It is located in the Kumaun division and is flanked on the north by the Almora district and on the south by the Udham Singh Nagar district. It is situated in the foothills of the outer Himalayas and is dotted with lakes and hill stations. The most famous of these has been named after the district itself.
Nainital town finds reference in sevral ancient mythologies of India. One of the earliest references called the Nainital lake Tri-Rishi-Sarovar in reference to the three sages or rishis who dug a hole at the location of the lake and siphoned water from the holy lake of Manasarovar.
Another mythological reference refers to Nainital lake as one of the 64 Shakti Peeths where parts of the charred body of Sati fell when being carried by Lord Shiva. It is said that the eye (or Nain) of Sati fell here hence the name Nain-tal or lake of the eye.
With the British colonisation of India, Nainital town became a popular hill station and remains so to this day.
Nainital district is also home to the Corbett National Park home to a wide variety of wild life including elephants and tigers