Do Anna Blog

25th April 2009

More Nainital Photos: Ones tourists don’t see

Filed under: General — Lokesh Shah @ 19:48:31

For those who miss the town (small images for faster page load. Click on the image for large size).

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_003 (by Lokesh Shah)

Light of the setting Sun on the bare trees near the Bandstand

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_010 (by Lokesh Shah)

Nainital's public library. Named after my great grandfather and granduncle.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_011 (by Lokesh Shah)

Looking at Tallital from one of the windows of the library. Whan I was in class 10, I loved sitting on this window and reading the newspaper, occasionally looking out. The windows sill is for the emphasis.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_014 (by Lokesh Shah)

Looking at Tallital from one of the windows of the library. Twin towers of SEM are also visible.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_020 (by Lokesh Shah)

Nayna Devi temple and Gurudwara as seen from the Mall. The picture is for the railing which enclosed the lake.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_021 (by Lokesh Shah)

Grand Hotel and the new cast iron railing. Too dense for my liking. Grand Hotel was once the largest hotel in Nainital.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_024 (by Lokesh Shah)

The mall in front of Narains. The benches in front used to be our favourite seating places. Narains was once a thriving book shop. Now it is largely converted to a gift item shop with a small section for books. Apparently there is a shortage of book lovers in the city.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_027 (by Lokesh Shah)

Arya Samaj building behind the municipal clock tower. I am sure many residents remember being woken up early in the morning by the soothing prayer voice of Mr Counsel. Nainital being a valley, the voice carried high and far up the hills.

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A small cave near the degree college. During rainy seasion we sometimes took shelter here. The entrance is now encroached upon by a temple.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_112 (by Lokesh Shah)

A small overhang near the degree college. During rainy seasion we sometimes took shelter here.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_113 (by Lokesh Shah)

Mallital as seen from the degree college.

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A tree establishing foothold on the hill landslide. When did you last see the Nainital lake so green. The lake today is much cleaner, thanks to the aeration efforts going on. The ban on polythene bags also has helped. However these days I often see the ban being flouted by some shopkeepers.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_121 (by Lokesh Shah)

The Mallital gate of the degree college. Many also know it as DSB (Dan Singh Bisht) College.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_122 (by Lokesh Shah)

If you come on the government house road from Tallital, after St. Joseph's College the road splits. One goes to All Saint's, Sherwood and the other towards Degree College and then Mallital. On the right is a big wall. Long ago this wall wasn't there and you could see the small cemetry of St Mary's Convent. We often stood on the road looking down and wondered who was buried there and why the grave count never increased.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_123 (by Lokesh Shah)

The small cemetry of St Mary's Convent. We often stood on the road looking down and wondered who was buried there and why the grave count never increased.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_124 (by Lokesh Shah)

St. Francis Home at the Mallital gate of SEM

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_126 (by Lokesh Shah)

The middle gate of Sonn (St. Mary's Convent)

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_128 (by Lokesh Shah)

The helipad hill and the road to Bhowali. There is an electric pole here and a bell used to be tied to it. May rang the bell and bowed to the unseen temple in this direction. I think they were paying homage to the Ghorakhal temple which is in this direction.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_129 (by Lokesh Shah)

The district court

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_130 (by Lokesh Shah)

The road that leads up from Tallital Bazaar. Take teh left and you go past St. Joseph's College, Government House, Degree COllege to Mallital. Take the one to right and you go down to Thandi Sarak.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_132 (by Lokesh Shah)

The road up to the court from Tallital Bazaar

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_135 (by Lokesh Shah)

Bishop Shaw. Many have started their schooling here.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_138 (by Lokesh Shah)

Idle parked boat

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_139 (by Lokesh Shah)

Boat House of the St. Joseph's College

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_140 (by Lokesh Shah)

Take the left road, and you get to a junction which'll take you to Degree College (right) or to the court (left). Take the right road and you'll land on Thandi Sarak

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_141 (by Lokesh Shah)

Thandi Sarak is now guarded by large iron gates. Still a place for a peaceful walk without climbing up the hill.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_143 (by Lokesh Shah)

Pashan Devi temple

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_144 (by Lokesh Shah)

Thandi Sarak, as lonely as ever. Though it does get crowded in summer.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_155 (by Lokesh Shah)

The Boat House Club

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_156 (by Lokesh Shah)

Mallital Rickshaw stand

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_157 (by Lokesh Shah)

Vallerio Building housing Modern Book Depot, Sackleys, Aligarh Dairy Farm and Allied Stores

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_159 (by Lokesh Shah)

Gate of Nayna Devi temple. Photography inside is prohibited.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_182 (by Lokesh Shah)

Near the Tallital rickshaw stand, a small stand has been put up with bells. Passer by ring the bells to pay homage to the gods in Pashan Devi temple (seen below the 2nd bell from right) across the lake.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_183 (by Lokesh Shah)

Tallital post office

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_184 (by Lokesh Shah)

Entrance to Tallital bazaar.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_188 (by Lokesh Shah)

When fog blows in. My favourite scene in Nainital. Typically the fog comes in from Tallital. This one is looking at the fog from Tallital towards Mallital.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_195 (by Lokesh Shah)

The band stand in Mallital. Long ago this was the scene of some lively music. I never understaood any of it. Still it was fun.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_196 (by Lokesh Shah)

Masjid. Used to be a small structure. Now it has become huge.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_197 (by Lokesh Shah)

The intersection near Masjid. Starting from left: road goes down to flats, government house road, End Cliff road which leads to Tiffin Top, motor road to High Court and further to Kaladungi, and the road to Mallital bazar (I am standing here). Underneath the intersection is the Pardadhara - the big gadhera (drain) that empties into the lake.

