A drive to Nandi Hills Bangalore

A drive to Nandi Hills doesn’t need any introduction when it comes to the buzzing travellers and explorers of Bangalore and around. In fact, of all the young population arriving in Bangalore year on year, majority visit Nandi Hills in the first few months of their stay in Bangalore. And so had it.

However, years later I enjoyed a staycation with my family on the foothills of Nandi Hills. And trekked my way to the top of Nandi Hills. Which was definitely a very different experience than a drive to Nandi Hills Bangalore.

But, being such a serene hill and located so close to our home, Nandi Hills once again started calling us. As the monsoons arrived, the days turned cloudy and misty with cold winds blowing. Making it a perfect weather to embark upon yet another beautiful drive around Bangalore. We headed to Nandi Hills once again.

However, this time, it was a very random decision to drive to Nandi Hills Bangalore. In fact, we had no plans to drive to Nandi Hills. With both Abhishek and Mom’s birthday’s in the previous week, we actually headed to the Tall Oaks , Whitefield for a sumptuous lunch.

And it was while enjoying the delicious meals in the open air setting with the beautiful and cool weather that the idea to drive to Nandi Hills formulated.

So, after finishing our lunch, we headed to Nandi Hills Bangalore. Before taking you on this trip to Nandi Hills with me, let me give you a brief introduction to the interesting history of Nandi Hills.

History of Nandi Hills

According to local legend, the hill was originally called “Ananda Giri,” meaning the Hill of Happiness. It was believed to be the abode of the Hindu gods and a place of spiritual importance. And it also reflects in the name – “Nandi” which is the bull that Shiva used as his transport. And is worshipped in all Shiva Temples.

For centuries during the medieval period, the area around Nandi Hills was under the rule of several Hindu dynasties like the Chola and Pallavas. During the 14th to 17th centuries, the region came under Vijaynagara of the royal empire of Hampi who majorly contributed to the development of temples on the hill as well as in the foothills. I won’t be surprised if some of these temples draw parallel to the temples of Badami and the temples of Pattadakal or the Aihole Temple Complex – which were all developed around the same time.

In the 18th century, Nandi Hills gained prominence under the rule of Tipu Sultan, the Sultan of the current city of Mysore. He recognized the strategic importance of the hill and built a summer palace here. Tipu Sultan fortified the hill and used it as a strategic outpost to monitor and control the surrounding areas. During this time, the hill became infamous for “Tipu’s drop” – a steep cliff from which prisoners were allegedly thrown to their deaths.

When India was colonised, the British came to appreciate the cool and pleasant climate of Nandi Hills. They constructed bungalows, roads, and other infrastructure around the hills.

Today, Nandi Hills is a well-known tourist destination, attracting visitors for its historical significance, natural beauty, and adventure activities along with an option to visit the significant historical remnants from across the previous eras.

Route taken for drive to Nandi Hills Bangalore

Although the usual route from Whitefield to Nandi Hills would have been through NH44 and by crossing the whole city –

Whitefield – K R Puram – Hebbal – International Airport Road – Hyderabad Highway – Nandi Hills Road

However, there’s a new “Satellite Ring Road” that has been recently developed to enhance the connectivity of Bangalore International Airport with east Bangalore, Industrial belt of the city of Kolar and the Bangalore – Chennai Highway part of which we had taken on our last trip to Kovalam beach Chennai via Hoskote which is under construction. Lucky for us, this ring road is in an excellent condition and a pleasure to drive on. And moreover, due to this route, we could skip the whole city traffic altogether. So, the route that we took was

Whitefield – Hoskote – Satellite Ring Road – NH 44 – Nandi Hills Road

We had to only cross over NH 44 via this route. Because the point where the Satellite Ring Road connected us at NH 44, right opposite the turn to Nandi Hills Road awaited us. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed this whole drive. And against all expectations, we reached Nandi Hills in only 1 hour time!!

The drive via Nandi Hills Road

Once you reach the Nandi Hills Road, its a two lane undivided road. But the area has seen rapid development over past couple of years. Because, as per my memory, when we visited here almost 4 years back, there were not many food outlets. But this time, as we drove towards Nandi Hills, we could see a lot many new food outlets, general shops, outdoor activity zones etc. Some fully developed and some still under development.

On the foothills of Nandi Hills Bangalore

Actually, on this drive to Nandi Hills, we didn’t really intend to go to the top of Nandi Hills. Because now a days, Nandi Hills is getting super crowded on weekends. So, we rather decided to stay put somewhere on the foothills of Nandi Hills. And rather enjoy the weather and the clean and green environment around us sipping some hot coffee and enjoying some evening snacks. While we were looking for a suitable place to stop, we encountered the Silver Oak Cafe.

Silver Oak Cafe Nandi Hills

We first spotted the sign “SOC Nandi Hills” and then saw the cafe. It looked exactly like what we were looking for. With car parking space within the campus, a small lawn in the front with a swing and an open air sitting in the back. The cafe also had indoor sitting in case you didn’t want to sit in open air.

We came inside, settled down. And ordered some beverages for each one of us – hot coffee for the adults and hot chocolate for the kids. After the coffee arrived, rather than sitting at one place, we decided to roam around. Sometimes sitting on the swing, somethings on the grass. Watching the greenery and the hills in front of us. While the kids enjoyed the nature as well, in their own way. Running around, putting the “touch me not” plants to sleep 🙂 and exploring the surroundings.

