Nandi hills, also called as Nandi betta has always been a favorite weekend getaway for people from Bengaluru.
It can be a nice one day fun filled trip. Let’s check out quick facts
Nandi Hills Quick Facts
Base Location : Bangalore
Distance: Approx 60 Kms
Road Condition: Very good.
Food options: Not much at the top of the hill, but good options on the way.
Time taken: Approx 1 hour and 30 mins for one way
Visiting time: Around 3 hours for to reach this place and Yoga Nandeeshwara and add another 1 hour if you want to visit Bhoga Nandeeswara.
What to see => Nandi hill top, Yoga Nandeeswara, Bhoga Nandeeswara, Sunrise and Sunset.
Why don’t you check out this nice Portable Camping Cot for an wonderful outing!
How to reach Nandi Hills
Route: Bangalore – > Devanhalli -> Nandi Hills
OK, that was some quick facts, let me start with the drive to Nandi Hills. This place is very famous for sunrise and sunset view and hence you will find lot of people heading towards Nandi hills before sunrise and leaving the hills after sunset.
The drive is good. NH7 till Devanhalli is breeze. From Devanhalli take a left turn towards Nandi hills. This road is good as well.
Keep driving straight and you will hit a T junction.
If you take a right turn you will go to Bhoga Nandeeshwara and if you take left then you go to Nandi hills and Yoga Nandeeshwara
So Bhoga Nandeeshwara is at bottom of hill and Yoga Nandeeshwara at the top of the hill.
Travelling with kids? Do check this out !
Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple
We decided to go to Bhoga Nandeeshwara first. It is a very old temple dedicated to lord Shiva at the foot of Nandi hills.
This is one of the oldest temples of Karnatka and is more than a 1000 years old.
The temple premise has 3 main temples – Arunachaleswara, Uma Maheshwara and Bhoga Nandeeshwara.
Bhoga Nandeeshwara is the main temple and has a majestic Shiva Linga in the Sanctum.
This temple is said to have been built by the Cholas.
The pillars are covered in beautiful carvings. The Nandi Idol in front of the Sanctum in this temple is very attractive.
Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple premises is approx 5 Kms from the T junction and took around an hour to complete the visit.
Once done we headed toward NandiHills top.
Nandi Hills Top and Yoga Nandeeshwara
From T junction, left leads to Nandi Hills. Since we were coming back from Bhoga Nandeeshwara, we went straight at the T junction.
It is approx 13 Kms fro the T. Roads are well marked and hence you are not going to miss it.
Remember there are around 40 bends (curves, some of them being hair pin bend), and hence please drive carefully.
Once you reach at the top, you have to pay Rs100/- to enter inside. As soon as you enter the Nandi hill there is a parking.
You can park you vehicle here and walk approx 2Kms to reach the top and also Yoga Nandeeshwara temple.
And I recommend this as this is more fun and you enjoy the beauty around.
Alternatively you can drive down till top and park your vehicle there.
Another view
There are nice places at the top where you can just sit and relax, kids can play and enjoy the view.
There is a bunglow as well which is maintained by horticulture department.
Then you can visit Yoga Nandeeshwara temple.
The temple is supposed to be more than 1000 years old.
The presiding deity of this temple is lord shiva. The temple is open from 6.00 AM to 7.00 PM every day.
We spent almost 4 to 5 hours on top. Returned back before it started getting dark.
So have a nice time at Nandi hills. Do leave your comment here once you have visited! Cheers !! 🙂
Check out – Jaliawala Bagh of South India
Yes, nandi hills is the original weekend getaway.. however it has become too crowded lately