When the mercury rises in the plains of Karnataka, it is wonderfully cool in the Nandi Hills. So, many tourists head to this beautiful hill station that is named after the bull of the lord Shiva. Once the summer retreat of Tipu Sultan and the British, Nandi Hills today is a weekend getaway from Bangalore.

Location

Nandi Hills is located in the southern state of Karnataka and is just 60 kilometres away from Bangalore. Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka.

History

Nandi Hills' claim to fame dates back to the times of Tipu Sultan, when he chose the beautiful hill station as his summer retreat. Later the British developed the hill station and it gained popularity as the time passed by. Today Nandi Hills is an ideal getaway from Bangalore.

Places to visit

 You need to be little more than fit to climb 1,175 steps to reach atop the Nandi Hills. But once on the top, the effort is truly worth it as you get some stunning views of the surrounding areas from the top. The ruins of the fort built by Tipu Sultan are clearly visible. There are a number of spots that you can visit. Tipu's Drop is an exciting spot that you can visit. It's a 600 metre high cliff that is believed to used to push prisoners from the cliff. The cliff offers spectacular views of the area below.

You can also visit Yoga Nandishvara Temple, which is a Chola temple. Amrita Sarovar, the beautiful lake is a major tourist attraction at the Nandi Hills. The other places that one can visit when at the Nandi Hills are Gandhi Nilaya and the Nehru House.

Sites nearby

Nandi is a beautiful village that is situated at the north-western base of the Nandi Hills. The village was once the military station during the times of the British. The village has the Bhoga Nandishvara Temple complex, which is an example architectural brilliance. Muddenahalli, just few kilometres from the Nandi Hills is another nearby tourist attraction.

Best time to visit

Nandi Hills is year-round destination. The temperature varies from 23-29 degrees in summer and 11-21 degrees in winter.

How to reach

 The nearest airport to the Nandi Hills is Bangalore, which is about 60 kilometres from Nandi Hills. The nearest railway station is Chikkaballapur about nine kilometres from Nandi Hills. The hill resort is well connected by road to other parts of Karnataka. The hill resort Nandi Hills is situated on the Bangalore-Hyderabad National Highway.

Where to stay

There are a number of hotels at the Nandi Hills, you can choose to stay at a graded hotel to a budget hotel. The hill station also offers guest house, forest bungalows and lodge. You can also take the one-day conducted tour to the Nandi Hills.