An On the Spur of the Moment Long Drive 
- 09/06/2011The weather in June in Bangalore is always beautiful and a cool breeze blowing the previous night suddenly prompted us to go on a long drive and we decided on Nandi Hills, as I had last been there nearly 25years ago. So, it was mid week and we decided to play hookey from office!! Put the camera for charging...and after a leisurely morning regimen and breakfast, we left home at 10.30am, took the road to Devanahalli, passed the controversial toll booth, which suspended its collections just a day after it commenced, seriously how can you collect a highway toll within the city to reach the airport? Preposterous! Anyways, passed a guy seriously taking a census of all vehicles passing by and drove another 10kms or so when we spotted a large Jain temple complex atop a hillock and soon after this, is a board to the left to Nandi Hills,
23 kms. Turning left we cruised through some green open spaces, a couple of gated communities, and again turned left at Mount View Resort and drove along a tree lined road till we began ascending, after a right turn at the Nandi sculpture (photo above). There are some 40 curves in all but only the last 8 or so are steep hair pin bends. When you spot a huge masonry Lotus Arch, you know you have arrived near the top. We reached at 11.30am.
Picked up the ticket of Rs.80 for the car and drove up to the top, (you could also of course walk)
which is a clearing next to a Government run hotel called Mayura Pine Top, adjoining the 850year old Yoga Narasimha and 
Yoga Nandeeshwara temples. Built on the mountain, the temple floor is pure rock. Just behind this is the "infamous" Tippu's Drop. What is this? Well, during the Chola reign, Nandi 
Hills was known as Ananda Giri or Hill of Happiness. A fort was built during the period by the Ganga chieftains of Chikkaballapur. It was 
strengthened by the King of Mysore - Tipu Sultan. This fort was considered impregnable, it covers a vast area of 90 acres and soldiers could shoot from all directions without being seen and the “Tipu's drop” - is a 600 metre cliff with a huge rock landing after the drop. Prisoners and convicts during Tipu’s reign were pushed off this cliff. Stories of the hill being extremely haunted abound, well, not surprising given its violent background, I guess! Tipu also built a summer rest house atop this hill. which apparently houses some lovely a
rt works but as is the wont of most Govt. maintained buildings, they have gone to seed and are also not open for public viewing. In 1791, Lord Cornwallis, stormed the place and captured the place marking a major event in the history of British rule in South India. Francis Cunningham built the summer residence here for Sir Mark Cubbon. British officials enjoyed their summer stay at Nandi Hills. Even today, it is a popular getaway for Bangaloreans and even from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh for the weekend or hoildays, hence we decided to go during the week, to avoid crowds, which I am severely allergic to.
Amrita Sarovar is an exquisite water tank at the top, that is filled with crystal clear water through out the year. It is a large tank which is fed by the perennial springs. It is also known as the lake of ambrosia or 'The Lake of Nectar’. this ancient tank built centuries ago even today, feeds the entire Nandi hills area with the surrounding villages. Muddenhalli on the way to Nandi hills, is famous as the birthplace of the great pioneering engineer Sir.M.Visveswaraiah, whose house is supposedly a museum today. We tried to locate it but surprisingly no one could tell us where it is, so we had to return disappointed on that count.
After a darshanam at the temple which is a living temple as are most anci
ent Hindu shrines, we found a nice stone bench facing the green mountains and valleys and settled down to enjoy the cool breeze, and more importantly, the silence. Other than a smattering of people we had the place more or less to ourselves, which was fabulous. We ate some badly made popcorn which we 
bought there from a local vendor and had some good home made coffee, to wash down the taste and feeling nice and relaxed, drove back home in about an hour and ten minutes for lunch, after a brief stop enroute to buy some lovely farm fresh grapes. There are a couple of restaurants where food is available and of course several small eateries on the way, but it was hardly 12.30, so we decided to head home. Accomodation is available too for those so inclined, but a hald day trip is more than sufficient to enjoy this small place and the altitude being not much, the weather is pleasant throughout the year, though during monsoons, the rain falling straight down the sheer rockfaces can be a beautiful sight.
rt works but as is the wont of most Govt. maintained buildings, they have gone to seed and are also not open for public viewing. In 1791, Lord Cornwallis, stormed the place and captured the place marking a major event in the history of British rule in South India. Francis Cunningham built the summer residence here for Sir Mark Cubbon. British officials enjoyed their summer stay at Nandi Hills. Even today, it is a popular getaway for Bangaloreans and even from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh for the weekend or hoildays, hence we decided to go during the week, to avoid crowds, which I am severely allergic to.
Amrita Sarovar is an exquisite water tank at the top, that is filled with crystal clear water through out the year. It is a large tank which is fed by the perennial springs. It is also known as the lake of ambrosia or 'The Lake of Nectar’. this ancient tank built centuries ago even today, feeds the entire Nandi hills area with the surrounding villages. Muddenhalli on the way to Nandi hills, is famous as the birthplace of the great pioneering engineer Sir.M.Visveswaraiah, whose house is supposedly a museum today. We tried to locate it but surprisingly no one could tell us where it is, so we had to return disappointed on that count.After a darshanam at the temple which is a living temple as are most anci
ent Hindu shrines, we found a nice stone bench facing the green mountains and valleys and settled down to enjoy the cool breeze, and more importantly, the silence. Other than a smattering of people we had the place more or less to ourselves, which was fabulous. We ate some badly made popcorn which we 
bought there from a local vendor and had some good home made coffee, to wash down the taste and feeling nice and relaxed, drove back home in about an hour and ten minutes for lunch, after a brief stop enroute to buy some lovely farm fresh grapes. There are a couple of restaurants where food is available and of course several small eateries on the way, but it was hardly 12.30, so we decided to head home. Accomodation is available too for those so inclined, but a hald day trip is more than sufficient to enjoy this small place and the altitude being not much, the weather is pleasant throughout the year, though during monsoons, the rain falling straight down the sheer rockfaces can be a beautiful sight.
Fortunately, traffic was very light and driving through the green mountains, enjoying what many over the centuries have, is exhilarating.
A nice, simple drive through some green paths on surprisingly well maintained roads, lifted up our mood considerably. Clocked a total of 118kms on the odometer. A lovely and quiet morning in the midst of nature. Loved it!
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