Nandi Hills (English versions include Nandidurg and Nandydoorg) is an ancient hill station built by the Ganga dynasty in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka. It is 10 km from Chickballapur city and approximately 60 km from Bangalore. These hills are close to Nandi town. According to traditional belief, these hills are the source of the Akavati, Ponnaiyar, Palar, Papani and Pena rivers. Watching the sunrise at Nandi Hills is very popular among tourists. The first SAARC summit hosted by India was held in Nandi Hills in 1986.
Nandi Hills, also known as Nandi Durga, is the most popular holiday destination for a large number of people in the city of Bengaluru. The North Palar, South Pennal, Chitravati, Alkhavati and Papani rivers all flow through the Nandi Hills. Palaiyagarh was under the control of Tipu Sultan, the Marathas of Chikkaballapura and the British. It is referred to as "Nandigiri" in ancient inscriptions. Nandi Hills, at an altitude of 4850 feet, provided a summer retreat for both the British and Tipu Sultan with its clean air and natural environment. The mountain is safe all year round and you can go hiking here. Sports enthusiasts can try paragliding. Nandi Hills is the best trekking destination Famous places to visit from Nandi Hills are Channakeshava Betta (4762 feet) in the North West, Brahmagiri (4657 feet) in the West, Skandagiri (4749 feet) in the north and steep. The cliff in the south and the well below it are called "Shravana Tirtha".
History of Nandi Hills:
- London Encyclopedia, 1829
It later became a resort for British officials during the warm season. Francis Cunningham built a summer house for Sir Mark Cubbon. ...This Drogue, which is used as a hotel today, was built by General Cubbon, who lived in England; But the rock has a reputation for malaria, unless the month is too dry and tourists don't come even if the weather is nice. We will avoid here too Article
Lt.General E.F. burton:
The climate at the top of the mountain attracts the attention of gardeners. Many plants entered the trial garden. Firminger's guide states that many Anona plants were planted in this garden and also lists the characteristics of Hypericum mysorense: H. mysorense.—An ornamental plant native to the Western Gaut Mountains but rarely found in gardens. It has been domesticated or grown wild in the Nandidroog fort, located on an isolated hilltop of the Mysore plateau at an altitude of 4,850 feet. Strangely, one has to travel more than a hundred miles towards the Western Goat to see this plant in its wild state. Never fertile seed. The yellow flowers are three inches in diameter. Suitable only for shrubs in mountain gardens.
Burns, 1930:
Cultivation was first carried out by Colonel Cupec near Bangalore in and continued by the botanist Benjamin Heyne. Hayne seed St. Helena grew so well that it could be brought to Madras and became more popular than in Bengal. In 1860, Hugh Cleghorn attempted to plant tea trees in the Nandi Hills.
Development:
The Ministry of Agriculture has set up a food court at a cost of Rs 1 crore. A music hall with a capacity of 3 million, built on 3.5 trees, will be used to host cultural events. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture is developing 140 acres (0.57 km2) of land in the Nandi Hills area to build a zoo. The construction of the planetarium is also ongoing with an investment of Rs 1 crore. A ropeway will connect the top of Nandi Hill to nearby Muddenahalli. Other projects such as Prestige Golfshire and QVC Nandi Hills are under construction near Nandi Hills. There is also an agreement to build a cable car at a cost of between 150 million and 200 million rupees to protect the local environment and reduce uphill traffic.
Why you should visit Nandi Hills:
The walls of this fort are believed to have been built by the Paleyagars of Chikkaballapura and later strengthened by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It was once under the control of the Marathas. The cliff to the west is called Tipu Falls and is believed to be the place where prisoners who were pushed into the valley were punished. A large reservoir was dug in the middle of the hill and a similar rock was built to store water. The name of the lake is "Amrit Sarovar".
Temples in Nandi Hills:
Bhoganandishwara Temple:

Yoganandishwara Temple:

Tippu’s Summer Residence:
Remains of a small two-story building, used by Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan can be seen on top of the Hills. A pond and a garden are nearby.
Parks & Play areas:
Nandi Hills has a garden/play area for
families and kids to relax and play.
Sunrise:
Sunrise on top of Nandi Hills is captivating. Aim to reach before sunrise time
to enjoy the view.
Food: A line of eateries are available on top of the Hills and caters to your culinary needs. Several shopkeepers and sellers also cater to the requirements of the visitors. More restaurants can be found on the highway en route to the Hills
Beware of monkeys trying to snatch food. Also, traffic restrictions may be enforced during busy weekends. Visitors may be required to park at the base of the hill and avail shuttle buses to reach the Hills. Otherwise, you can drive up to the parking lot and climb your way to the top.











