Boating
In naini lake is a must. paddle boats can be hired by the hour. you can also hire a yacht from the nainital boat club, which costs rs 160 per hour and comes with a boatman, you can also have a self paddle boat.
Nainital Zoo
Feed the animals at the Nainital ZooGobind Ballabh Pant High Altitude Zoo, where you will find some high-altitude species that are native to the region. . Zoo Entry Fee: Rs 30 and Rs.10 for children 25 rupees extra for a camera, closed on Mondays. The zoo also has an interesting sponsorship programme where you can sponsor the maintenance and food of the animal of your choice. The zoo is spread over a wide area and requires lot of walking, so visit only if you are comfortable with that.
5 Day Youth Camp
At van niwas, bara patthar. apr-jun, may-sep. the camp activities include a basic rock-climbing course, yoga and meditaion in the mornings, trekking around nainital, star-gazing and various cultural programs. the camp is educational, interesting and reasonably priced. however, the food is vegetarian and no alcohol is allowed. rs 2200, only rs 400 is non-refundable. to apply, contact the convenor - camps, sri aurobindo ashram - delhi branch, sri aurobindo marg, new delhi - 110016. for more information regarding the accommodation and activities, call 235737, the van niwas phone number in nainital. if you pay by cheque, it should be payable to sri aurobindo ashram, delhi branch trust.
Kumaon University
Is headquartered in nainital, with a smaller branch in almora. it offers numerous temporary courses. (http://www.ua.nic.in/)
Trek
To naina/china peak, the highest point in the region8622ft. you can get scenic views of the whole region. hiking there takes around 60 mins and is not so strenuous. also you can see a panoramic view of snow capped himalayas further north in sep, oct and nov only. on the top of the mountain you can find a small tea shop serving bread omelet, some biscuits, tea and coffee for a reasonable price. not many people go there and so its a good option to escape from this busy, greedy world
Explore the caves: 2 Kms further up from Mallital northern end of the lake is a cave complex6 caves i.e.Tiger,Panther,Porcupine,Bats,Flying Fox and apes. This consists of a series of caves which get narrower as you progress. People who are claustrophobic should not explore the later ones and there is a facility to get out after every cave. Ensure to wear clothes which would enable you to crawl etc.
Nainital has a few good universities which offer short courses. Rock-climbing courses is an another option.
Vipassana Meditation Course
By dr. ravindra deo. aug 4-20. the courses are held in both hindi and english. there is no fixed centre, venues change every day, and the lessons are usually out in the open. the course focuses on relaxing the mind, body and soul through introspection and interaction with the outside environment. contact dr. ravindra reo at b.d. pande hospital, tel: 2012/22.
Shopping
There are two main shopping areas, the mall and barra bazaar. traditional buys have included shawls, scarves, cardigans and local jams. you can also buy wodden handicrafts which are good and cheap option for souvenirs.