Nainital

Naini Tal Ц that used to be ЕЕЕЕЕ

Come summers and there is a beeline for Naini Tal, the famous lake resort now in Uttarakhand State which has been attracting thousands of tourists over the last several decades. Being the only nearest hill station to the national Capital, it has been a favourite with the people of this metro. For a visitor who has been to the lake town five decades ago, the changes that have taken place have only distorted the hill station and its environment. Forty years ago there were a few row boats and the elite yacht club, often yachts with their white sails attracted passers-by. At that time horse riding was yet another attraction ; horses would go round the lake making a full circle from Mallital to Tallital and back and then there used to be a brass band performing at Mallital which had a good flat area next to the lake. There used to be one cinema hall which used to be the only entertainment for those fond of films. There were few hotels spread out on to the slopes and equally few cars, almost none, compared to today.

Decades later things have changed, yachts are no longer visible, the yacht club which used to have a horde of ducks quacking around has lost its charm. The flat area in Mallital looks more like a play ground, noisy all during the day. While on one side a mosque has been built up in a huge building, on the other a Gurdwara has overshadowed the bank of the lake; a temple is not far behind, though smaller than the other two structures. One after the other Mallital echoes with the СpujaТ and СnamazТ calls from them. Hawkers line up to make a tourist market turning the area into a crowded, shabby place. The small cinema hall does seem to exist, but has been shifted into a non-entity. Dogs bask in the rink where once the brass band used to play. Touts surround any tourist like a swarm of bees offering taxis to various points of attraction. The Mall Road along the lake is not totally closed to vehicular traffic like Shimla, but has time restrictions Ц the hand-pulled rickshaws are no longer there. A ropeway going up to the Governor house has only added to the confusion as it takes tourists up the hill where another tourist market has been created --- filthy commercialization of a natural spot on the hill top. Naini Tal is no longer a health resort it used to be --- it has lost its charm.

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