Nandi hills

Nandi hills

We have planned to go to nandi hills on friday and decided to start saturday(5Jul08) early morning to see the sunrise,contacted all our picnic buddies but many people busy on saturday. So we four only decided to go by Pulsar 180 and 150. It was a amazing and thrilling picnic,we started from BTM around 4am in the morning and reached there around 5:30am. We never started so early before to any places from B'lore (but I do remember that we had started at 2:00am to Jog falls once when I was in Udupi).It was a nice chilling ride in NH-7. It was cloudy and full of mist,one cant makeout the road more than 10mtrs. We started so early because we wanted to see the sunrise. So we reached there around 5:30am and we could wait for a while since they only opens the gate after 6:00am. So we took few snaps there. It was drizzling at that time.Waw so romantic atmosphere,we could see couples going around by holding their hands ;) So we went inside after taking the tickets,We had a nice time pass there and crazy moment was we had Amul forstick in that chilling climate..Saw the tippu drop and waited for sunrise. We couldn't got to see proper sunrise but our journey was worth to be frank. Sun was playing around and hiding behind clouds always.

The morning beauty of Nandi hills

After we finished enjoying the nature we came down and decided to move back. We didnt have our breakfast yet. So thought of having breakfast somewhere,it was already 9am. So we started our bikes and reached the the Nandi town. So now we thought of visiting bhoga narasimha temple. What next?? our bikes already headed towards the temple road...Its a historical temple and huge one too.

Bhoga narasimha temple and Shringi kere
We went inside and prayed to God. One could see nice carvings so attractive. We saw the lake called Shringi theertha were monkeys swimming. Amazing,I never saw it before..they are putting dive too. After that we had a breakfast and We started back and reached back to B'lore at 12:30pm. Thanks to Shyam,Naveen,Sathya who made it to happen.

Few things about Nandi Hills:

This range of craggy hills (the highest peak being 1,478 m) holds the shimmering Amrita Sarovar Lake and offers walks of sylvan beauty. A popular health resort today, it was also the place Tipu Sultan and assorted royalty retired when they sought to escape the din of battle and the heat of the plains.
The hills are located about 60km north of Bangalore and about 3940 ft above sea level. The deviation road at Oordagere on the Bangalore-Tumkur Road can reach it. On the top of the hill, there are temples dedicated to Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha. On the lower hill there is a temple dedicated to Sri Bhoga Narasimha. There is a Traveler's Bungalow and a Kalyana Mantap on the top of the hill and a Forest Lodge and Taluk Board T.B. at the foot of the hill.
A flight of 1,175 steps leads from the base of the hills to the top. On top was Tipu Sultan's summer retreat and the remains of Tipu's fort bear this out. Tipu's Drop, a 600 metre high cliff face, where prisoners were hurled down the precipice, is an awe-inspiring sight.
Sir Mark Cubbon, when he was Commissioner of Bangalore made this his summer residence. Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Queen Elizabeth II were among the other dignitaries who enjoyed their stay here. More recently, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and the SAARC delegates chose this spot for a retreat after their international deliberations.
You can visit this place at any time of the year. Its best if you are on top of the hill before sunrise. The wind, fog and clouds that blow towards you in the morning is just amazing. To be on top of the hill by 5:30 AM, you need to leave bangalore at around 4 AM. If you are not sure about the route, leave even earlier.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills directions-> From Hebbal flyover take NH7 and then turn right to Devanahalli after about 30 km.From there go till BIAL airport and then take a left diversion at the entry of Chikballapur.The left diversion is too easy to miss since there is no signboard in English.Look out for mount view resorts board .Only when you turn left there is a board ten meters ahead which says Nandi Hills 22 Km.
See
• Tippus Drop the place from where Tippu made his prisoners fall .
• Tippus Summer Residence a beautiful palace on top of this hill. This palace is closed to the general public .
• Temples There are temples dedicated to Sri Bhoga Narasimha, Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha .
• Rivers The rivers Pennar, Palar and Arkavati originate from these hills.Most of the sources have dried up .
• Brahmashram It is said that Sage Ramakrishna Paramhamsa meditated here.Its a cool cave .
• Nandi At the foot of Nandi Hills is this place with "Bhoganandishwaraswamy Temple",it is a Wonderful Place.(A Must visit)
• Muddenahalli The home town of Sri M.Visveswaraya, the architect of modern Karnataka. Muddenahalli is just a few Kilometers from Nandi Hills. The house of this genius is now a museum.(A Must visit)
• Paapagni The Panchanandikshtra. Visit it is Only 3kms from Chikballapur. (A Must visit)
• Chikballapur Sri M.Visveswaraya done his school Days in this place.And Also visit SSS Temple (Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri Subramanya, Sri Shanimahaathma Temple ), H.S. Garden, Chikballapur.