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Nainital is North India’s most beloved hill station, with tourists jamming the entire mall road during the peak summer months, and often being the first option for North India’s road trip fantasies. The vast lake in the valley, the cable car rides, delicious hill station food and desserts, strolling along the mall road collecting tidbits- candles, keychains, woollen caps and socks- Nainital has a charm few can deny. It’s also one of the best weekend getaways from Delhi, being so close and convenient. With two days to spare, I usually spend the first enjoying the resort I’ve booked, and the second for re-visiting a few favourite places around the area. Here are five things I recommend when you’re visiting Nainital:

1. Lunch at Sakley’s:

Sakleys Nainital

The original Sakley’s in Nainital is a treat for the taste buds- specially if you have a sweet tooth! I’ve been here thrice in three months, and it’s just one of those places I always end up dropping by. This place is mostly always jam packed! Recommended: try the desserts, specially their tarts and blueberry cheesecake. Fish in lemon butter sauce, stir fried prawn and honey chilli potatoes are a few dishes that have been consistent in their good taste.

2. Drive to Kasar Devi, Almora:

Kasar Devi Temple Almora, View

The drive is approximately 2 hours from Nainital, but the tiny temple on the hill top is worth the drive. There are two temples adjacent to each other, right at the tip of the hill top. These temples are famous for the peace they bring to the soul. I’ve experienced it first hand, and can vouch for the serenity and silence from up there. Just spending 20 minutes in the stillness was enough to mute the thoughts otherwise racing through my head. Its rumoured that NASA acknowledges the magnetic field around the temple as a “limitless power”- and it doesn’t surprise me.

3. Eat at Rainbow Cafe, Almora:

Rainbow Cafe Almora

While in Almora, drop by the Rainbow Cafe (a 2 km drive from Almora temple) and sit by the windows with the view of the mountains. The entire mountain range is visible from here, and if you’re visiting early evening, you might be able to catch the clouds descending over the mountains. It’s a type hill cafe with finger food and some hits-and-misses. The falafels and hummus are delicious, owing to the cafe’s Israeli owner. The Nutella pancakes, momos and fries are delicious as well. It also attracts a lot of foreign travellers, making it a great place to stir up a conversation!

4. Get on a Cable Car:

Nainital lake and mall road

It might look dodgy (and I can’t confirm that it isn’t!) but a view like that deserves a little paranoia. The short cable car ride will give you a view of the busy mall road, the Naini Lake as well as the mountains. Watching the valley from a moving cable car never gets old!

5. Get a cottage in the hills:

Junoon In The Hills- Luxury Cottage

This area, being so tourist-centric, is full of home stays and cottages. Take the lesser explored path and book a cottage for the weekend. Luxury cottages are best experienced in a large group of friends or family. One of the biggest advantages of a cottage is that it’s away from all the madness, probably in a quiet corner with a great view. I booked a luxury cottage called Junoon in The Hills and it’s one of the most endearing cottages I have visited. It was everything I wanted my peaceful weekend to look like, and it’s one I strongly recommend. If you’re keen on sticking to a hotel though, consider the Aamari Resort in Rambagh at an hour’s drive from Nainital.