Bangalore to Nandi Hills Travel Guide: Distance, Route, Timings & Entry Fee

Nandi Hills is the hill station most people in Bangalore pick for their first weekend getaway. The hilltop sits at 1,478 m in Chikkaballapur district, so you get cool air, a sea of clouds on winter mornings and a sunrise that pulls riders, families and office groups up the hairpin bends every weekend. Bangalore to Nandi Hills Travel Guide.

Before you leave, it’d save you a lot of trouble to know a few things. Gate timings, entry fee, parking charges, the best route from your side of the city, bus and cab options, sunrise timing, weekend crowd rules and food at the top are the details that decide whether you catch the sunrise or watch it from a queue at the checkpost.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills Travel Guide Distance & Travel Time

Nandi Hills is 60 km from Bengaluru city and 35 km from Kempegowda International Airport The drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic, and the last 6 km from the foothills to the hilltop is a narrow ghat road with hairpin bends.

On a weekend the road time is only half the story. Sources at the hill told Deccan Chronicle in July 2026 that vehicles line up well before the gate opens and the climb from the foothills can take a couple of hours. That’s why most sunrise visitors leave the city by 4:30 AM.

How to Reach Nandi Hills from Bangalore

You can reach Nandi Hills from Bangalore by car, bike, cab, tempo traveller, KSRTC bus or train to Chikkaballapur. A private vehicle or a hired cab is the only way to make the sunrise, because public transport does not reach the hilltop before the gate opens at 6 AM.

Parking charges are from Karnataka Tourism, last updated 22 October 2026.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills by Car

The drive follows Bellary Road (NH 44) past Hebbal, Yelahanka, the airport and Devanahalli, then turns off towards the foothills. Most of your time goes into getting out of the city and the queue at the foothill checkpost, not the highway itself. Leave by 4:30 AM for sunrise and fill fuel in the city the night before.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills by Bike

Nandi Hills is the most popular early-morning ride for Bangalore bikers and cyclists. The ghat road has hairpin bends, so ride slow on the descent, wear a full-face helmet and keep a jacket handy, since the hilltop is several degrees cooler than the city before sunrise. Bike parking costs ₹30 on weekdays and ₹50 on weekends.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills by Cab or Tempo Traveller

For a group, a hired vehicle takes away the two hardest parts of the trip, the 4 AM drive and the hunt for parking at the top. You can hire a sedan or SUV for up to 6 people, or a tempo traveller from 9 to 26 seats as per your group size. The driver picks you up from home, waits at the parking while you watch the sunrise, and you can add Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple, Devanahalli Fort or Skandagiri base on the way back. Ask for a round-trip fare with toll and parking included so there are no surprises at the checkpost.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills by Bus

KSRTC buses leave Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) for Chikkaballapur through the day. A direct KSRTC bus to the hilltop has run from Majestic for years with an 8:30 AM departure, but confirm the current timing and platform at the KSRTC enquiry counter before you go. If you miss it, take any Chikkaballapur bus and switch to a local bus or auto for the hill.

Women domiciled in Karnataka travel free on non-luxury KSRTC buses under the Shakti scheme, which crossed 500 crore free rides in July 2025 . Carry an Aadhaar card with a Karnataka address for the conductor.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills by Train

The nearest railway station is Chikkaballapur. DEMU trains run from KSR Bengaluru City Junction to Chikkaballapur, and the fastest takes 1 hour 34 minutes . From the station, you take a taxi or auto to the foothill checkpost and up the ghat road. This route suits a late-morning visit, not the sunrise.

New Weekend Vehicle Rule Announced in July 2026

The state government announced in July 2026 that private vehicle access on the 6 km stretch from the foothills to the hilltop will be regulated on weekends and holidays. Visitors would park at the foothills and ride designated transport to the top .

The rule is not in force yet. Karnataka Tourism’s Nandi Hills page, updated on 22 October 2026, still lists car, bike and tempo traveller parking at the hill. A similar ban with electric buses from the foothills was first announced in 2023, so check local news before a weekend trip in case the foothill parking starts.

