Nandi Hills
Nandi Hills also called Nandidurga is 65 kms North of Bangalore, and is a good weekend Drive-away for those living in Bangalore. You could leave on a Saturday morning, you would reach in 1 and half hrs, spend the day there, and get back in the evening. Nandi hills also has rooms and a small restaurant..with prior bookings done, you can also spend the night there.
Nandi Hills, 1,478 meters above sea level is Bangalore's own hill station. It was Tipu Sultan's summer retreat and Tipu's fort walls still stand as testimony to history. The grandiose of the Mughals is missing, the fort and the entrance is modest, indicating the modesty of Tipu Sultan.
It was popular with the British too, who make it their Military station for a while, built bungalows and laid out gardens here. Nandi Hills has attracted the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Pt. Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi, Sir Mark Cubbon, Queen Elizabeth II et al.
The rivers Pennar, Palar and Arkavati originate from these hills. A flight of 1.175 steps lead from the base of the hills to the top. And the forests surrounding the hills are abound with wild animals. Around the Nandi Hills are several smaller hills, which can be visited on foot.
Places to Visit
Tipus Drop
A 600 m high cliff face where according to legend, condemned prisoners were pushed to their death. But look down on a clear day and the view is inspiring.Yoga Nandishvara Temple
This beautiful Dravidian style Chola temple has an inscription of Sambhaji, Shivaji's son. The Dwarapalakas, the splendid metallic figures are not-to-be-missed.Temples
Atop the Nandi Hills are the temples in honor of Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha. Do visit the Amrita Sarovar or The lake of nectar, Gandhi Nilaya and the Nehru House. The adventure seekers may indulge in paragliding.Muddenahalli
The hometown of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, the architect of modern Karnataka, Muddenahalli is just a few kilometres from Nandi Hills. The house of this genius is now a museum. You can stop by the Pine top restaurant for a coffee. The view from the restaurant and the balcony is beautiful. You can see Bangalore city from the top, and it is beautiful.How To Get There
By Air: The nearest airport is Bangalore. By Rail: The nearest railhead is Chikkaballapur. By Road: Nandi Hills is connected by road to Bangalore and Chikkaballapur.Climate
Summer:Max: 29°C Min: 23°C.Winter:21°C Min: 11°C.