Searching for the best boarding schools in Nainital? The lake town and nearby Bhimtal and Jeolikot hold some of north India’s oldest residential schools, several dating to the 1860s and 1870s. The PickMySchool directory lists ten boarding and day-cum-boarding schools in Nainital. This guide compares their boards, campuses, fees where listed and boarding set-up, and links to each full profile.
Nainital Boarding Schools at a Glance
| School | Board | Type | Students | Listed fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwood College | ICSE/ISC | Boarding | Co-ed, Class III–XII | Not listed |
| Birla Vidya Mandir | CBSE | Boarding | Boys, Class IV–XII | ₹4.82–5.10 lakh |
| St. Joseph’s College | ICSE/ISC | Day-cum-boarding | Boys | Not listed |
| All Saints’ College | ICSE/ISC | Day-cum-boarding | Girls | ₹4.98–5.28 lakh |
| St. Mary’s Convent College | ICSE/ISC | Day-cum-boarding | Girls | Not listed |
| Sainik School Ghorakhal | CBSE | Boarding | Cadets, Class VI–XII | Not listed |
| Parvati Prema Jagati Saraswati Vihar | CBSE | Boarding | Boys | Not listed |
| St. Xavier’s School | CBSE | Day-cum-boarding | Co-ed | ₹2.16–2.76 lakh |
| Green Mount Global School, Bhimtal | CBSE | Day-cum-boarding | Co-ed | Not listed |
| Long View Public School | CBSE | Day-cum-boarding | Not specified | Not listed |
Profiles: Boarding Schools in Nainital
1. Sherwood College — Ayarpatta
Began in 1869 as the Diocesan Boys’ School and became co-educational in 1973.
Campus and facilities
Smart boards in classrooms, science, computer and robotics labs, the heritage Millman Hall and the 900-seat Baston Centre. Separate boys’ and girls’ hostels and three dining halls.
Academics and boarding life
A residential school for boys and girls on the ICSE/ISC curriculum from Class III to XII.
Is it right for you?
Suits families who want a heritage co-ed boarding school at altitude. Ask about entry classes and current hostel capacity.
📍 Ayarpatta, Tallital, Nainital 263002, Uttarakhand
2. Birla Vidya Mandir — Nainital
A fully residential boys’ school on the historic Oak Openings estate, opened 17 July 1947.
Campus and facilities
Smart classrooms, science, computer and robotics facilities, art and music studios, dormitories with a dining hall, a dispensary, a gymnasium, an all-weather pool and NCC on a hillside campus.
Academics and IB programmes
The estate once housed Philander Smith College and the wartime Hallett War School.
Is it right for you?
Suits boys’ families who want CBSE boarding with a clear entry point at Class IV. Ask about admission tests for that class.
📍 Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand
3. St. Joseph’s College — Tallital
A Christian Brothers’ school on a hilltop site above Naini Lake since 1888.
Campus and facilities
Science and computer labs, a library, an auditorium, a pool and a gym.
Academics and IB programmes
The school moved from Darjeeling to Nainital in 1888 and takes both day scholars and boarders.
Is it right for you?
A fit for boys’ families who want a long-established day-cum-boarding school. Note the boarder entry window is Class 3 to 9.
📍 Tallital, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand
4. All Saints’ College — Tallital
A girls’ school near Raj Bhawan, founded in 1869, on a campus of over 36 acres.
Campus and facilities
Three science labs, two computer labs, a library of more than 8,000 volumes, a heated swimming pool and courts for basketball, tennis and badminton.
Academics and IB programmes
Students belong to four houses, and the school takes both boarders and day scholars.
Is it right for you?
Suits girls’ families who want a heritage ICSE/ISC boarding school with a heated pool.
📍 Near Raj Bhawan, Tallital, Nainital 263002, Uttarakhand
5. St. Mary’s Convent College — Ramnee Park
Known locally as Ramnee, founded in 1878 by Mother Salesia Reiner of the Congregation of Jesus.
Campus and facilities
Physics, chemistry, biology and computer labs, a library, an auditorium, a church, dormitories, a mess and an infirmary.
Academics and IB programmes
The school moved to Ramnee Park in 1879 and takes day scholars and boarders.
Is it right for you?
A fit for girls’ families seeking a convent school tradition. Plan for the Class 3–9 boarder window.
📍 Ramnee Park, Nainital 263002, Uttarakhand
View full St. Mary’s Convent College profile → · Visit website ↗
6. Sainik School Ghorakhal — Ghorakhal
A fully residential Sainik School set up on 21 March 1966, preparing cadets for careers in the armed forces.
