History of Nainital
History of Nainital
History of Nainital
History of Nainital : Nainital, the picturesque hill station in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, has a rich history. As the summer capital of the North Western Provinces during British rule, Nainital witnessed significant development and expansion. This article provides a comprehensive account of Nainital’s history, from its origins in mythology to the growth of the town under the British.
Mythological Origins
Nainital finds mention in ancient Hindu texts as the Tri-Rishi-Sarovar, the lake of three sages – Atri, Pulastya and Pulaha. According to legend, the sages arrived here on a pilgrimage and dug a hole from which the sacred Mansarovar lake in Tibet siphoned water into, quenching their thirst.
Nainital is also revered as one of the 64 Shakti Peeths – sites marking where parts of Goddess Sati’s body fell when Lord Shiva carried her corpse after she self-immolated. It is believed that Sati’s left eye (Nain) fell where the beautiful pear-shaped lake now lies, giving rise to the patron Goddess Naina Devi.
History of Nainital : British Settlement
Early Exploration
After the British occupied Kumaon-Garhwal in 1815, the second Kumaon commissioner G.W. Traill visited Nainital in 1817 but did not publicize it out of respect for its sanctity. It was English businessman P. Barron who popularised Nainital after chancing upon it while lost during a hunting trip in 1839.
Enamoured by the magical spot, Barron left his sugar trade and built the first European colony on the lake’s banks. News of the lake’s discovery was announced in the Englishman newspaper in 1841, and by 1847 Nainital gained fame as a hill retreat.
Establishment as Summer Capital
On October 3, 1850 the Nainital Municipal Board was constituted – the second municipal body in the North Western Provinces after Agra. To catalyze town development, the Sah community of Almora was transferred land to build houses, on fulfilling the condition to do so.
In 1862, Nainital was declared the summer seat of the North Western Provinces government, spurring remarkable expansion. As the summer capital, it gained vital facilities and construction of magnificent bungalows as British officials and families sought relief from the heat of the plains. By the late 19th century it had evolved into an important colonial hill station and sanatorium.
The Expansion of Nainital Town
Civic and Social Infrastructure
After Nainital was made summer capital, the town witnessed frantic building activity. An old temple was demolished to create the chief shopping area The Mall, while residential areas popped up across the lake.
Schools, hotels, marketing areas, recreation centers, polo grounds and the first Methodist church in Asia were built. By 1872, the town had 30 hotels and lodges and the population had tripled. Mall Road became a vibrant commercial hub lined with shops, offices and cultural spots.
The 1880 Landslide
In September 1880, a massive landslide resulted from heavy rain and deforestation, devastating the north-eastern part of town. 151 people perished as Victoria Hotel and other buildings by the lake collapsed. This led to relocation of many facilities to the southern lake end, which was safer.
Bungalows, Clubs and Parks
The landslide made way for building afresh at the lake’s upper end, with the new site named ‘The Flats’. British officials built luxurious summer homes with gardens, lawns and orchards. These colonial bungalows reflected Victorian architecture with gabled roofs, bay windows and verandahs.
Several recreational clubs like the Boat Club, Golf Club and Gymkhana Club with exclusive memberships also came up. Parks and public gardens like Isabella Thoburn College campus, the Pant Memorial Park and the Botanical Gardens were laid out.
Conclusion to History of Nainital
History of Nainital : From a sleepy temple town, Nainital was transformed into a bustling hill station and summer retreat under the British. Its cool climes and scenic beauty made it the perfect escape for colonial officials from the sweltering summer heat in the plains. The expansion of civic amenities, bungalows, hotels and entertainment venues turned Nainital into a major colonial urban hub. Despite the 1880 calamity, the town resurrected itself and continued thriving as the summer capital till the early 20th century.
