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Nandi Hills - A Quick Getaway
Need an editable PowerPoint map of India It could be the ideal getaway for a weekend away from the chaos of Bangalore. Located just over 60 kilometers north of the city and at an altitude of over 1400 meters above sea level, Nandi Hills can be reached by car in less than two hours. You can cruise along the widened NH7 for much of the way, thanks to the planned new Bangalore International Airport, until you turn left just after Devanahalli. From here, with 22 km to go, be prepared for potholes and a few rough stretches, but if you are a regular driver in Bangalore, there is nothing here to faze you.
The sheer cliffs look imposing as you approach them and my husband and I worried if our little Santro would make it, but it was a surprisingly gentle and easy climb. It was a very pleasant drive up the hills with pretty views of the plains below. We were early and once at the top, managed a quiet stroll before the crowds arrived for the day. There were monkeys everywhere keeping a close eye on all visitors carrying food. Fortunately, they did not seem aggressive. As we walked, more and more visitors arrived. It was a public holiday and the young ones came in droves on motorbikes, and the families with picnic baskets arrived in cars towards midday. There was the odd sprinkling of tourists looking a little lost and unsure, possibly wondering which way to go or what there was to see. We visited the tiny Yoga Nandishwara Temple first. The little boy in charge of footwear outside offered his tour guide services, which we politely declined. As it turned out, it took us all of five minutes to walk through the temple. Though the Chola temple had a nice feel to it, the architecture and sculpture were by no means awe-inspiring. We then walked around to the back and down the massive granite slope, towards Tipu’s Drop. Tipu Sultan, the famous 18th Century Mysore ruler who fought hard against British rule, was said to have used this spot to push his condemned prisoners to their stony death. Having heard before about this historical spot, I had imagined a rather dramatic setting. It was, however, several modest gaps along the wall bordering the cliff face. As there were no illuminating signs anywhere, I looked down each gap and formed my own conclusions about which particular gap he must have used for his prisoner’s gruesome end. Maybe the choice depended on the degree of his prisoner’s offences. Two of the gaps would lead to certain death and two others looked like they could merely produce multiple fractures. We then wandered over to the Nehru Nilaya, now a public guesthouse run by the Horticulture Department. This elegant colonial bungalow was originally the summer residence of Sir Mark Cubbon, the Commissioner of Mysore Territories of the British from 1834 to 1861. A lush garden around the guesthouse added greatly to its charm. Rather in keeping I thought with someone who had had the Raj Bhavan building in Bangalore for his regular residence! We went into the office of the Special Officer and requested to be shown one of the rooms. We were shown a vacant VVIP room priced at Rs. 1,120 a night, which we were told had to be booked in advance through the Lalbagh office in Bangalore. It was a beautiful, spacious, old-fashioned suite with large windows and a high ceiling. Unfortunately, for lack of proper maintenance, it had a very musty air and seemed painfully in need of new furnishings. Our casual inspection didn’t end there, of course. My obsession with bathrooms and hygiene meant a peek into the adjoining facilities, which unsurprisingly turned out to be smelly and the tiles in need of some thorough cleaning. I decided that if we ever came back to stay here for a weekend, I would come armed with a bottle of Harpic and scouring powder. Ready for lunch, we wandered over to the Mayura Pine Top Hotel restaurant. After the elegance of the Nehru Nilaya, this more modern building somehow lacked harmony with its surroundings but the long glass windows of the restaurant provided a stunning view of the plains below. The hotel apparently has 3 rooms to rent but we did not get to see what they were like as they were all occupied. The food at the restaurant was basic and a little too spicy. We finished off with some ice cream at the kiosk outside, and our thoughts became homeward bound as we saw the growing crowds. Driving back, we felt relaxed both physically and mentally. It had been a short and pleasant outing but we were not sure if we would make it a regular haunt. For that to happen, the crowds would have to be thinner and the toilets cleaner. Chillibreeze's disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article.
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