Sattal

A group of 7 natural lakes, Sattal or Sat tal is located around 22 km from Nainital, in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is located at an average height of about 1,370 m from sea level. This group of lakes is set amidst dense forests of oak and pine trees.

Sattal is one of the few unpolluted fresh water bodies in India. This is often compared with Westmoreland of England by British because of their similarities. It is very less crowded and less explored as compared to its neighboring hill-station Nainital. The names of the seven lakes that form the group of Sattal are:

• Purna Tal
• Ram Tal
• Sita Tal
• Laxman Tal
• Nal Damyanti Tal
• Sukh Tal
• Garud Tal

The Garud Tal is an isolated lake and is not interconnected with other lakes. The Ram Tal, Sita Tal, and Lakshman Tal all together form the main lake of Sattal.

Sattal Overview

Things to do

Sattal attracts a huge number of tourists due to its natural and unspoiled beauty and number of adventure activities which can be done at and around the lakes.

• You can do boating and kayaking at the lake. Boating and Kayaking charge is 200 rupees per person here.
• You can also do swimming (with life-jacket on) here in the supervision of organizers.
• Local people organize camping at the lakeside with bonfire and food. It provides visitors an opportunity to to connect with the nature and other people as well.
• Butterfly Watching is a also an option here. Sattal is home to more than 525 species of vibrant and colorful butterflies.
• Activities such as rock climbing, rappelling, mountain biking, kayaking, trekking, angling, boating etc. are carried out at the Sat tal lake area. It will be a thrilling trip if you are an adventure enthusiast.
• There is a butterfly museum here, built by Frederic Smetacek at Jones Estate housing over 2500 butterfly and 1100 insect specimens.
• Subhash Dhara is a natural spring, located in the lush green oak forests of Sattal. This is a natural spring that attracts visitors with its crystal clear fresh water. You can take you time and get refreshed here.
• Bird Watching is one of the most popular activities at this place. Pangot is only 35 km from here, which is home to thousands of local and migratory birds. Sat tal is also home to many resident as well as migratory birds.
• Nal Damyanti Tal is a small and beautiful high-altitude lake located on the way to Sat tal from Bhimtal, which is a must visit place.

Places to Visit near Sattal

Nainital

Mukteshwar

Ranikhet

Almora

Naukuchiatal

Binsar

Corbett National Park

Jageshwar

Haldwani

Best time to visit

Sattal has pleasant and enjoyable weather during summer time. The place is pleasantly warm and evenings are cool. Light woolens clothes are required in the night. The winter season is freezing cold but the views it offers are worth it. One should carry woolen clothes if travelling during the winters.

This place experiences moderate to heavy rainfall during the monsoon season every year. The rainy season continues from July to September. The place blushes in fresh and vibrant colors during and after the monsoon but because of the rainfall, roads are prone to landslide which can be dangerous for the tourists. So the best time to visit Sattal is March-June and September-December. If you want to experience snowfall then December to mid February is the best time to visit this place.

Snowfall

• Sattal experiences regular snowfall during winters. Between the months of December and February, the area remains covered with a thick sheet of snow.
• During these months, the temperature in Sat tal ranges from -2 to 10 Degree Celsius. However, by the end of February, the weather becomes calm and pleasant.
• We recommend to inquire about road conditions in advance and pack your bags with woolen clothes before visiting this place during Winters. Monsoons are not recommended to visit this place as the area is prone to landslides.

Mythology

According to the famous Hindu mythology, in Mahabharata period, during his fourteen years long exile given by his brother, king Nala drowned in the water of one of the seven lakes of Sat tal along with his wife Damayanti. Therefore, the lake is known as Nal Damyanti Tal.

The names of the other six lakes are Purna Tal, Laxman Tal, Sita Tal (named after the characters of Ramayana), Garud Tal (named after the phoenix-like creature Garud that carries the chariot of Lord Vishnu), and Sukha Tal.

How to reach Sattal

By Road

This area is well-connected to all the major cities of India by private as well as government buses. One can take a bus from Delhi to Haldwani and book a shared/private cab from Haldwani. Sattal is 38 km away from Haldwani, which takes more than an hour to reach depending on the traffic. The route gets moderate to heavy amount of traffic during weekends.

By Train

The nearest railway station to Sat tal is Kathgodam, which is at a distance of 36 km. This is the last railway station after which the hilly region of Kumaon starts. This railway station is very well connected to major cities by regular trains. Tourists can find many taxis from this station to reach the destination.

By Air

Pantnagar Airport is the nearest domestic airport to Sat tal, which is 66 km away. Indira Gandhi Airport at a distance of 333 km in New Delhi is the nearest international airport. Both airports are active and frequent flights are available. There are many taxis available just outside the Pantnagar Airport to reach here. Or one can take a cab from Pantnagar airport to Haldwani from where many shared and private taxis are available to reach the destination.

Distance Chart

FAQs

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