Nainital’s famous Tiffin Top site closed for tourists after it develops cracks

Tourists have been banned from visiting Tiffin Top in Uttarakhand, known for its panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks, due to cracks in the site. The district magistrate of Nainital has requested a high-level technical team to inspect the site before lifting the ban. The site is one of many landslide-prone areas in the region, with cracks also developing in Band Stand of Mallital. The population of Nainital has grown from 7,589 in 1881 to over 48,000 at present, with over 150 hotels and resorts built on slopes.

The Nainital district administration in Uttarakhand has prohibited tourists from visiting Tiffin Top, also known as Dorothy seat site, which is famous for its panoramic view of the Himalayan peaks, to avoid any untoward incident as the site located over the mountain has developed cracks, officials said on Wednesday.

Situated at a height of 2,290 metres from sea level, Tiffin Top was named after British Army officer Col. JP Kellett’s wife Dorothy, after he built a stone seat here in her memory. (HT Photo)

Dhiraj Garbiyal, district magistrate (DM), Nainital said, “We have banned Tiffin Top due to the safety of the tourists as it has developed cracks. I have also instructed authorities concerned to erect fencing and caution boards near the site.”

“I have requested the government to send a high-level technical team to inspect the site and give its recommendations about the site. The ban will remain in effect till a high-level technical team inspects and gives its expert opinion. We will take a decision on lifting the ban based on the team’s opinion,” the DM added.

Earlier, a joint team comprising geologists, and officials from the departments of irrigation, public works, revenue, forest, and disaster management conducted an inspection of the Tiffin Top on Monday on the instructions of the DM. After conducting the inspection, the team submitted a report to the DM and gave suggestions that the development of cracks needs to be checked.

Notably, Band Stand of Mallital in Nainital has also been closed for tourists after it developed cracks a few months ago.

Nainital, which is one of the most landslide-prone areas in the state, has a history of geological disturbances. In 1880, 151 people were killed in a major landslide in Nainital’s Sher Ka Danda area. Nainital’s Baliyanala has been witnessing landslides for the last 20 years, but since 2018, Nainital and areas around it are again witnessing landslides and cracks on the roads, with experts terming them as warning signs that all was not well with the geological terrain in the area.

The population of Nainital, which has an area of 11.73 sq km, has swelled from 7,589 in 1881 to 41,377, according to the 2011 census. It has now crossed 48,000 at present. The number of constructions/buildings in Nainital, most of them on slopes, has increased from 520 in 1901-02 to over 7,000 at present, including over 150 hotels and resorts.