The Stories of Bhimtal Lake

Located at a height of 1200 metres above the sea level and situated about 22 kilometers from Nainital, Uttarakhand; the lake is seated in the small town of Bhimtal, after which the lake was also named. It is considered to be the largest lake around the areas of Nainital.

Named after Bhim, one of the five Pandavas, the lake was also mentioned in the Hindu epic, the Mahabharatha. Having an intimate association with History and Mythology, the lake serves as the most prominent tourist spot of the town, which makes the latter, a famous place to visit. It is believed that the Pandavas had visited the lake during their exile period in the forest. Local legend explains that, their wife Draupadi was thirsty, which made Bhim struck the ground with such a force, using his mace, that created a crater, which was later miraculously filled with water, and this phenomenon is the reason why the lake is named after him. The lake has been known for much longer period in comparison to, Nainital, which was a secret holy lake known only to the people in the hill areas until 1841, when the British discovered it.

The winter months are usually the period, when the lake gets visited by migratory birds. One of the most exceptional activities in regards to tourism, includes boat cruises and birdwatching. The lake provides drinking water supply and supports aquafarming with a variety of fish species like common snow trout, catla, rohu and silver carp.

As mentioned, it is considered to be one of the best places for tourism, where the lake, accompanied by the temple constructed next to it, and a picturesque island located at the middle of the lake serves as the perfect spot of hangout. A 14.8 meters dam was also built on the lake during the British rule, the Victoria Dam, which created a water storage facility. The dam, along with an aquarium in the lake’s island is spread over an area of 47 acres. It is indeed a scenic place for nature lovers and tourists to visit and enjoy its tranquility and serenity.