Nandi Hills or Nandidurg is a hill station, situated 1,478 mt. above sea level and 65 km from Bangalore, in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka. It gets its name from the ancient Nandi or bull which is meant to be the mount of Lord Shiva. Later developed as Tipu Sultan’s summer retreat this hill-station was patronized by the British too. These hills are the source of the rivers Palar, Arkavati and Pennar and rolling green slopes surround the Amrit Sarovar Lake, making it a popular weekend destination.
Beautiful, cool and serene, Nandi Hills have a lot more in store than just perfect scenic landscape. There are 1,175 steps to reach the top of the hill but the view of the whole city below is wonderful from up there. Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace and Tipu’s Drop, a 600 ft. cliff face from where Tipu Sultan used to throw his prisoners, offers a spectacular view of the valley and are popular tourist places. A ramble through the ruins of Tipu Sultan’s fort is exciting and not to be missed. Bhoga Nandishwara Temple, a fine example of Dravidian architecture, is situated at the foot.