Bangalore → Nandi Hills & Ramanagara Weekend Escape

No time to go far? Nandi Hills and Ramanagara sit on opposite sides of Bangalore, each under two hours from the city. Do one each day and sleep at home, or pick one and stay overnight for a slower weekend.

Getting there

Nandi Hills is north of the city, up the airport road (NH44) past Devanahalli, then a climb with tight switchbacks to the top. Ramanagara is southwest, a quick run down the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway. Plan for traffic leaving the city on either side.

Day 1: Nandi Hills

• •Leave Bangalore around 4:30 am to reach the gate as it opens for sunrise
• •On clear winter mornings, watch the sun rise over a sea of clouds
• •Walk to Tipu's Drop and the Yoga Nandeeshwara temple at the summit
• •Visit the Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple at the base on your way down, one of the finest old temples near Bangalore
• •Stop at Devanahalli Fort, Tipu Sultan's birthplace, on the drive back

Day 2: Ramanagara and Savandurga

• •Bidadi thatte idli breakfast on the way out on the Mysuru road
• •Hike up Ramadevara Betta, the granite hills where much of Sholay was filmed, and part of a vulture sanctuary
• •Try bouldering or a rock-climbing session with one of the local outfitters
• •Optional: climb Savandurga, one of the largest monolith hills in Asia, for a tougher half-day hike
• •Pick up Channapatna wooden toys a few kilometres further down the highway

Where to stay

Most people do both as day trips. If you want to stay over, there are resorts and farm stays around the base of Nandi Hills and near Devanahalli, and campsites and homestays around Ramanagara and Kanakapura that suit crews.

What to eat

• •Thatte idli with butter and chutney at Bidadi
• •Dosa and filter coffee at the small eateries at the base of Nandi Hills
• •Maddur vada if you continue a little further down the Mysuru road

Good to know

• •Nandi Hills parking fills quickly on weekends, and the gate can close once it is full. Arrive early or try a weekday.
• •Cycling up Nandi is a popular Bangalore ride. Expect plenty of cyclists on the switchbacks and drive carefully.
• •The nearby Skandagiri night trek needs an advance booking through the Karnataka forest department
• •Granite slabs at Ramanagara and Savandurga get dangerously slippery when wet. Avoid climbing after rain.

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