Sattal is a pine and oak paradise that falls at a distance of 25 km from the commercial hub of Kumaon – Nainital. Away from the maddening crowds of nearby hill stations, its beauty is unmatched and mostly untouched. Reserve forests, dotted with small lakes and sparse village settlements, a variety of endemic and rare species of wildlife find comfort and home in its woods. Leopards, Barking Deer, Flying Squirrels, Langoors, Porcupines, Hares and over 350 species of birds have been recorded in Sattal.

Apart from being an international bird watching destination, the history of Sattal and its surrounding areas is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. It is believed that Bhima and Hadimba were married on a rock opposite Garur-taal and that an adjoining mountain called Hadimba dham is where they lived. The story of Nal and Damyanti is also believed to have played out in the outskirts of Sattal at a small pond called Naldamyanti. Its abundant wildlife, fabled history and scenic beauty draw small crowds to the area each year.

Perfectly located at an altitude of 1370 meters above sea level, Sattal receives no snowfall, making it accessible throughout the year. November onward, the chill sets in, making it cold at night while remaining bright and sunny during the day. March-May is a beautiful time to visit Sattal. Flowers bloom, mountain slopes are lush green and temperatures hardly cross 30°c. This is also the ideal season for bird watching. End may onward the area starts to dry up. Mountain slopes redden from the shedding of pine needles and the landscape changes colour. Even though summers are hot during the day, it remains pleasant in the shade and the cool mountain breeze brings relief. End June onward the monsoons begin, bringing heavy rainfall to parched mountain slopes and the landscape turns green again.

Sattal is easily accessible by road, train and a midway flight up till Pantnagar. There are daily trains that run between Delhi and Kathgodam which take between 6 to 8 hrs to reach. The Ranikhet express is a sleeper train, while the Kathgodam Shatabdi and Uttarkhand Sampark Kranti are chair cars. By road from Delhi, Sattal is at a distance of 310 km which takes approximately 7 hours to cover.

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