Nainital name is derived from two words Naina which mean ‘eye’ and tal means ‘lake’. According to Hindu mythology, Sati the daughter of king Daksha married Shiva against the consent of his father, who in spite of Shiva’s god-like stance did not favour the match. King Daksha held a “yajna” in order to insult his son in law. Everybody was invited except the couple itself. Sati in a rage stormed at the Yajna and before the eyes of her arrogant father, she leapt into the raging flames of the fire.

Upon hearing the grievous news, Lord Shiva came down to earth to retrieve the half charred body. He tenderly took it in his arms and made his way to Kailash Parvat “The abode of Shiva”. On his way back to Kailash Parvat, the eyes of Sati drop into the lake, giving an emerald and turquoise colour to the water. Later, Naina Devi temple was built which was dedicated to Sati. This temple has firmly stood on the grounds of the lake from centuries in spite of being hit by the landslide of 1880, the temple was rebuilt the next year as it is considered to be a sacred place.