Best Route from Bangalore to Nandi Hills

The best route from Bangalore to Nandi Hills is Bellary Road (NH 44) via Hebbal and Devanahalli. It is the route Karnataka Tourism recommends, and most of the city joins it at Hebbal. Whitefield and north-east Bangalore have shorter options, listed after the steps.

1. Hebbal Flyover: join Bellary Road (NH 44) heading north. From south and east Bangalore, reach Hebbal through the Outer Ring Road.

1. Yelahanka and the airport stretch: stay on NH 44 past Yelahanka and the Kempegowda International Airport junction. Keep FASTag active for the Sadahalli toll plaza here. A car pays ₹120 one way or ₹180 for a same-day return, and a tempo traveller or minibus pays ₹185 or ₹275, as revised in April 2025 . NHAI revises these rates every April.
2. Devanahalli: continue past Devanahalli town. Devanahalli Fort sits just off the highway here if you want a stop on the way back.

1. Nandi Hills turn-off: take the signposted turn for Nandi Hills after Devanahalli and follow the road through Karahalli Cross to the foothills.
2. Foothill checkpost: pay the entry and parking fee here. On weekends, this is where the pre-dawn queue forms.
3. Ghat road to the hilltop: 6 km of hairpin bends up to the parking area near the summit.

Alternate Routes from East and North-East Bangalore

From Whitefield, take Old Madras Road to Hoskote and the Satellite Town Ring Road (NH 648) to Devanahalli, which keeps you off Hebbal entirely. The STRR has its own toll at the Nalluru Devanahalli plaza, ₹85 one way for a car from April 2025.

From Nagavara or Thanisandra, State Highway 104 runs 50 km to Nandi through Bagalur, Devanahalli and Karahalli. This road skips the Sadahalli toll plaza on NH 44.

Whichever route you take, set Google Maps to “Nandi Hills” summit parking, not the village of Nandi, which is a different spot at the base. At 4 AM the city roads are clear, so the run to the foothill checkpost is the quickest part of the trip.

Nandi Hills Timings, Entry Fee & Parking Charges 2026

Nandi Hills is open from 6 AM to 6 PM every day, and the entry ticket is ₹10 to ₹20 per person, as listed by Karnataka Tourism on 22 October 2026. Parking is charged separately and costs more on weekends.

You buy the entry and parking ticket at the foothill checkpost. The official Karnataka Tourism page lists no online booking for day visitors, so carry cash as a backup in case the UPI network is weak at the gate.

Days When Nandi Hills Is Closed

Nandi Hills stays open all week, but the district administration shuts it on high-crowd days. Tourist entry was banned for New Year’s Eve 2025 and on Valentine’s Day 2026 no tourists or private vehicles were allowed from 6 AM to 6 PM The hill road also closes for events such as the Nandi Monsoon Run in August and for roadwork, as it did on weekdays from 24 March to 25 April 2025. Check local news before you plan a trip around 31 December, 14 February or a long weekend.

Nandi Hills Ropeway Status

The 2.93 km ropeway from the foothills to the summit is not open yet. In July 2026 the project was still waiting for final forest clearance from the Union Environment Ministry, so the road is the only way up for now.

Nandi Hills Sunrise Guide: Timing, Viewpoint & Sea of Clouds

You can watch the sunrise from the top of Nandi Hills only from November to March, because the gate opens at 6 AM and the sun rises after that only in these months. From April to October the sun comes up between 5:54 AM and 6:10 AM, so most visitors see it from the check post queue.

Sunrise times are for Bengaluru city from SolarWatch. From the 1,478 m hilltop the sun clears the horizon a little earlier than in the city.

