Relax and Enjoy Tourism in Nandi Hills
Tipu Sultan had made Nandi Hills his summer resort. This 1455 m high hill range was fortified by Tipu Sultan. Later during the colonial rule, the British made Nandi Hills their summer retreat. You can find many colonial era bungalows around Nandi Hills. Dignitaries that have visited Nandi Hills include the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Queen Elizabeth to name a few.
Nandi Hills is a small hill retreat in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka, 60 km away from Bangalore. Nandi Hills gets its name from the Nandi statue that stands guard at the hill top temple, Yoganandeeshwara Temple.
The proximity of Nandi Hills to Bangalore means that it is always crowded during the weekends. A motorable road goes all the way up to the summit. You can also climb up the 1175 odd steps to reach the top. Along the way up you do encounter remnants of the fortification around the hills.
At the top is the Yoganandeeshwara Temple, believed to be built by the Cholas. This Lord Shiva Temple has two dwarapalakas guarding the sanctum sanctorum. The temple has some exquisite and intricate carvings and a beautiful Kalyana Mantapa.
Tipu’s drop, a 2000 ft high rock face is from where convicted prisoners were hurled to death by Tipu Sultan as their punishment. Now barbed wires stand in your way. A lot of visitors come to Nandi Hills just to witness the sun set and sun rise.
Amritha Sarovar is a tank fed by perennial springs and is called the Lake of Ambrosia. Nearby there is a platform that is said to be the prayer hall of Tipu Sultan. Palar River and Arkavathi River originate from the Nandi Hills.
At the base of Nandi Hills is another temple, the Bhognandeeshwara Temple. Dating back to the Bana Dynasty and built over centuries by Chola, Hoysala and Vijayanagara Kings, this temple is referred to as the Dodda Nandi, while the Yoganandeeshwara Temple is referred to as the Chikka Nandi.
A lot of money has been spent in renovating the Tipu Fort to transform the hills into a tourist hub. The Department of Horticulture is setting up a food court at the summit of the hill station. Various varieties of vegetarian and continental food, beverages, bakery products, ice-creams and fresh fruit juices will be available. A music stage will conduct cultural programmes. Furthermore, the Horticulture department is developing the land in the Nandi Hills to create a botanical garden. A Planetarium is also being constructed. A Gondola Lift system will connect the summit of the Nandi Hill with the base village.
Nehru House has 18 rooms and are available for tourists. Hotel Mayura Pine Top is also open for accommodation.
For More Info: Nandi Hills and Nandi Hills Hotels
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