Nandi Hills : Oasis For The Thirsty & Tired Traveller.
If You have decided to explore nature at its pristine best. Fed up with the crowded tourist spots, you long for a place to stand and stare at nature.Nandi Hills The best known and the most popular weekend spot for Bangaloreans.
It is one of the best places to spend the summer vacation in the cool environment.As you approach the Nandi hills the temperature drops suddenly and you are surrounded by the beautiful hill.The greenary hits you and you are lost in the tropical world of hills & trees .
Breathtaking views ignite your senses and cool wind blowing lets you unwind yourself. Roaming amidst the long grass and tall trees , you can enjoy the nature, chirping of birds and humming of bees, breathe in the fresh air and take a stroll through the lovely surroundings. Let the cool breeze blow all your worries away. As the day slowly slips into dusk, watch the stars come out, one by one. The moon casts a silver light. How close you are to nature and how peaceful life is here!
Nandi Hills A scenic spot perched at a height of 1, 455 mts above sea level, about 60 km away from Bangalore. The Nandi Hills derives its name from the Nandi temple, situated on the hill, where a thousand-year-old sculpture of Nandi the bull is there. Also called as Nandidurga, Nandi Hills was one of the summer retreats of Tipu Sultan. Besides the remnants of Tipu’s fort, here you will also come across many British bungalows. It is an ideal destination to spend the weekends in the pollution-free environment.
Brief but interesting history of Nandi hills, Centuries ago, Rishi Kushmand did penance here and the Hill was then called Kushmand Parvath. It is said that Nandi (the Bull) also did penance here, and implored Lord Nandishvar to let this place be named after him. Thence, Kushmand Parvath came to be called Nandi Betta.
The Palegars (Rulers) of near-by Chikkabalapura built a Fort on top of Nandi Hills. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan made it stronger and bigger. Tipu was born in Devanahalli. He used to visit Nandi Hills often during Summer and stay at ’Tipu Palace’. All those who had to be finished were pushed from the infamous ’Tipu’s Drop.’ In 1791, Lord Cornwallis captured Nandi Hills. From 1799 to 1808, there was a camp of the British Army at Sultanpet, below Nandi Hills.
Major Attractions :
Tipu’s Drop : Tipu’s Drop a near 2, 000 ft-high sheer cliff has a gory past. According to legend, condemned prisoners were pushed to their death.looking down on a clear day, the view is inspiring. this place is famous for its spectacular sunset.
Yoga Nandishvara Temple : This beautiful Chola temple has an inscription of Sambhaji, Shivaji’s son. The Dwarapalakas, the splendid metallic figures are not to be missed.
Amrita Samovar : The sparkling water of the Lake of Nectar is a major tourist attraction at the Nandi Hills.
Bhoga Nandishwara Temple : At the base of the Nandi Hills in the Nandi Village is the Bhoga Nandishwara Temple that follows the Dravidian style of architecture. Atop the Nandi Hills are the temples in honor of Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha
AROUND NANDI HILLS : Muddenahalli (12km) This is the hometown of Sir M Vishveswaraya, whose creations include architectural masterpieces like Bangalore’s Vidhana Soudha and the Brindavan Gardens.
Some Useful inforamtion :
Best Time to Visit – Throughout the Year. The Nandi Hills experience pleasant and moderate temperate all the year through.It is the perfect hill resort as the summer temperature varies between 29 and 23 degrees. During the winters the temperature at the Nandi Hills hovers between 21 and 11 degrees
How to Reach : (Courtsey : Karnataka Tourism)
By Air : The International airport at Bangalore is the nearest to Nandi Hills at a distance of 45 km.
By Rail : The railway station nearest to the Nandi Hills is that of Chikkaballapur just 9 km away. Though it is the railhead at Bangalore though 65 km away from the Nandi Hills is connected with all the major places in India through rail. There are frequent trains that connect Chikkaballapur with Bangalore.
By Road : The excellent road network links the Nandi Hills with the important places like Bangalore and Chikkaballapur. Nandi Hills is situated on the Bangalore - Hyderabad National Highway .
Accommodation : There is a guest house , one can book accomadition by contacting the Horticulture Department at Lal Bagh or There is Karnataka Tourism’s Hotel Mayura Pine Top .It is located in a nice wooded area close to Tipu’s Drop,
Nandi Hills the perfect get away destination from the hustle and bustle of the cities.Also Its a place of historical importance .Just for the records, Some of the well known personalities who visited Nandi Hills were Mahatma Gandhiji Jawaharlal Nehru, Queen Elizabeth, Sir C.V. Raman, Sir M. Vishweswaraiah S. Radhakrishnan & Indira Gandhi .In 1986, an important meeting during the SAARC Summit was held here.
Dear friends I frequently visit this place with my family , friends & my lovely Camera to enjoy the nature.I invite all my MSian friends & the MS Team to visit this place, this summer.Its an ideal place to have All India MS Meet.Please think about it. We have the best organising team of MS members (Sridhar Anna, Mr Umesh, Paulose & myself)
There is a great news For the adventurous, this place provides a wonderful opportunity to go trekking and rock climbing . There are also plans of setting up asky diving centre.
Nandi Hills in Short its a real oasis for the thirsty and tired traveller.