · Nainital Shakti Peeth
Quick answer
Opening hours: 06:00–22:00, closed Wednesdays. Entry is free. Allow 45 min. Best time: 07:00.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read
- Opening hours
- 06:00–22:00
- Closed Wednesdays
- Entry fee
- Free
- Time needed
- 45 min
- Best time of day
- 07:00
- Best months
- Mar – Jun, Sep – Nov
- Address
- Mallital, near Naini Lake, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263001
About Naina Devi Temple
Naina Devi Temple stands at the northern edge of Naini Lake in Mallital, rebuilt in 1883 after the original shrine was destroyed in the 1880 landslide that killed around 151 people on this same slope. The temple is counted among the 51 Shakti Peeths of Hindu tradition, the sites where, according to legend, fragments of the goddess Sati's body fell as Lord Shiva carried her across the cosmos — here, the eyes (naina), which is also the source of the town's name. Two stone eyes set into the sanctum wall represent the goddess in her aniconic form, flanked by images of Kali and Ganesh. The temple's twin-spired silhouette against the lake is the most reproduced image of Nainital after the lake itself, and its position directly on the water means the courtyard doubles as a shoreline promenade even for visitors not there to worship.
Best time of day: 07:00. For the morning aarti and the shortest queue, or 18:30 – 19:00 for the evening aarti when the lakeside temple courtyard is lit.
Naina Devi Temple timings
- Opening hours
- 06:00–22:00
Mon–Tue 06:00–22:00 Wednesday Closed Thu–Sun 06:00–22:00 - 06:00 – 22:00 daily; morning aarti at 07:00, evening aarti at 19:00
- Closed on
- Wednesday (1st and 3rd week of month)
Good to know: Closed on Wednesdays during the first and third week of each month for internal temple rituals — check locally before a Wednesday visit.
Opening hours compiled from uttarakhandtourism.gov.in and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Naina Devi Temple ticket price
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Indian visitors | Free |
| Foreign visitors | Free |
| Children | Free |
| Camera | Free |
No entry fee. Donations toward puja and temple maintenance are voluntary, collected at a counter inside the complex.
Prices compiled from uttarakhandtourism.gov.in and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Best time to visit Naina Devi Temple
- Quiet
- Moderate
- Busy
06:00 – 07:30
Morning Aarti
Local devotees dominate the early crowd; queue for darshan typically under 15 minutes outside festival periods.
Moderate10:00 – 13:00
Midday Tourist Flow
Day-trippers combine the temple with lake and Mall Road visits; courtyard and corridor queue lengthen.
Busy13:00 – 17:00
Afternoon LullBest time to go
Crowd thins as visitors move to Mall Road shopping or the ropeway; a good window for an unhurried visit.
Quiet18:30 – 20:00
Evening Aarti
Evening aarti at 19:00 draws both worshippers and lakeside strollers; the illuminated courtyard is the most photographed moment of the day.
Busy
History of Naina Devi Temple
A shrine to Naina Devi is recorded on this site from at least the mid-19th century, established after the British discovery and settlement of Nainital in 1841 formalised local devotion to a goddess already associated with the lake in regional folklore. Moti Ram Shah, a merchant devotee, is credited with installing the idol in 1842, giving the site its first formal temple structure.
The 18 September 1880 landslide destroyed the original temple along with much of the surrounding Mallital slope, part of the same disaster that killed roughly 151 people including guests at the Victoria Hotel. The temple was rebuilt in 1883 on the same ground, this time with reinforced retaining structures learned from the disaster's post-mortem engineering surveys — the site remains one of the clearest physical markers of that 19th-century catastrophe still in daily religious use.
Rules & etiquette at Naina Devi Temple
Footwear must be removed at the free rack near the main gate before entering the courtyard; the stone courtyard floor can be uncomfortably hot on clear summer afternoons, so sandals that slip on and off easily are more practical than lace-up shoes. Photography is generally permitted in the outer courtyard but is restricted inside the inner sanctum during aarti — follow the temple volunteers' instructions, which vary by crowd density.
The queue for darshan moves in a single-file line along a covered corridor; during Navratri (the nine-day festival in the Hindu months of Chaitra and Ashwin), wait times extend well beyond an hour and a separate express line sometimes opens for a nominal donation. Modest dress is expected — shoulders and knees covered — though there is no formal enforcement at the gate as there is at some larger Shakti Peeths.
Tips for visiting Naina Devi Temple
- 1
Combine the temple visit with a walk along the adjoining lake promenade — the two share the same stretch of shoreline, so there is no separate travel time required. Arriving for the 07:00 aarti also catches the calmest hour on the lake itself, before the Mall Road stalls and boat queues start up.
- 2
Stalls immediately outside the temple gate sell prasad, marigold garlands, and small brass idols; prices are not fixed and mild bargaining is normal, particularly for the idols rather than the prasad baskets. The temple trust's donation counter issues a receipt for any amount over ₹100, useful for those wanting a record of a larger contribution toward the ongoing maintenance of the lakeside retaining wall.
How to reach Naina Devi Temple
We haven't pinned Naina Devi Temple's exact position yet; the map shows the other places in our Nainital guide. Use the address below or the directions link.
Mallital, near Naini Lake, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263001Directions in Google Maps
From Tallital Bus Stand
1.5 km · 20 min walk along Mall Road
Free (walking); ₹40–₹60 by shared auto.
From Kathgodam Railway Station
₹900–₹1,20035 km · 75–90 min
Shared taxi).
From Pantnagar Airport (PGH)
₹1,800–₹2,50071 km · 2.5 hours
Prepaid taxi).
Nearest airport
From Pantnagar Airport (PGH)
71 km, approximately 2.5 hours by road.
Nearest railway station
From Kathgodam Railway Station
35 km, approximately 1.5 hours by road.
Naina Devi Temple FAQs
Is there an entry fee for Naina Devi Temple?
No. Entry is free; only puja items and voluntary donations involve payment.
Why is Naina Devi Temple considered a Shakti Peeth?
Yes, it is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths. Hindu legend holds that the eyes of the goddess Sati fell at this spot, and two stone eyes in the sanctum represent her in aniconic form.
Is the temple open every day?
No. It closes on Wednesdays during the first and third week of each month for internal rituals; all other days it is open 06:00–22:00 with aarti at 07:00 and 19:00.
Does the temple have any connection to Nainital's 1880 landslide?
Yes. The original shrine was destroyed in the 18 September 1880 landslide that killed around 151 people on this slope, and the current structure was rebuilt in 1883 on the same site.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated . How we rank and check places