Sunrise Timeline for a Winter Morning

1. 4:30 AM: leave the city. Pick-up from Hebbal or north Bangalore can be at 4:45 AM.
2. 5:30 AM: reach the foothill checkpost and join the queue.
3. 6:00 AM: the gate opens. Pay the entry and parking fee and drive up the 6 km ghat road.
4. 6:15 AM: park and walk to the sunrise viewpoint near the summit.
5. 6:20 to 6:45 AM: sunrise, depending on the month.
6. 6:45 to 8:00 AM: the cloud layer below the hill is at its best. It thins out once the sun warms the valley.

When to See the Sea of Clouds at Nandi Hills

The cloud blanket below the hilltop forms on cool, humid mornings. October and November, right after the monsoon, give the most consistent cloud beds followed by December and January. A night of light rain followed by a clear dawn is the setup to look for. Clouds are never guaranteed, so treat them as a bonus on top of the sunrise.

Best Sunrise Viewpoint at Nandi Hills

The sunrise viewpoint near the summit is where most people gather On a weekend it fills up fast, so walk a little along the fort wall paths for a quieter spot with the same eastern view. Tipu’s Drop, the 60 m cliff, is better for valley views after sunrise.

Best Time to Visit Nandi Hills

The best time to visit Nandi Hills is November to February, when the temperature stays between 10°C and 25°C and the sunrise falls after the gate opens. September and October add post-monsoon greenery and cloud beds, and the monsoon months bring mist with slippery roads.

Best Day and Time to Go

A weekday morning is the best slot. Weekends bring the longest checkpost queues and the highest parking charges, and the state has announced plans to regulate private vehicles on weekends and holidays. If you can only go on a weekend, reach the foothills before 5:30 AM. A weekday afternoon is the quietest slot of all, but start heading down by 5 PM since the gate closes at 6 PM.

Places to Visit in Nandi Hills

The hilltop packs a temple, a cliff, a fort, British-era bungalows and the source of two rivers within 2.5 km of each other, so you can cover all of it on foot in 2 to 3 hours after the sunrise. Distances below are walking distances from KSTDC’s Mayura Pine Top hotel near the summit, as listed by KSTDC.

Tipu’s Drop

Tipu’s Drop is a 60 m cliff linked to stories from Tipu Sultan’s time Today it is the best spot for a wide view of the valley and the farmland below. Stay behind the barriers, since the drop is sheer.

Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple

The Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple is a Shiva temple 600 m from the Mayura Pine Top hotel. It is a quieter stop than the viewpoints, and most visitors take darshan here on the walk back from the sunrise point.

Amrita Sarovar

Amrita Sarovar is an old reservoir built to supply water to the hill fort The stonework around the water makes it a popular photo spot in the soft light after sunrise.

Nandi Hills Fort Walls and Tipu’s Summer Palace

Nandi Hills was a fortress under the Ganga, Chola and Vijayanagara rulers, and Tipu Sultan later used it as a summer retreat You can still walk along stretches of the old fort walls and gateways, and the summer palace is 1.4 km from the Mayura Pine Top hotel.

Things to Do in Nandi Hills

Sunrise watching, cycling the ghat road, trekking up from Sultanpet, paragliding, temple visits and a vineyard tour are the main things to do in and around Nandi Hills.

• Watch the sunrise and the sea of clouds: the main reason people come, best from November to February.
• Cycle or ride the ghat road: the 6 km climb from the foothills is a favourite weekend challenge for Bangalore cyclists. Start early, before car traffic builds up.
• Trek from Sultanpet: the Sultanpet trail climbs to the summit on stone steps Start after first light, since unbooked night treks are not allowed in Karnataka.
• Try paragliding: tandem flights run from the hills around Nandi between October and May, when the morning air is steady Book with a registered operator and confirm the flight fee before you go.
• Walk the heritage trail: Tipu’s Drop, Yoga Nandeeshwara Temple, Amrita Sarovar and the fort walls make a 2 to 3 hour walk on the hilltop.
• Take darshan at Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple: the 9th-century temple at the base of the hill is the best stop on the way down.

Places to Visit Near Nandi Hills

You can turn the trip into a full day by adding one or two of these stops on the drive back. