Nandi Hills - Sunrise Destination of Bengaluru

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Living in a bustling metropolitan city means you have very limited access to nature, let alone a sunrise, without being interrupted by skyscrapers or sounds of the city. Nandi hills is just the perfect getaway about 60 kms from Bengaluru to catch a stunning sunrise, to trek or to enjoy the cool breeze on top of a hill and some fresh tender coconut. It is also a cyclists paradise. Many cyclists like to test their stamina biking up the hill, so don’t be surprised to find them chugging along beside your car/bike early in the morning!

It was my (Ramya) first time for a sunrise at Nandi hills and I can’t believe I hadn’t done this before. Here are some of the things to know before you plan your trip to Nandi Hills for a sunrise!

Best Time to visit Nandi Hills

Nandi hills is a pleasant spot all year round. Each season provides distinct sunrise experiences. If you want to catch the sun rising above the ocean of clouds then winter might be the best. Spring and summer would be ideal for a shining ball of fire over clear skies. Monsoon adds a mystic feeling with fog. Temperatures range from 15-24 C (59-75 F) throughout the year. It might be a bit more chilly early in the morning.

Leave Early. Earlier than you think you should.

Nandi hill is in Chikballapur district of Karnataka State, 60 kms from Bengaluru. We started from home at 4:30 am to catch the sunrise at ~ 6:15 am, but we were still late. Weekends tend to be the most crowded. The traffic piles up way ahead of the gate which opens at 6:00 am for visitors. It takes about ~15-20 minutes from the gate at the bottom to the top of the hill. To ensure you are there before sunrise, it is essential you leave at-least 2.5 hours earlier than the sunrise on a weekend.

Parking

There is ample paid parking at the top of the hill. We parked at the first parking lot we came across near the ticket counter. We suggest you grab the first parking spot you get rather than drive all the way to the top to another parking lot. Trekking/Hiking from the parking lot beside the ticket counter is faster and gives you a chance to take in the surroundings.

Restrooms

There are paid restrooms at the top of the hill.

Food

Do not miss the Orange/Red tender coconuts! They were absolute heaven. Fresh, sweet coconut water and the delicious meat inside. Could eat it all day. There is also a hotel with small shops for tea/snacks.

Sunrise and After

Once you are on top of the hill, there are plenty of areas where you can catch the sunrise with uninterrupted views. Weekdays might give you a better chance. Albeit being late we still managed to find a spot to catch those beautiful golden rays hitting the hill.

After catching the mesmerizing sunrise, you can sit down, relax on the hill. Let the cool breeze brush your face and the early birds talk to you.

There is a beautiful temple and a small water body on top of the hill. Walking the corridors of the rock temple, feeling that cold stone under your bare feet, the vibrations around the whole place was too pleasant in the early morning hours. Would definitely recommend a visit to the temple.

And my next favorite part, the monkeys! The cutest little things huddled up in the cold morning breeze, later jumping around trees enjoying food stolen from visitors. It was a sight!

There are small trails all around the hill surrounded by beautiful trees which bloom in the spring. There is also a park where you can sit on the grass/seats, bath in the sunshine and watch the monkeys play around.

We thoroughly enjoyed our day trip away from the city to this beautiful spot and we hope you do too 🙂