Nainital is a charming town in the state of Uttarakhand in India also referred to as the ‘Lake district of India’. Its natural attribute of stunning views, favourable weather condition and quietness has made it to be one of the most famous tourist destination sites.
Located in the center of the city is the Naini Lake, which is a crescent shaped natural freshwater boot shaped like a crescent. People can extended their strolls on the lakeside and enjoy the silent and calm beauty of the spot or they can go for boating as well. The Mall Road is an area including shopping stores, restaurants and other stores as well as food vendors just by the shores of the lake.
This is obviously a paradise for those who fancy trekking, hiking and sight seeing tourists as there are other ecstasy spots in and around Nainital like Snow view, Tiffin top and Naina Peak. The town is also home of several educational institutions which includes Kumaon University, and the town is believe to possessed majority colonial building.
Apart from looking for a calm and serene vacation or a fun filled adventurous trip, Nainital does contain something in offer for all.
The dressing style of the people has exposed the ancient style. It is now time to explore what kind of traditional clothes women and men wear in this beautiful hill station of India.
Traditional Dress for Females
The sort of dress that women in Nainital traditionally wear is based on what the Kumaoni and Garhwali women wear. The most famous Nainital traditional dress is the Ghagra which is a long skirt usually worn with bright colored shirt or Kurta. It is commonly worn in colourful fabrics such as silk or cotton and the shinning zari or brilliants work are a special characteristic of the Ghagra .
The second most unique Nainital traditional dress is Sari. Different styles which women wear sari include pallu which is the end of the sari because it is draped over the shoulder. This is a really classy and usable style; people can move freely in it, even in the region with many hills.
To complement their attire, women in Nainital often wear traditional jewelry, including:
- Hansuli: A piece of jewelry, in silver, specific to married women.
- Gulaband: A choker like piece of jewelry that resembles a necklace mostly in gold and or silver.
- Nath: A nose ring is a very distinguished item of accessories in that part of the world.
- Payal: Silver anklets or gold anklets.
- Bichuye: Toe rings.
Traditional Dress for Males
The clothing that used to be worn by men of the Nainital region is no less unique than that of the women folk. The most examined suit is the Dhoti-Kurta. Dhoti is a piece of garment that is worn around the waist and a Kurta is a kind of loose shirt. This is convenient and suitable for climatic conditions of this area.
In winter, men wear another Nainital traditional dress that is a Pachowda, it is a woolen shawl which safeguard them from cold weather. They also may put on a topi or a pagadi (turban) to cover head from cold.
Though, such traditions are there in practice in Nainital even today, especially in villages and during festive seasons, the traditional dressing pattern has welcomed modernity to a considerable extent. New and old elements are combined today; thus, individuals make structures with conventional decor and accents and modern design.
