Nandi Hills and Devanahalli Fort

Date: 22-Feb-14

It had been almost a month since our last trip. Most of our time was occupied with wedding preparations, and life had become a whirlwind of shopping, planning, and endless to-do lists. We felt the need for a short break from all the wedding-related activities and decided to spend a day outdoors.

The destination was an easy choice, Nandi Hills.

The place held special memories for us, and it felt like the perfect destination for what would likely be our last trip before the wedding. Looking back, it seemed fitting to revisit a place that had played a meaningful role in our journey together.

Nandi Hills and Devanahalli Fort

An early morning ride to Nandi Hills

This time, we decided to travel by bike.

Thilak started from HSR Layout at 5:15 AM and reached my PG around 5:45 AM. The weather was pleasant and surprisingly comfortable for an early morning ride. We took the Hebbal–Devanahalli route towards Nandi Hills, enjoying the quiet roads and cool breeze along the way.

As we approached Nandi Hills, we noticed that the hill was almost completely covered in fog. I was thrilled. For a long time, I had wanted to experience Nandi Hills wrapped in mist, and it finally seemed like that dream was about to come true. Thilak assured me that this would be the day I got to see the famous foggy landscape. Excited, we continued our ride as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, by the time we reached the top at around 7:00 AM, the sun had already risen, and most of the fog had disappeared. Although I was slightly disappointed, I decided not to let it affect the rest of the day.

One day, I will surely get to see Nandi Hills covered in fog. Perhaps the secret is starting even earlier, maybe around 4:30 AM!

Exploring the beauty of Nandi Hills

After parking the bike and purchasing our entry tickets, we began walking towards the hilltop. The place was unusually crowded that day, but thankfully, the crowd was well-behaved and added to the lively atmosphere rather than taking away from the experience. We reached the hilltop at around 7:30 AM.

Although the fog had vanished, the view was still spectacular. Clouds stretched across the horizon, creating the familiar scenery that makes Nandi Hills so special. No matter how many times one visits, it is difficult to get tired of those views. Since we had the entire day ahead of us, we decided to explore the hill thoroughly. We wandered along every trail and pathway we could find, discovering different viewpoints and enjoying the landscape from various angles.

The trip turned into one of our most relaxed outings. We spent a considerable amount of time taking photographs, and the beautiful weather made for an enjoyable photo session. Afterward, we had breakfast at the KSTDC hotel and continued exploring the hill. Later, we found a comfortable spot in the park and simply sat there chatting for hours. With no fixed schedule and no rush to move on to the next destination, we were able to slow down and enjoy the moment.

Lunch was once again at the KSTDC hotel around 1:30 PM. After lunch, we visited Nehru Nilaya (Vishranthi Dhama), spent some time in the surrounding gardens, and explored Tipu Sultan’s Summer Residence. The relaxed pace of the day made the experience even more enjoyable. By around 5:00 PM, we began our descent from the hill.

A stop at Devanahalli Fort

On our return journey, we decided to visit Devanahalli Fort. The fort offered a completely different experience from Nandi Hills. What struck us most was how peaceful the area felt. Much of the Devanahalli village was located within the fort walls, creating a unique blend of history and everyday life.

The fort itself was calm, quiet, and pleasant to explore. After visiting the fort, we stopped at the birthplace of Tipu Sultan. We had expected to find a palace or a significant historical structure at the site. Instead, there was only a small mantapa marking the location. Although it was simpler than we had imagined, it was still interesting to visit a place associated with such an important historical figure.

The ride back home

At around 6:00 PM, we began our ride back to Bangalore. We followed the Devanahalli–Hebbal route and continued through St. Mark’s Road before finally reaching Jayanagar at around 8:00 PM. The roads were pleasant, and the ride back gave us time to reflect on the day and enjoy the final moments of our outing.

Travel snapshot

This trip may not have involved a challenging trek or a new destination, but it was special in its own way. It gave us an opportunity to step away from the stress of wedding preparations and spend a relaxed day together before entering a new phase of life. The scenic ride, peaceful conversations, beautiful views from Nandi Hills, and the quiet charm of Devanahalli Fort combined to create a memorable experience.

Most importantly, it became a beautiful memory of our final trip before the wedding, a simple yet meaningful journey that we continue to cherish.

• Route Travelled: Onward: HSR Layout > Jayanagar > Majestic > hebbal > Devanahalli > Nandi Hills
  Return: Nandi Hills > Devanahalli > Hebbal > St. Marks Road > Jayanagar > HSR Layout
• Total distance (To & Fro): 170 km
• Mileage (Bike): 58 km/l
• Fuel expense: 232 Rs
• Total expense: 833 Rs

Route map