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Trip to Nandi Hills

Life is hectic in Bangalore. Over that pollution, traffic jam and shortage of time sometimes leaves very little for you. In such circumstances the best way to rejuvenate yourself is to go back to the nature’s lap. In this Bangalore has an advantage, that you will not have to go to far. For Bangalore has its own hills station – Nandi Hills. Nandi Hills or Nandi betta got its name from an ancient Nandi temple situated on this hill. This temple is around 800 years old and has a sculpture of Nandi. An ancient lord Shiva and Parvati temple is also there.

Way to the top of the Nandi Hills

Nandi Hills or Nandidurg is a hill fortress of southern India, in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka state. It is located just 3 to 5 KM from Chickballapur Taluq. It is 4851 ft. (1478 meters) above sea level. Nandidrug hill, known commonly as Nandi Hills, is the source of the Penner,Ponnaiyar and Palar rivers. The fort was built by Tipu Sultan and also used to be his summer resort.

Nandidurg was traditionally held impregnable, and its storming by Lord Cornwallis in 1791 was one of the most notable incidents of the first war against Tipu Sultan of Mysore. It was formerly a favorite resort for British Raj officials during the hot season. Francis Cunningham built the summer residence here for Sir Mark Cubbon.

The hills are now a popular tourist spot during summer. The state horticulture department maintains a garden for the tourists. The pressure of tourists on the environment here is great with a considerable problem of litter, noise and physical disturbance.

Biodiversity:

The vegetation of the hills is typical of high hills. Inside the fort at the summit, many of the large trees are planted exotics such as Eucalyptus and the undergrowth consists of Coffea arabica along with some native species. The forest acts as a substrate for cloud condensation and every morning the trees are covered in water. This allows for many moist forest species of plants and animals. The hills are very rich in birdlife making it a very popular location for birdwatchers and bird photographers. The evergreen forest patch on top of the hill being a favoured wintering location for many migrant species of warblers, flycatchers and thrushes. The forest patch is also home for a relict population of the Nilgiri Woodpigeon. A breeding pair of Shaheen Falcon, the resident race of the Peregrine Falcon is also often seen at the Nandi Hills. The Malabar Whistling Thrush, Uropeltid snakes and Pill millipedes which are otherwise known only from the Western Ghats ranges are also found here. The hill slopes are the home of the Yellow-throated Bulbul, a species endemic to the hills of peninsular India.

Tourist Attractions :

1. Tippu’s Drop the place from where Tippu Sultan made his prisoners fall.
2. Tippu’s Summer Residence a beautiful palace on top of this hill. This palace is closed to the general public .
3. Temples – There are temples dedicated to Sri Bhoga Narasimha, Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha .
4. Nehru Nilaya, where Jawaharlal Nehru used to stay, now a guest house of the horticulture department of India.
5. Rivers – The rivers Pennar, Palar and Arkavati originate from these hills. Most of the sources have dried up . One can see the source of Arkavati at the entrance.
6. Brahmashram – It is said that Sage Ramakrishna Paramhamsa meditated here. Its a cool cave .
7. Muddenahalli The home town of Sir M. Visvesvarayya, the architect of modern Karnataka. Muddenahalli is just a few Kilometers from Nandi Hills. The house of this genius is now a museum.
8. Nature – Enjoy the green lap and shade that nature has laid for you. Laid back, sit and enjoy.

Source: Wikipedia

Nandi Hills Green cover

To reach there one can take public transport in the form of BMTC buses which ply regularly from Majestic bus stand daily from 7 am to 9.30 am. After this there is no direct bus to Nandi hills. So one will have to go via Chikkaballapur. Bus fare per person is 45 for direct journey and via Chikkaballapur is around Rs 55. However, the best form of transpot will be hiring a vehicle if you do not own one cannot arrange one. For an Indica which can ferry upto 5 people should not cost you more than Rs 1200 including driver batta of Rs 125 – 150. A non Ac Sumo/Qualis may cost Rs 5 – 6/KM. To reach nandi hills one has to catch the Hyderabad highway after Hebbal flyover and on the way can see a signboard showing direction for Nandi hills. There you need to take a left turn. This road will lead you to an intersection with a Nandi statue in the middle, take right if you are comming from Doddaballapur or left if you are cooming from Chikkaballapur side.

Identical to Mt. Fuji

Cost of the trip may vary depending on how you are going and along with whom you are going. Cost of my visits to Nandi hills have contineously increased since my first visit. My first visit there along with a friend in December 200 was in shoestring budget of Rs 100(we used the BMTC bus) and the most recent visit there along with family costed me around Rs 1700(we hired a car). However, an average budget of Rs 500 will be good for 2 persons.

There apart from the tourist spots that you will see, I will urge you to be liitle adventurious and try to explore the hill range. You will see and enjoy a lot more. There is a children’s playground and I almost became a children there. When tired or if you wish just sit under the green cover and enjoy the nature around you. Enjoy the plays by monkeys! To an extent is a lover’s den and young men’s paradise and are flocked by them regularly. Well, families also visit there in large numbers. Bikers can definately enjoy rides to Nandi hills.

Nehru Nilaya

Water, cold drinks, icecream are all available but at a premium of Rs 5 – 10. You can have food at two places -

1. Hotel Ranjitha – Food is very average. I just liked the gobi manchurian. A meal for four should not cost you more than Rs 200 – 250. However, the feel is very natural and you may be visited by monkers quite often.

2. KSTDC’s Hotel Mayura Pine Top – Picturisiquely located at one end of nandi hills, Hotel Mayura Pine Top has a resturant with an attached bar. Also, it offer room to stay overnight. Cost is above average.

Those who want to see and feel the mesmerising morning, should stay overnight. One could also stay the many guest house with government departments there. My stay at the Horticultural department guest house way back in 2002 costed me Rs 250/person. This may be little more now. However, it may be wise to be in a group of atleast 4 – 5 people if you wish to stay overnight as after dark hardly people remain there apart from the staffs and workers. Good for weekend trip or an one day picnic.

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