From Wikitravel

Nandi Hills is a hill station in Karnataka State, India.

[edit] Understand

This range of craggy hills (the highest peak being 1,478 m) holds the shimmering Amrita Sarovar Lake and offers walks of sylvan beauty. A popular health resort today, it was also the place Tipu Sultan and assorted royalty retired when they sought to escape the din of battle and the heat of the plains.

The hills are located about 60km north of Bangalore and about 3940 ft above sea level. The deviation road at Oordagere on the Bangalore-Tumkur Road can reach it. On the top of the hill, there are temples dedicated to Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha. On the lower hill there is a temple dedicated to Sri Bhoga Narasimha. There is a Traveler's Bungalow and a Kalyana Mantap on the top of the hill and a Forest Lodge and Taluk Board T.B. at the foot of the hill.

A flight of 1,175 steps leads from the base of the hills to the top. On top was Tipu Sultan's summer retreat and the remains of Tipu's fort bear this out. Tipu's Drop, a 600 metre high cliff face, where prisoners were hurled down the precipice, is an awe-inspiring sight.

Sir Mark Cubbon, when he was Commissioner of Bangalore made this his summer residence. Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Queen Elizabeth II were among the other dignitaries who enjoyed their stay here. More recently, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and the SAARC delegates chose this spot for a retreat after their international deliberations.

You can visit this place at any time of the year. Its best if you are on top of the hill before sunrise. The wind, fog and clouds that blow towards you in the morning is just amazing. To be on top of the hill by 5:30 AM, you need to leave bangalore at around 4 AM. If you are not sure about the route, leave even earlier.

[edit] Get in

Fastest and most convenient journey - by car/ bike or Rikshaw There is a motorable road to the top of the hill.Beware there is only one road to the top. You can expect vehicles coming from the other side as well.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills directions-> From Hebbal flyover take NH7 and then turn right to Devanahalli after about 30 km.From there go till BIAL airport and then take a left diversion at the entry of Chikballapur.The left diversion is too easy to miss since there is no signboard in English.Look out for mount view resorts board .Only when you turn left there is a board ten meters ahead which says Nandi Hills 22 Km.

There is another left just before it but thats another highway leading to a factory.

More adventurous but also save - Bangalore to Nandi Hills by Bus All busses leave from Bangalore's central bus station "Bangalore Majestic". As this is a local bus, tickets (charge around 40 /- per head) are sold directly in the bus.

In the morning and evening there are direct busses. The KSRTC bus to the top leaves at 8.30 AM from platform 10. Returning direct busses from the Hills to Banglore leave at 2.30, 4.15 and 5.00 PM.

If you miss the direct bus to the top of Nandi Hills, there is a 2nd possibility to reach the hills by public transport: Go to Chikballapur and from there with a private bus to the Nandi Hills. The busses leave every half an hour and it takes you about 2h to reach the hill. Take the bus to Chikballapur from platform 11. After ca. 1 hour you will reach Chikballapur (The station is announced by the bus driver, but it is hard to understand. So better make sure that you check on the right side if you see the bus station sign for Chikballapur.) From Chikballapur there are frequent mini buses to the top. In August it was a Qualis, which was leaving just on the other side of the street. The journey is about half an hour.

There are no buses in afternoon(12PM - 4 PM) from Bangalore so make sure that you arrive before time.

[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

• Tippus Drop the place from where Tippu made his prisoners fall .
• Tippus Summer Residence a beautiful palace on top of this hill. This palace is closed to the general public .
• Temples There are temples dedicated to Sri Bhoga Narasimha, Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha .
• Rivers The rivers Pennar, Palar and Arkavati originate from these hills.Most of the sources have dried up .
• Brahmashram It is said that Sage Ramakrishna Paramhamsa meditated here.Its a cool cave .
• Nandi At the foot of Nandi Hills is this place with "Bhoganandishwaraswamy Temple",it is a Wonderful Place.(A Must visit)
• Muddenahalli The home town of Sri M.Visveswaraya, the architect of modern Karnataka. Muddenahalli is just a few Kilometers from Nandi Hills. The house of this genius is now a museum.(A Must visit)
• Paapagni The Panchanandikshtra. Visit it is Only 3kms from Chikballapur. (A Must visit)
• Chikballapur Sri M.Visveswaraya done his school Days in this place.And Also visit SSS Temple (Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri Subramanya, Sri Shanimahaathma Temple ), H.S. Garden, Chikballapur.

[edit][add listing] Do

Paragliding

Picnic

See the vineyards,grapes,cracked mustard seeds if you are lucky u can see them on the roads where the farmers spread them so that your car can thrash them.

BirdWatching

Look out for cracks in the fort wall, which allow you to go outside and get some spectacular views of the plains below, eagles soaring level to your eyes. However, be careful as the terrain falls steeply down and a fall will certainly crack most of our body.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Entry fee is 3 RS per person (make sure you buy the ticket, where the bus arrives). There's a ticket for 60 Rs for parking car. Grapes on the way

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Hotel Sandarshini - in Chikballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
• Hotel Truptisagar - in Chikballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
• Hotel Shantisagar - in Chikballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
• Chats - Visit Pappu's Paanipuri Chat Centre, Basavanagudi Road, Chikballapur. (A must Visit)
• Hotel Sowmya - (Lodge & Restaurant)in Chikballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
• UP Punjabi Dahba - on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway, on the right when traveling from Bangalore and just before the turning for to Nandi Hills.
• Hotel Ranjitha - This hotel is on the top of the hill and the only one present .There is nothing special about the food.

Please avoid littering the beautiful landscape.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• club cabana.  edit

Hotel Mayura has a very good Bar and Restaurant.No need to carry drinking water as you will get the mineral water bottles.Lipton vending machines are also present.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• For accommodation at the T.B., contact the Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, Tumkur.
• There are well-furnished bungalows for lodging and good catering establishments. For reservation of accommodation, the Director of Horticulture, Lalbagh, Bangalore- 2. Tel:91 - 080 - 26611925.
• Hotel Mayura Pine Top, managed by KSTDC. Tel: 91 - 08156 - 78624.
• Hotel Shantisagar - (Lodge & Restaurant) in Chikballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),
• Hotel Sowmya - (Lodge & Restaurant)in Chikballapur on the main Bangalore-Hyderabad highway NH-7 (B.B.Road),

[edit] Be careful

Be careful with monkeys on the hill. Avoid keeping eatables in the hand. Also, there are many dogs, so be careful.

[edit] Get out

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Paragliding At Nandi Hills http://www.flynandi.com