Sattal or Sat Tal is an interconnected group of seven pristine freshwater lakes in the Lower Himalayan Range situated in the wild near the Bhimtal town of the Nainital lake district in the Uttarakhand state of India. These lakes sit at an altitude of 1370 metres below lush orchards of the Mehragaon valley. In Hindi Sattal means seven lakes. These group of lakes are amongst dense forest set against the backdrop of oak and pine trees and have algal green water. Sattal is one of a few unspoiled and unpolluted fresh water Biomes in India. These lakes are the paradise for migratory birds. It is one of the best places for "living outdoors" in India. The dense forest cover discourages human population except for a few shops at Sattal.

Adventure and Excursions

Sattal is naturally conducive to adventures and excursions. It is the best place for mountain biking, rock climbing, night-trekking, nature trail, backpacking, angling, kayaking, rafting, rappelling, river-crossing, birdwatching, swimming, boating and night camping in the deep jungle.

Biological Amplitude

Sattal is unique for its biodiversity and ecological amplitude. It has 500 species of resident and migratory birds, 20 species of mammals, over 525 species of butterflies and over 11,000 species of moths, beetles, bugs and other insects. The flora covers a wide and diverse range of plants ranging from Bryophytes, orchids, rare climbing plants, ferns, lichens, fungi, medicinal herbs and shrubs. Each individual lake has their unique Diatom index.

Sattal Mission Estate and Methodist Ashram

The Sattal Christian Ashram was established by Revered Stanley Jones (1884-1973), the evangelist and missionary. This Christian Ashram is situated in the lap of the nature on the banks of Sattal lakes and at its very entry point. Previously it was a tea estate. St. John's Church is the part of it and represent mixed colonial architecture. There is Sattal Christian Ashram chapel situated near Sattal.It was established in 1930 to introduce Christianity in the Indian way into the Kumaun. Revered Stanley Jones was the friend of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Earl Denman, who attempted Mount Everest alone and secretly with Tenzing Norgay in 1947, stayed in this Ashram for many years.

Sattal Lake

Lake type Freshwater
Primary sources Local streams and springs
Primary outflows Gaula River
Basin countries India
Max length 2-3 km
Max depth 20 m
Shore length1 Oak and Pine Forest
Surface elevation 1370 m above MSL
Settlements Bhimtal, Bhowali, Nainital, Uttarakhand
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Seven Lakes Of Sattal

Panna or Garud Tal
Nal-Damyanti Tal
Purna Tal
Sita Tal
Ram Tal
Laxman Tal
Sukha Tal or Khurdariya Tal

Ecology

Sattal is ecologically fragile mesotrophic group of lakes and under the impact of heavy environmental degradation. Extensive deforestation, dumping of Non Biodegradable waste, rapid and illegal colonisation, uncontrolled urbanization of the catchments and nearby forest area of the lake region is harming its ecology. This results in scanty rainfall, decrease in the number of plant and animal species and rapid drying up of perennial springs.Reduced oxygen content and high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus is also hurting these lakes.Poaching has eliminated wild animals which eliminate food chain at consumer trophic level. Khudariya Tal become Sukha Tal (Dry Lake) due the leakage of water from western extremity. An extensive drowth of vegetation like Lantana , Parthenium and Eichhornia is also endangering the ecological survival of these lakes.

Birds of Sattal

The unique Avian fauna of Sattal includes Red-billed blue magpie, Kingfishers, Blue-throated and Brown-headed Barbets, Lineated Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Crimson-fronted Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet Plum-headed Parakeet, Slaty-headed Parakeet, Chestnut bellied Rock Thrush, Tits, Babblers, Jungle Owlet, Fish eagle, Pied Woodpecker, Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Himalayan Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape Woodpecker, Greater Yellow-naped Woodpecker, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Scaly-bellied Woodpecker, Common Flameback Woodpecker,Indian Tree Pies, Blue Whistling-thrush, Lammergeier, Himalayan Griffon, Crested serpent eagle, Flycatchers, Cheer Pheasants, Kalij pheasant, Koklas Pheasants, Dollarbird, Leaf Birds, Flowerpecker, Purple sunbird, brown headed stork-billed kingfisher, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Crested kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Himalayan Kingfisher, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Black-breasted Sunbird, Crimson sunbird, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, Plain-leaf Flowerpecker, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, Russet Sparrow, Rufous Babbler, Black-headed Jay, Scaly-breasted Wren-Babbler, Black-capped Sibia, Blue Whistling thrush, Finches, Mountain Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Eurasian Jay, White-rumped needletail, Black-headed jay, Black-lored, Black-throated tits, Black bulbul, Ashy-throated warblers, Black-chinned babbler, Rufous-breasted accentor, Red-billed blue magpie, Grey-winged blackbird, Eurasian griffon, Common buzzard, Black-chinned babbler, Pink-browed rosefinch, Common wood pigeon, Slaty-headed parakeet, laughingthrush, Chestnut-tailed minla, Lemon-rumped warblers, and many more.

Fish

Sattal has many different varieties of fish. Mahseers (Tor tor and Tor putitora) dominates them all.Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Schizothorax richardsonii and Catla catla are some other important fish.

Butterfly Museum

There is a rich butterfly museum of Frederic Smetacek at Jones Estate, with has over 2,500 butterfly and moth specimens and 1100 species of insects of this region.

Some Butterflies of Sattal

Some of the butterflies found at Sattal includes Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius), Peacock Panzy, Blue Peacock, Paris Peacock, Red-base Jazebel, Red Lacewing, Yellow Pansy, Tawny Rajah, Red Helen, Large Silverstripe and thousands of others.

Subhash Dhara

There is a spectacular natural spring of fresh water arising out of dense Oak forest at the Sattal towards the west.

Geology and Physiography

Sattal is situated in the Lower Himalayas and is the result of tectonic activities and the uplifting of sediments between the Tibetan plain and the Indo-Gangetic plains. The rock type mainly comprises sedimentary rocks. Quartzite is the dominating rock type in the region. Physiographically the area can be divided into lower Himalayas and terraces.

Nearby Places of Interest
Bhimtal
Naukuchia Tal
Bhowali
Ghorakhal
Golu Temple