Other places of interest Danpur is the western region of Kumaon, so named from the generosity of its people. "Dan" literally means a gift, while "pur" means place. This area comprises the two major valleys of Pindari and Sunderdhunga. The Pindari glacier ends at Traill's Pass with at its head the peaks of Nanda Khat (the bed of Nanda), rising to a height of 6,611 m to its north. The Nanda Kot peak lies to its south.

Central Himalayan foothills - a charm of their own. (Download Realplayer)

One of the most accessible lakes in the Himalayas - Naini Tal Credit: Karamjeet Singh

Panwali Dwar (Gateway of Winds), 6,663 m high, separates the Pindari from the Sunderdhunga. Sunderdhunga means "beautiful stones" and this region has peaks like Tharkot (6,099 m) and Maiktoli (6,803 m).

Further south lies the Almora district, and the vegetation changes to pine forests. There is plenty of wildlife in the region, and it is a delight for visitors.

From places like Kasauni, one gets fantastic views of mountain peaks like Trishul. Trishul literally means "trident" and from Kasauni, the upper ridge of Trishul does appear like a trident.

Another delightful place for visitors is Binsar, where there is a wildlife sanctuary abounding in pheasants and the Himalayan Black Bear. The Nanda Devi peak dominates the view at this place.

Nainital lake in the lower Kumaon Hills Credit: Karamjeet Singh

Nainital
In the lower Kumaon hills lie a number of tals or lakes, formed by active tectonic movement in the region. The famous lake of Nainital is located here, a day's drive from New Delhi. This easy accessibility has led to the commercial exploitation of the lake. Boat rides in the lake are a common sight and a couple of hundred boats can be seen at the edges at any given point awaiting tourists. As a result, Nainital is a fine example of environmental degradation. However, it is a tourist spot and every year hundreds of people from the plains flock to the town, which has grown around the lake.

Near Nainital lie other lakes like Sattal, Bhimtal and Nakuchiatal. Sattal was once a collection of seven lakes but now it consists of roughly four bodies of water connected with each other. Bhimtal is another picturesque lake with a small settlement springing up around it. Nakuchiatal, on the other hand, has a handful of shops and houses in the hills surrounding the lake. These lakes are in much better condition than Nainital, primarily because no large townships have sprung up around them. All these lakes are just a couple of hours' drive from Nainital.