Nandi Hills in Bangalore - Treat to Eyes

‘The best places are often off the map’ is the famous quote by the travel specialists. It can not be denied with this Nandi Hills. These hills cap the beautiful rising sun as its majestic crown and later in the evening, the valleys immerse in the golden gleam of the setting sun. Situated around 60 km from Bangalore town towards Puttaparthi Sai Baba temple, this small hill station in Chikkaballapura district welcomes the visitors with enchanting pine forests and fragrant flower gardens. Vehicles have to meander around 10 km (40 hairpin bends) from the base to reach atop the hill which is 1500 feet high.

The hill is the famous getaway spot for the then ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan. He utilized this climate in his summers and at the same time, he executed his prisoners and British sympathizers by flinging them off the cliff. Many wall paintings and stone statues here depict his eventful times. Crowds gather at the pavilion, erected on iron rods to catch a glimpse of the sun rays. Nandi hills temple complex houses three shrines of Lord Shiva, the Arunachaleshwara Temple, Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple and Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple. Legends say that these temples represent a phase of Lord Shiva's life. The Arunachaleshwara represents his childhood, the Bhoga Nandeeshwara relates to his youth and the Yoga Nandeeshwara located on top of the hills represents the phase of renunciation.

This Dravidian architecture was first to be commissioned during the 9th century and later developed during different dynasties. The breathtaking statue of Nandi (bull) carved on a single granite stone, at 4.5 feet, is the highlight of the temple premises and reason behind naming the entire hill. Tipu’s summer residence, which is also referred as Tashk-e-jannat is a must visit on the hill, is made of wood and boasts carved arches and pillars along with beautifully painted walls & ceilings. It is. Amrita Sarovar is a major source of water supply near the Nandi region. As a hill station, there is no specific timings to visit it. It can be visited as a day excursion when you are in Bengaluru and when you are driving towards Puttaparthi.