Campus and facilities
A large hillside campus with science labs, a library, e-classes, hostels and a mess. Sports and games are a core part of cadet life.
Academics and IB programmes
Entry is through the AISSEE, so admission is test-based rather than school-run.
Is it right for you?
Suits children aiming for the armed forces. Check AISSEE dates and eligibility well ahead.
📍 PO Ghorakhal, Distt Nainital, Uttarakhand 263156
View full Sainik School Ghorakhal profile → · Visit website ↗
7. Parvati Prema Jagati Saraswati Vihar — Jeolikot
A fully residential senior secondary school for boys, run under Vidya Bharati on 21 acres donated by the Jagati family.
Campus and facilities
Physics, chemistry, biology, maths and computer labs, an Atal Tinkering Lab, a gym and a large multipurpose hall.
Academics and IB programmes
Boys live in three hostels with separate junior and senior wings.
Is it right for you?
Suits boys’ families who want a values-oriented residential CBSE school. Ask about class-wise entry.
📍 Durgapur, P.O. Bisht Estate via Jeolikot, Nainital 263002, Uttarakhand
View full Parvati Prema Jagati Saraswati Vihar profile → · Visit website ↗
8. St. Xavier’s School — Ayarpatta
A co-educational CBSE school taking both boarders and day scholars.
Campus and facilities
Physics, chemistry and biology labs, a computer lab, a library, supervised study halls, dormitories, a dining hall, an infirmary with trained staff and a tuck shop. Sports include a playing field and basketball and badminton courts.
Academics and IB programmes
The school offers all three senior streams on the CBSE curriculum.
Is it right for you?
The lowest listed fee among the Nainital boarding schools, so a good option for cost-conscious families.
📍 Ayarpatta, Nainital 263001, Uttarakhand
9. Green Mount Global School — Bhimtal
A co-educational CBSE school at Korali on the Bhimtal road, with a horse-riding ground.
Campus and facilities
An air-cooled academic block with smart classrooms, six laboratories, a language lab, a library, a dining hall, three playgrounds, courts and a horse-riding ground.
Academics and IB programmes
The affiliation is to the secondary level, so ask about options after Class 10.
Is it right for you?
Suits families who prefer Bhimtal’s quieter setting. Confirm senior-school plans.
📍 Korali, 5 Km Milestone, Bhimtal, Nainital, Uttarakhand 263136
View full Green Mount Global School profile → · Visit website ↗
10. Long View Public School — Tallital
An English-medium CBSE school on Raj Bhawan Road that began as a primary school in 2001.
Campus and facilities
The site highlights digital classrooms, a library, an auditorium and residential facilities.
Academics and IB programmes
The school has grown from primary to senior secondary since 2001.
Is it right for you?
A fit for families who want a central Tallital location. Request the published 2026 fee schedule directly.
📍 Raj Bhawan Road, Tallital, Nainital 263002, Uttarakhand
View full Long View Public School profile → · Visit website ↗
How to Choose a Boarding School in Nainital
- Boys, girls or co-ed: Sherwood, St. Xavier’s and Green Mount are co-ed. Birla Vidya Mandir, St. Joseph’s and Parvati Prema Jagati are for boys, while All Saints’ and St. Mary’s are for girls.
- Entry windows: Birla Vidya Mandir takes boys mainly at Class IV, St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s admit boarders from Class 3 to 9, and Sainik School admits cadets at Classes VI and IX through AISSEE.
- Budget: where listed, St. Xavier’s is about ₹2.2–2.8 lakh, while Birla Vidya Mandir and All Saints’ are about ₹4.8–5.3 lakh. Get written fee schedules from all.
- Altitude and access: Nainital sits at roughly 6,800 ft, so check winter weather and travel time from the nearest railhead (Kathgodam).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many boarding schools are there in Nainital?
Ten boarding or day-cum-boarding schools in and around Nainital and Bhimtal appear on the PickMySchool directory.
Which Nainital boarding schools are for girls?
All Saints’ College and St. Mary’s Convent College.
Which Nainital boarding schools are for boys?
Birla Vidya Mandir, St. Joseph’s College and Parvati Prema Jagati Saraswati Vihar. Sainik School Ghorakhal also admits cadets.
Which Nainital boarding school is co-educational?
Sherwood College, St. Xavier’s School and Green Mount Global School in Bhimtal.
What do boarding schools in Nainital cost?
Listed ranges on our profiles run from about ₹2.2 lakh at St. Xavier’s to about ₹5.3 lakh at All Saints’. Confirm current fees with each school.
Are there other hill-station boarding options?
Yes. See our guide to boarding schools in Ooty and the Nilgiris and Dehradun boarding schools.
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