Nandi Hills, 65 Kms from Bangalore
and 1,478 meters above sea level is Bangalore's
own hill station. It has been named after the bull of the Hindu deity Shiva.
Once regarded as the summer retreat of Tipu Sultan and the British, Tipu's fort
walls still stand as testimony to that fact. The rivers Pennar, Palar and
Arkavati originate from the Nandi hills. A flight of 1,175 steps lead from the
base of the hills to the top and offers a spectacular view of the city. It has
now become a popular hill resort for the people of Bangalore.
The most interesting place to see here is the Tipu's Drop, a
600 meter high cliff, where prisoners were hurled down the precipice. During Tipu's reign,
criminals were pushed down from this point to their death as punishment. The
cliff provides a magnificent view of the city below. Atop the hill is the Yoganandishwara temple, which was built by the Chola
Kings. Amrita Sarovara is a famous lake and visited by a lot of tourists.
Gandhi Nilaya and Nehru House will provide you a glimpse of life of two
national leaders.
The fort is on
a sprawling area of 90 acres and is above 4851 feet above sea level. A soldier
could hide in this well constructed fort and shoot in all four directions at
the same time.
Tipu's summer
residence is a palace which was completed in the year 1791. The construction of
the palace was started by Hyder Ali and was completed by Tipu Sultan. It
resembles the Dariya
Daulat Palace
at Srirangapatna, Tipu's capital. The palace was used by the Sultan as his
summer resort and he named it as Tashk-e-Jannat which means ‘Envy of heaven’.
It is constructed mainly of wood. The archways and towers are so elaborately
graved that it shows the technique of architecture prevalent in those days. The
fort is known for its five elaborately decorated arches surmounted by exquisite
minarets, and paintings on the walls and ceilings. The ceiling and the walls
are covered with paintings. These paintings are in a faded state and the
general public are not allowed into the palace.
For anyone who
is keen in history or just likes exploring the monuments, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace
is a great visit, with history seeped in its very walls.
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