Nandi Hills

Located around 60 kilometres away from Bangalore, Nandi Hills is one such tourist spot that has gradually been discovered by visitors over the years and has now become a well-known weekend getaway.

Featuring beautifully carved arches and majestic pillars with intricately painted walls and ceilings, Nandi Hills is scattered with shrines and monuments and is surrounded by mesmerizing views, making this place no less than a hidden paradise.  Situated at a height of 4851 feet above sea level, you can see a convoy of weekenders from Bangalore during early hours catching the glimpse of sunrise.

Best Time to Visit Nandi Hills - Hill Station

Nandi Hills sees favourable weather throughout the year, so no matter when you feel like taking a break from the city, you can plan a trip to Nandi Hills without the fear of meeting with unfavourable weather conditions.

That being said, the summers in the area can get stuffy and very warm during the afternoons. So if you are visiting in the summer, make sure your trips are organized for early morning or after sundown.

Even though a lot of people visit during the monsoon season, you might encounter heavy rainfall and slush when you go there during the rainy season.

Why Should One Visit Nandi Hills?

Historical Significance: It is believed that the fort walls here were built by the Paleyagars of Chikkaballapura and later strengthened by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It was under the Maratha control for some time. The precipice to the south-west has the name “Tipu’s Drop”, which is believed to be the place where prisoners condemned to death were pushed down to the valley below. At the centre of the plateau, a big water pool has been dug out and a rectangular stone structure is built for the storage of water. The pool is named “Amrit Sarovar.”

Temples in Nandi Hills: Two ancient temples dedicated to Lord Shiva are located in the Hills. The Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple on top of the Nandi Hills has the architecture of the Chola style. The garbhagriha entrance of this temple has decorative brass covered doors and dwarapalakas (door keepers) on either side. It is said that these doorkeeper images were the gifts of Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagara ruler. Located in a village Nandi Grama near to Nandi Hills is the Bhoganandishwara Temple. The original temple belongs to a period prior to the 9th century A.D. with later additions during Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara periods. In this Bhoganandishwara temple complex, there are two separate garbhagriha in one straight line, with separate Nandi Mandapam. Of these Nandi Mandapam, one has a little garbhagriha also. The temple to the north is dedicated to Lord Bhoganandishwara and the southern one to Lord Arunachaleswara. The exquisite stone fringes in them display ornate workmanship and artistry.

Tippu’s Summer Residence: Remains of a small two-story building, used by Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan can be seen on top of the Hills.  A pond and a garden are nearby.

Parks and Play areas: Nandi Hills has a garden/play area for families and kids to relax and play.

Sunrise: Sunrise on top of Nandi Hills is captivating. Aim to reach before sunrise time to enjoy the view.

Food: A line of eateries are available on top of the Hills and caters to your culinary needs. Several shopkeepers and sellers also cater to the requirements of the visitors. More restaurants can be found on the highway en route to the Hills

Points to note: Beware of monkeys trying to snatch food. Also, traffic restrictions may be enforced during busy weekends. Visitors may be required to park at the base of the hill and avail shuttle buses to reach the Hills. Otherwise, you can drive up to the parking lot and climb your way to the top.

Things To Do In Nandi Hills

If you think all that this place has are tourist attractions, you’re mistaken. There’s also a lot of adventure that awaits for you. The following are the best things to do in Nandi Hills:

1. Cycling- Be it biking or cycling, the spectacular landscape, terrific terrain, and the majestic altitude makes it a top thing to do in the hills. We can vouch that paddling amidst the breezy ambience of the hills would surely turn out to be the most soul-satisfying experience of your trip.
2. Take a walk along the hills- While there’s so much to see and do in Nandi, the best experience to have is to take a stroll on the walkway along the hills in the morning or evening. You would not only get to witness the charm of the town, but also capture the beauty of nature with your eyes at its best.
3. Paragliding- Being amongst the few places in the state, Nandi offers an extraordinary flying experience to travellers of all kinds. Paragliding amidst the lush green hills and serene valleys, you’d definitely have the time of your life. Just make sure, you have checked the weather beforehand and scheduled your flight accordingly.

How To Reach Nandi Hills

Nandi Hills can easily be accessed by road as well as by the rail as it is conveniently networked with the major cities in Karnataka including Bengaluru.

• By air- Nandi Hills does not have its own airstrip and the nearest airport is Hindustan Airport, which is about 42km away.  Mysore Airport is 165 km away. From either airport, you can take a train or travel by road to the Hills.

• By road- You can drive or even bike to Nandi Hills from Bengaluru via the Bangalore- Hyderabad Highway. Other cities from which you can travel to Nandi Hills by road include Bellary, Mysore and Devanahalli. Nandi Hills does not have its own bus station and the nearest one is Nelamangala, which is 43km away.

• By rail- The nearest train station is Oddarahalli which is 16km away. Dodballapur is 17km away from Nandi Hills and Chikkaballapur station is at a distance of 19km. Trains from Bengaluru come to all these stations.

Author,

Pratyasha