Diwali_Autumn2008_SD870_214 (by Lokesh Shah)

A sail boat on the lake. You don't see these often.


Mostly these are taken by a pocket camera walking around town of places I passed by.

36 Comments »

  1. Beautiful!!

    Comment by Anumeha — 27th April 2009 @ 16:43:24

  2. Was in Ramnee 1965 – 1971. Absolutely wonderful that one can get info about Naini on the internet. Thanks for posting these images. brings back such fond memories.

    Comment by Madhvi — 28th April 2009 @ 01:25:36

  3. Lovely photos, Lokesh.

    Thanks for a trip down memory lane.

    Comment by Ashutosh Joshi — 22nd May 2009 @ 22:22:16

  4. Hi Lokesh,

    This is Devika Pande from Nainital. My family owns the Grand Hotel and we’re trying to get a website up and running – so I thought I could ask you if we can use some of your lovely photographs of Nainital for it – we’d obviously give you the credit!

    Let me know…

    Regards, Devika

    Comment by Devika Pande — 29th May 2009 @ 14:45:03

  5. Gosh, I’m in a trance….the photos bring back so many memories, but I see many changes as well. There has always been something so special about Naini. Americans are surprised to learn that India has such beautiful places. Thanks!

    An ex-Ramneeite

    Comment by H. Sidhu — 1st July 2009 @ 03:25:05

  6. thanks for the lovely pics .. i studied in all saints and havent been in naini for yrs

    Comment by bianca — 9th August 2009 @ 08:56:49

  7. lovely pics.

    Comment by shailza — 15th August 2009 @ 16:15:29

  8. thrilled to be able to feel naini and ramnee. was there till 72 and seems like a dream to be able to see the places we walked and spent so many enthralled moments. the cemetry -we were totally at peace there .Thanks for taking me down memory lane and what vivid memories I have — Tallital ,Indra Pharmacy ,and one shop at the beginning of the uphil diversion to sonn where we would buy samosas from . Thanks …

    Comment by savita — 22nd August 2009 @ 20:03:16

  9. I left Sem in 1974 after 8 yrs but deep down Naini will always be an integral part of me. Seeing these pics I lose track of time and ….. just makes me very nostalgic and happy. Sitting here a half a world away there is an instant urge to return to the Naini hills and walk through those places once more…

    Comment by Neeraj — 6th September 2009 @ 19:04:10

  10. Excellent pics. I would like to use some of them in the next issue of the Sem Tattler.

    Comment by Rana Roy — 7th September 2009 @ 08:35:12

  11. lovely pics……just feel like dashing to my hometown immdly.
    what a place it is !!!! awsome indeed.

    Comment by manjul joshi — 7th September 2009 @ 09:17:36

  12. Hi,
    I was sent these photos thru someone I used to know when I was in Sonn and he in St Jospehs. Lovely pictures. I am glad they are cleaning up the lake–the last time I visited I was sooooooo disappointed by the water. It looks so much better now.
    As Neeraj before me puts it –we lived there so long that it is in your system.
    Cheers

    Comment by Ira — 7th September 2009 @ 13:03:23

  13. Gr8 pix!! Though one belongs to Naini, yet as kids never cud admire the beauty. What do they say – ‘Ghar ki Murgi……….’!
    Have travelled the whole of India being in fauj, but Naini is where the heart is!!!
    Thanks for posting these lovely photos Lokesh.

    Comment by Atul Shah (Doon) — 7th September 2009 @ 20:19:21

  14. Thanks for the pictures–they brought back so many memories! I graduated from Ramnee in 1963 and we were the First class to do the Indian School Leaving Certificate. Previous to my year, Senior Cambridge was the exit exam. We used to go to the graveyard in the innocent belief that the nuns couldn’t see us there!Some buildings–Modern Book Depot, Grand Hotel–were there even then.Great to see the photos.

    Comment by Usha Sethi — 7th September 2009 @ 22:33:44

  15. Lokesh great pictures of Nainital.

    Please do post more as being linked with Nainital memories are back.

    I did saw like 100’s cool pics here http://www.nainitaltourism.com/pho.html

    Bobby

    Comment by Bobby Rajput — 7th September 2009 @ 23:13:19

  16. Great jobs with the pics and the commentary. Commendable. Thak you. Sanjeev Kumar,88

    Comment by sanjeev — 8th September 2009 @ 00:52:35

  17. awesome !Nostalgia crept in while going through them.This link was sent to me by my brother Manjul.Though our family[late Dr. Joshi]is no longer there ,we still miss the place and the simple and affectionate folks of this place.keep downloading more snaps.

