Birla Vidya Mandir, Nainital is a residential public school for boys in India that opened in July 1947. The school is the product of the vision of Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, an Indian independence activist.
The school was built in the 1870s as Oak Openings High School, first school of the naturalist and story teller from Nainital, Jim Corbett. In 1905 Oak openings was amalgamated with the Philander Smith Institute of Mussoorie, resulting in the Philanders Smith College. In the wake of the Second World War Hallet War School was built on the same campus, established for the children of the British who were in India at that time due to the war.
Birla Vidya Mandir came into existence in 1947,when Shree G.D. Birla bought the estate for Rs 2.5 lacs, inspiration behind him was Pt. G.B. Pant.
Before India achieved its independence Pant wanted to start a public school. This vision of Pant materialized from a donation from Ghanshyam Das Birla, a philanthropist and industrialist. Pant then used the estate of Philander Smith, that had housed the Hallet War School during India's war years, to create Birla Vidya Mandir.
The school is for students who want to study in Class 4th till Class 12th. Though an English medium school, the ethos is totally Indian. Most of the times, the teachers are referred to as 'Guruji' and 'Didiji'. Prayers in Sanskrit are held before every meal and students celebrate the festivals of India.
The school is affiliated to CBSE Delhi and is a member of Indian Public School's Conference (IPSC), National Progressive Schools’ Conference(NPSC), CBSE Sahodaya School Complex and International Confederation of Principals (ICP).
The school is an ISO 9002:2000(E) (Quality Management System) and ISO:14001:1996 (Environmental Management System) certified institution.
The school is situated 330 km to the north east of Delhi in the Central Himalayan township of Nainital. Its campus is 65 acres (260,000 m2) in area set at the top of a ridge, called "Sher-Ka-Danda" overlooking the lake, 1,500 feet (460 m) above the town and 7,800 feet (2,400 m) above sea level. It is connected by a motorable road.