Nainital Chronicles

Author: Sinchan Saha

Lying amidst Uttarakhand, Nainital has always been a place that everybody praises, no matter what time of the year. It reminisces of being a former British hill station, as it still peaks through the modernity of this resort town.

Although my visit to Nainital was a few years back, it still lives fresh in my mind. I still remember the day I got the selection letter from my Karate Association for the National level competition. I was young but I felt the weight of that joy in every fiber of my mind. 

A scenic shot of Nainital | Wikipedia

We reached the Howrah station in Kolkata early in the morning, the excitement filling my lungs along with the cool breeze and the rush creeping up my neck. My team and I reached the station early, eagerly waiting for the Bagh Express to arrive. Once we were all loaded and seated the journey began towards the much awaited destinations. We reached Kathgodam after 1 day and 11 hours of journey, the chilly weather welcoming us. After everyone was counted in, we stopped to get some food for everyone and freshened up to get ready for our next journey, towards the final destination. Situated 34km from Nainital, we were set to catch a pre-booked van that would take us directly to the hotel we would be putting up in before the tournament. Once everyone settled in, our teacher took the time to give us some motivation and a tourist GK session, while sharing his past experiences with previous teams. 

I remember thinking at that moment, in my 14 years of karate training, after missing so many opportunities, I was finally there. After 1 and a half hour of scenic beauty and rocky journey uphill, we finally reached our destination: Nainital.    

The place was enveloped in lush green landscapes and a close set neighbourhood. As soon as we got out of the car, the scent of street food, nature and winter hit me all at once, a combination that still puts a smile on my face. The team headed to the tournament centre where we socialised for a bit and then left to get ready for the main event. 

Snow View Point | Nainital Tourism

I ended up winning a gold medal in fighting and a special memento for good referee work, which still marks one of my happiest wins. Sadly we did not get to spend much time doing touristy activities, yet Nainital will always remain an experience that will forever have a home in my heart.