    Comment by kumkum joshi — 8th September 2009 @ 08:34:22

  18. Great Photos. Thanx for the nostalgia!!! I think Atul Sah’s brother Alok was

    Comment by ashutosh pant — 8th September 2009 @ 18:39:19

  19. Deja-vu.

    Brings back memories of a much peaceful time. The photographs are more than what is usually available on Nainital. Was in SEM from 1979 to March 1984(ICSE 1983-1984)the beinning of one standard board for ICSE.

    Would love to get in touch with more people from Nainital.

    Regards

    Vivek Saxena
    (viveksaxena68@gmail.com)

    Comment by Vivek Saxena — 8th September 2009 @ 19:26:32

  20. Beautiful photos. Rare ones too. Thanks for posting them. This link was sent to me by Manjul on facebook. My father was princial in Birla, retired in 1972. Below is a link to youtube where there is something that I wrote about Naini.

    Comment by Meena Chopra — 9th September 2009 @ 07:14:11

  21. What a treat! Thank you for sharing these amazing pictures…brings back lots of wonderful memories. I am sure I will look at these often, just to reminisce and smile!

    Comment by Mamta Bajaj — 9th September 2009 @ 21:33:17

  22. Nostalgic pictures-memories of 1950-58 were revived.

    Comment by V.K. Joshi — 10th September 2009 @ 15:10:19

  23. fabulous photos, thanks for taking the effort to put them together. especially loved the one of the fog on the lake.. would give anything to see that again.

    Comment by anjali pandey — 10th September 2009 @ 17:44:58

  24. thanx not only were d pics awesome but while reading d msgs found some old friends of ramnee
    thanx again.

    Comment by Rashmi Shah — 14th September 2009 @ 21:56:43

  25. Was in Sem from 63 to 71.
    These snaps are rejuvenating. What pleasant and happy memories. Thanks

    Comment by Col NK Gahlaut — 15th September 2009 @ 20:34:23

  26. Thanks for the very nice pictures. I was in SEM from ‘63 to ‘71.

    Comment by Ian Rodricks — 15th September 2009 @ 21:36:01

  27. Great pics. What a nice stroll down memory lane. I Finished at Sem in 1971, revisited as a tourist in 2004. I’m a nostalgia nut.

    Comment by Luis — 16th September 2009 @ 10:40:24

  28. I passed from sem in 1971.

    38 years later today I feel I was boating in the lake with the mist.then I suddenly remembered That I had to return to school since the sports holidays were now over.

    Rakesh Chopra

    Comment by Rakesh Chopra — 16th September 2009 @ 18:10:06

  29. Hi Lokesh,

    Those were some great snaps buddy, wanna grab some old friends and drive up instantly…wish our lives allowed us that luxury.
    Regads,
    Freddy

    Comment by Dr. Firdaus Master — 16th September 2009 @ 19:16:10

  30. The shots took me back 30+ years ! I was in SEM 67-72 ( same class as Firdaus Master, Neil Todd Ravindra Bhantia, Neil Rodericks, Jehangir Gandhi and Lalit Rai just to name a few of the more colourful classmates who figure in top-of-mind recall)and have visited a couple of times since then. Nainital still retains its old world charm…..but is avoidable during the chock-a- block “season” time.

    Harsh Chopra.

    Comment by Harsh Chopra — 18th September 2009 @ 18:07:44

  31. passed outh from ramnee in 1968…..was there frrom class 1 to class 11 ..those pics are really great..I remember we used to walk to ramnee from the boat house side and there used to be this wall covered completely by a rose vine with such lovely pink roses….unforgettable
    my maiden name was neena kathju

    Comment by neena pawar — 20th September 2009 @ 00:25:46

  32. Hi,
    Beautiful photographs, seem to have been taken by someone who really understands the essence of Naini. Great job Lokesh. Your snaps are a refreshing change from the mundane commercial stuff one sees about the town. Bring pangs of nostalgia. Inspite of the rampant construction, there is much to cherish.
    Regards,
    Akhil Sah (ISC 1974)

    Comment by AKHIL SAH — 25th September 2009 @ 18:09:40

  33. Nainital is a very beutifull place

    Comment by Anonymous — 26th September 2009 @ 16:16:00

  34. WHAT LOVELY MEMORIES—-I PASSED OUT IN 63—&I STILL FEEL THE DAYS IN SONN WERE THE BEST EVER—MUST TRY & GO BACK SOME DAY !!!

    Comment by ZARIN--BOYCENEE TARAPORE — 28th September 2009 @ 18:38:13

  35. These photos r not run of the mill type, they carry msg 4 those who have enjoyed the tranquil n enchanting times in Naini Tal. A must see
    Thanks 4 taking us down memory lane

    Comment by Vijay Joshi(SC-62) — 19th October 2009 @ 19:47:20


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