Naina Devi temple's history takes us back to Hindu mythology. Sati the love interest of Lord Shiva decided to get into a nuptial. Upon hearing this the father of Sati, Daksh Prajapati opposed the idea. He then decided to host a Yagya and requested all the deities other than Lord Shiva to be his guest.  Upon hearing this Sati requested her father to not insult Lord Shiva like this, she told him to invite Shiva with all due respect. He held on to every opportunity he got to insult both Sati and Lord Shiva. Sati could not stand her father's behavior and she could not see Shiva being insulted thus she decided to take her life in the Yagya fire. Everyone present there was shocked as they saw Sati step into the Hawan-Patra and burn to death. 

As soon as Lord Shiva heard of Sati’s sacrifice and her father's behavior he summoned Virbhadra and Khali and ordered them to destroy the Yagya. In the heightened state of his emotions, Shiva ordered them to kill Daksha. He reached there to collect the remains of Sati. That is when Sati’s mother requested him to bring her husband back to life. Shiva then attached the head of a goat to his body and using his powers brought him back to life. 

At the brim of his emotions of fury, loss, and agony, Lord Shiva turned miserable. He traveled around the world carrying the burnt body of Sati. He even performed the dance of destruction also known as the tandava.  In a hurry to save the world from being damaged by Shiva’s rage, Lord Vishnu ordered to release his Sudarshan chakra and cut Sati’s body into pieces. The pieces of her body fell in 52 different locations around India. These locations were thus known as Shakti peeths. It is said that the Naina Devi Temple is built at a location where the eyes of Sati fell. 

The locals believe that the idol of Devi was placed in 1842 by Moti Ram Shah. It could not survive after the landslide that happened in the year 1880. The temple was rebuilt with a lot of faith and the locals have faith that it is the Devi who protects them from any calamity.

The Naina Devi Temple architecture is very simple yet elegant. The vast courtyard of the temple has a peepal tree on its left and the beautifully carved idol of Lord Ganesh on the right followed by an idol of Pawan Putra Hanuman.
As you walk towards the main sanctum you will notice a pair of eyes that signify the name Naina Devi and Nainital. There is an idol of Devi Kali in the temple too. The inner sanctum is guarded by the idol of a pair of lions also known as the Vaahan of the Goddess.

• During the Nanda Ashtami, the temple is in a celebratory mode and this festival indicates the worship of the Nanda Devi peak and the goddess residing in the temple.
• You can also visit during festivals like Navratri and Chaitra and offer prayers to the goddess.
• Shop to your heart's content on the mall road.
• Ask the locals about the Brahmakamal which consists of medicinal values.

• Pack according to the temperature of the city around your time of visit. Carry along with sufficient woolens.
• If you have kids or adults traveling with you then make sure to book a cab service because walking uphill can cause body aches if you aren’t used to it. 
• Carry along with you some sunscreen because the sun rays in the hilly areas are a bit harsh. 
• Do not dispose of waste on the streets.
• Avoid carrying around heavy backpacks because walking around with them won’t be easy.
• Wear clothes decent enough to visit a temple.
• Follow the rules and regulations implemented by the temple authorities.
• Maintain calm in the prayer hall of the temple.
• Carry a water bottle along with you.

The best time to visit the city, as well as the temple, is during March, April, May, and June and you can come here during the winter season too. If you are visiting solely to worship at the temple then you should plan a visit during the festive season which is during the Navratri in September to October, during Chaitra Mela and the Shravani Mela.

• Tibetan Market
• Nainital Lake
• Governor’s House Raj Bhawan
• Snow View Point
• Kainchi Dham Neem Karoli Baba Ashram
• Naina Peak

• The Naina Devi temple is one of the Shakti Peeths in India which symbolizes devotion and power. This is where the eyes of Sati fell while Shivji was carrying her. 
• In the surrounds of the temple, you can easily spot a mosque, a church, and a gurudwara. 
• The temple is visited by a lot of devotees and tourists throughout the year.