Nandi Hills – An Ancient Hill Fortress in Northern Bangalore
Famous for its rolling green slopes, Nandi Hills is an ancient hill fortress in southern India. Earlier known as Ananda Giri during the Chola reign, the name Nandi Hills is derived from a Dravidian Temple dedicated to the Nandi Bull statue located here. Nestled between neighboring towns of Muddenahalli, Nandi and Kanivenarayanapura, Nandi Hills lies at an average elevation of about 1,478 meters (4,851 feet) above the sea level. Located in the Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka, it is 60 kilometers from the Bangalore city.
With an awe-inspiring scenic beauty that is laced with misty mountains, Nandi Hills is heaven for nature lovers and is one of the closet hill stations to Bangalore. It is a must-visit place for those interested in trekking, paragliding, cycling and abounding more.
In addition to scenic beauty, Nandi Hills is also famous for its historical attractions and temples. Some of the famous attractions are:
Tipu's Summer Palace and Fort
Occupying a whopping land area of 90 acres, Tipu's Summer Residence also known as Tashk-e-Jannat (Heaven's Envy) is a beautiful palace which is above 4,851 feet above sea level. Made of teak wood, this beautiful structure stands adorned with pillars, arches and balconies.
In addition to being a magnificent piece of architecture itself, the walls of Tipu's Summer Fort are embellished with beautiful floral motifs. The site also holds a painting of the grand throne designed by Tipu Sultan himself.
Tipu's Drop and Gandhi House
Tipu's Drop is a 600 meter high cliff where criminals or prisoners were pushed to death during Tipu's reign. Ironic as it sounds, one can enjoy some really picturesque views of the valley from this point. Moreover, Gandhi House is another place where Mahatma himself stayed, which is now reserved for the stay of important dignitaries.
Yoga Nandishvara Temple
Standing adorned with an inscription of Shivaji's Son, Sambhaji, Yoga Nandishvara Temple also known as the Chola Temple is a popular temple located here. The temple features Dwarapalakas, the splendid metallic statues which are worth seeing. Other famous temples located here are Sri Ugra Narasimha, Sri Bhoga Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha.
Secret Tunnel
A secret tunnel in the west which was used as an escape route for the kings during unforeseen attacks, is also open for tourists to have a look.
Real Estate at Nandi Hills
Located in close proximity to the new Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli and just 20 kilometers from the National Highway (NH7) , real estate activities around Nandi Hills are rapidly developing. In addition, the area is set to become a famous education hub with upcoming Sri Sathya Sai Baba University, Sri VS University and Sri Jagadguru Chandrashekharanatha Swamiji Rural Vidyaniketan.
The leading real estate developer, Prestige Group, has come up a golf centric project at Nandi Hills namely Prestige Golfshire. Set against the backdrop of the picturesque Nandi Hills, Prestige Golfshire is a mixed development from Prestige Group. It is a 275 acres township and offers ultra-luxurious independent villas, private lake, luxury hotel and an 18-hole championship golf course. Golfshire is an ideal option for both buyers looking for second home and NRIs as it is only 10 minutes away from Bangalore International Airport and 45 minutes from the city centre.
The project is already under construction and is said to be ready for possession by October 2015.
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