After having spent almost an hour here, we decided to head back.

What else can I do on a drive to Nandi Hills Bangalore

Things to do at the foothill of Nandi Hills

There’s a lot more that you can do on a drive to Nandi Hills Bangalore. You can easily spend a whole day here. And we plan to do the same. Covering the ancient temples including the most famous Bhoganandeeswara Temple, a Shiva temple constructed in Dravidian style of architecture, located at the base of Nandi Hills. And enjoying the food from some more cafes and restaurants.

In fact, you can even stay overnight in this region as there are several airbnb properties on offer at the foothills of Nandi Hills now. And if you are in to pamper yourself, there’s a Marriott Property in the campus of Prestige Golfshire and another Marriott Mulberry Shades resort almost right opposite to the Silver Oaks Cafe where we had our evening coffee. During monsoons season a lot of waterfalls also emerge in this region. And you can also visit a vineyard or grapes plantation farm on your way to Nandi Hills from Bangalore City.

Things to do at top of Nandi Hills

And of course, if you have not been to the top of Nandi Hills yet, that will be a must do for you. The views from the observation deck as well as other sides on the top are breathtaking. And the ancient Shiva Temple is beautiful. There are other caves and smaller temples scattered all over. And on a cloudy day, you will definitely be gliding above the clouds on Nandi Hills.

Tourist spots on top of Nandi Hills include –

• Tipu’s Summer Residence (Tipu Sultan’s Fort): This historic fort was built by Tipu Sultan and offers a glimpse into the architectural style of the period.
• Nandi Temple: A temple dedicated to Nandi, the bull, located at the foothills. It’s a significant pilgrimage site for Hindus.
• Tipu’s Drop: A viewpoint with a dramatic drop, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding plains.
• Amrita Sarovar: A beautiful lake that provides a serene spot for visitors to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Adventure activities available at Nandi Hills Bangalore

There are a lot of adventure activities organised at Nandi Hills and on the way to Nandi Hills Bangalore. These include paragliding, quad biking, cycling to the top of Nandi Hills, organised trekking etc.

You can also stay in a camp overnight in one of the campsites either on the top of Nandi Hills or foothills. The camping is organised by various tour and travel organisations.

What other places can I visit with Nandi Hills

There are several other places of interest in this region. Including –

A popular trekking destination, Skandagiri that offers a moderately challenging hike that rewards trekkers with stunning views of the sunrise above the clouds. The trek is often done at night to catch the sunrise.

Known for its cliff edge and panoramic views, another hill Avalabetta is a lesser-known spot compared to Nandi Hills but offers a tranquil environment. The hill is also home to a small temple dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha.

A beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is yet another beautiful and divine temple located in a village in Chikkaballapur.

Lepakshi – the town famous for Veerbhadra Temple associated with several mysterious legends. Lepakshi is the place where Ravan killed Jatayu, Jatayu fell to the ground and later alerted Ram about which direction Ravan had gone to upon abducting Sita. However, the temple has many landmarks and legends associate with it which make it particularly interesting. Including the footmark of Sita, a hanging pillar below which you can pass a piece of cloth, an incomplete marriage hall and several others. Read : our complete narration of Lepakshi

If you plan to add one more day to your trip, you can also visit Gandikota and Belum Caves. Gandikota is famous as the Grand Canyon of India – the only river gorge of it’s kind in India. And the Belum Caves are the second largest underground natural limestone caves in India after the caves that we saw on our trip to Meghalaya. Here’s details of our visit Gandikota and Belum Caves.

Other general information on drive to Nandi Hills Bangalore

• Nandi Hills is located around 61km from centre of Bangalore. And it takes nearly 1 hour 45 minutes to reach Nandi Hills from Bangalore. But after the advent of the Satellite Ring Road from Hoskote, it takes only 1 hour 15 minutes to reach Nandi Hills from Whitefield area of Bangalore. It’s height is 4,849 feet, which is almost half the height of Ooty or Mussoorie – if you can do the comparison.

• The entry fee to Nandi Hills is INR 15/- per adult

• Best time to visit Nandi Hills is during the sunrise and sunset hours . Either very early in the morning like 6:00 am or around 5:00pm in the evening. However, on a cloudy day, you can visit Nandi Hills any time of the day. It is always pleasant.

• Avoid Nandi Hills in a very rainy weather. A couple of years back, the Nandi Hills experienced it’s first ever landslide. With changing climatic conditions and deteriorating environmental conditions, it is better avoided to drive to Nandi Hills in heavy rain conditions.

• You can also park your vehicle in the foothills of Nandi Hills and then trek up to the top. There are both stairs as well as rough trekking path available (for the more adventurous souls).

• The official opening time of Nandi Hills is 6:00am and the closing time is 10:00pm. However, when there is a lot of rush in certain seasons and occasions, the authorities may decide to close earlier, by 5:30pm. In fact, the tourism to Nandi Hills has increased so much in the past few years that it is a need of the hour to limit the number of visitors per day and issue visitor passes in advance. It is a need of the hour to maintain the ecological balance of this region.