Sattal

Sattal or Sat Tal is a cluster of seven inter-connected freshwater lakes located in Nainital district. At an altitude of 1,370 m, it is one of the most scenic places around Nainital and also one of the popular Uttarakhand tourist places.

The group of lakes is set amidst dense forests of oak and pine trees. Sattal is one of the few unspoiled and unpolluted fresh water bodies in India. This is often compared with Westmoreland of England by British. The names of the seven lakes of Sattal are Purna Tal, Ram Tal, Sita Tal, Laxman Tal, Nal Damyanti Tal, Sukh Tal and Garud Tal. The Garud Tal is a solitary lake and is not interconnected. The Ram, Sita and Lakshman Tal all together form the Sattal main Lake.

These lakes are heaven for migratory birds. It has 500 species of resident and migratory birds, 20 species of mammals, over 525 species of butterflies and over 11,000 species of moths, beetles, bugs and other insects. Birds like red-billed blue magpie, kingfishers, blue-throated and brown-headed barbets are easily spotted. These birds try to escape the harsh cold of the great Himalayan region by migrating to lower areas of the Himalayas. The market and tourist activities of Sattal are located around the main Sattal Lake.

Visitors can enjoy boating, kayaking, bird watching and fishing during their visit here. Hills around Sattal are ideal for activities like trekking, rappelling, mountain biking and rock climbing. Sattal also provides one of the best views of the Himalayas and the surrounding area. Another attraction of the town is the Butterfly museum, which was established to create awareness about butterflies.