Hello, @Arn! Welcome to the forum! Sat Tal means Seven Lakes, hence the town is sometimes referred to as the Town of Seven Lakes. It is an interconnected group of seven freshwater lakes situated in lower Himalayan region, near Bhimtal in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. These lakes are about 1,370 metres above sea level. It is about 52 kms away from the city proper of Nainital. From Delhi, the distance is about 302 kms. These seven lakes are amongst the few unpolluted bodies of water in the region. They are also named after mythological creatures, namely: Ram Tal, Sita Tal, Laxman Tal, Nal Damyanti Tal, Sukha Tal, Garud Tal and Purna Tal. These lakes are a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers. There are several camps providing some type of accommodation for guests here. There are about 500 species of both migratory and resident birds to see here. Some of these species are the following: Blue-throated and brown-headed barbets, red-billed blue magpies, kingfishers, lineated barbets, golden-throated barbets, crimson-fronted barbets, coppersmith barbets, plum-headed parakeets, slaty-headed parakeets, jungle owlets, fish eagles, pied woodpeckers, brown-capped pygmy woodpeckers, grey-capped pygmy woodpeckers, brown-fronted woodpeckers, stripe-breasted woodpeckers, yellow-crowned woodpeckers, rufous-bellied woodpeckers, crimson-breasted woodpeckers, Himalayan woodpeckers, lesser yellownape woodpeckers, greater yellow-naped woodpeckers, streak-throated woodpeckers, grey-headed woodpeckers, scaly-bellied woodpeckers, common flameback woodpeckers, Indian tree pies, brown headed stork-billed kingfishers, stork-billed kingfishers, crested kingfishers, white-throated kingfishers, pied kingfishers, common kingfishers, blue-eared kingfishers, Himalayan kingfishers, Mrs. Gould’s sunbirds, green-tailed sunbirds, black-throated sunbirds, black-breasted sunbirds and many more species. The lakes are home to many species of fishes as well, namely: Mahseers, cirrhinus mrigalas, schizothorax richardsoniis, labeo rohitas and catlas. The lakes are also home to about 20 species of mammals, 525 species of butterflies and about 11,000 species of insects like moths, bugs and beetles. Some of the activities that you can do around the lakes are: Trekking, boating, angling, rapelling, mountain biking, rock climbing and bird watching. There are many pros to visiting the lakes, here they are: These lakes are amongst the few unpolluted bodies of water near to the cities. Hence, you can enjoy their freshness and the wide diversity of animals living in them. It's an all-year round destination and each season is equally beautiful as the other. Summers are warm and pleasant enough for sightseeing and trekking. Monsoons are especially beautiful with the lush greenery in the region. Winters can get extremely cold and you can even experience snowfall if you're lucky. There are many accommodation options in Sat Tal, ranging from budget to luxury ones. You can also opt to stay in Bhimtal which is just a few minutes away from Sat Tal. You can try your hand at adventure activities that I've mentioned above. You also get to see nature at its best with the numerous wildlife in the lakes. There are also some cons to visiting the lakes: There are not many options for food here. Most restaurants serve North Indian cuisine and it's rare to see restaurants with South Indian or International cuisines. Some of the lakes are suffering from a reduced oxygen content and high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Sukha Tal was formerly known as Khudariya Tal but was renamed aptly to Sukha Tal, which means Dry Lake. This is because one extreme of its part was dried out due to leakage. The ecology of the surrounding areas are harmed by deforestation, dumping of non-biodegradable wastes and urbanisation. Scanty rainfall has affected the plants and the animals residing in the area. Perennial springs are also starting to dry up. Illegal poaching has eliminated many of the wild animals in the area. Despite these cons, the lakes are very much worth a visit. Make sure you do your part as a visitor and try not to interfere with the natural ecology of the lakes. I hope this helps!
