A 15-metre stretch of Nainital’s Lower Mall Road cracked during heavy monsoon rain. A PWD patchwork repair using cement, sand and mud collapsed within days; vehicle access is now prohibited until further notice while remedial work proceeds. One-way traffic on Upper Mall Road is to operate from 6 pm to 8 pm. A similar section collapsed in 2018; despite eight tenders and a contractor appointed nearly eight months ago, permanent work has not begun in seven years. PWD says ₹3.4 crore has been sanctioned, machinery is on the way, and a detailed project report will be submitted.

In Almacoottage, cracks in a roadside safety wall threaten at least 12 homes; a landslide is 200 metres away. Temporary reinforcement and a survey for a permanent fix are underway.

Other problem routes include the 6-km, partly cemented road from Government Polytechnic College in Mallital to Gairikhet, the Fatehpur-Basani road, and pothole-ridden Nainital-Haldwani, Nainital-Bhowali and Nainital-Kaladhungi roads. NH authorities oversee the Haldwani route; PWD handles the Bhowali and Kaladhungi roads. Rain has delayed repairs. Taxi union representatives warned deteriorating roads could further damage tourism, which has seen three months of falling visitor numbers.

A 20-metre stretch of Nainital’s Lower Mall Road, beside the section that collapsed into Naini Lake in 2018, has sunk three to four inches and developed cracks. The PWD is filling them with bitumen to limit water seepage.

About 25 metres of road fell into the lake in 2018; a temporary geo-bag road restored traffic in about a month. A permanent repair project costing ₹3.48 crore was sanctioned in 2023 but delayed by monsoons, tourist influx and difficulty finding a contractor. After eight tender rounds, a contractor was found this year, but work halted as monsoon rains raised the lake level. Permanent stabilisation is expected to begin next summer, after the water recedes.

Since early 2023, subsidence in Joshimath and Karnaprayag has displaced over 550 families.

A long-weekend tourist surge in Nainital from Friday packed Mall Road, Naini Lake, Bhotia Market and Snow View, with visitors stuck in traffic for hours. One Delhi tourist said a five-to-six-kilometre journey took five to six hours, forcing him to cancel a trip to Kainchi Dham; he also complained that hotel rates were much higher than normal. A Pune visitor reached Kainchi Dham with difficulty and advised tourists to check traffic and hotel availability before travelling.

A Delhi tourist said a hotel refused to honour his prior booking after he arrived late at night, offered an unsuitable room elsewhere and refused a refund; he said he would file a police complaint.

The Nainital Hotels and Restaurant Association said it had received complaints about high rates and discussed the issue with the administration. Association president Digvijay Singh Bisht said registered hotels charge according to prescribed categories and regulations, while some unregistered homestays, guest houses and other properties set arbitrary rates. He called for action and better traffic and parking arrangements during Navratri and Dussehra.

Devotional film ‘Hanuman Ansh’, directed by Vishal Chaturvedi and released August 7, 2026, has boosted visits to Baba Neem Karoli’s Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand’s Nainital district. The film grossed nearly ₹400 crore worldwide on a ₹2 crore budget. Daily footfall has risen from 4,000–5,000 to more than 6,000, reaching 15,000–20,000 on weekends; around 50 lakh devotees visited in the nine months through September 2026. Visitors also travel to Nainital and Bhimtal, supporting hotels, restaurants, taxis, boat operators and shops. Nainital SSP Manjunath TC said traffic, parking and crowd management need greater attention, with vehicle pressure increasing on the Nainital–Kainchi Dham route.

The state is preparing a helicopter service between Haldwani and Kainchi Dham. Heritage Aviation has requested land for a helipad; the proposed trip would take about three minutes and cost around ₹1,000, subject to government and company discussions. Proposed ropeway extensions include Kathgodam–Nainital and Ranibagh–Hanumangarhi–Kainchi Dham.

Visitors escaping a heatwave in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and other northern plains crowded Naini Lake, Mall Road, Snow View, Tiffin Top, Cave Garden and Himalayan View Point on June 27, 2026. Long boating queues formed at Naini Lake. Hotels and guest houses reported nearly 70% room occupancy; restaurants, cafes, taxi operators and handicraft shops also saw increased business. The recently concluded NEET examination contributed to the influx, alongside cool temperatures, mild sunshine and clear skies.

Traffic congestion affected Mall Road and key entry points. Traffic and local police managed movement. SP City Dr Jagdish Chandra said visitors to Kainchi Dham were taken to the temple by shuttle, while tourists were transported into Nainital by shuttle buses once parking filled. Visitors with confirmed hotel bookings were allowed direct entry.