Home away from home, a homestay run by Colonal(Rtd) Kiran Dangwal is your best bet. Phone numbers : 09312326050, 09411107798. The homestay is a Kilometre away from Mall Road on the Zoo road. To reach the house, you will have to brave a small steep climb. Once at home, it is divine - best view of the town and the lake. (View Photograph)Homestay offers clean spacious rooms with attached toilets (I think there are some rooms with common bathrooms too - please check. There is a resident cook to prepare healthy homecooked food or you could cook yourself too. Maid comes in everyday to clean the room
Host Colonal Dangwal does not come across as a greedy host trying to maximize his earnings. Instead, he goes out of his way to help you:lets you use washing machine, arranges cheapest cabs (he himself also owns a fleet) etc. For most part of the year, host stays at the same place and that is very helpful - you can use his immense knowledge to plan your trip. Rates are reasonable and negotiable.Call Dangwal and book the entire house for your group.
We had been to Nainital as a group on a tight budget. We stayed at this homestay for seven days and made it as our base as we went exploring areas around Nainital. In my opinion, if you are travelling in a group, then homestay is much better than hotels.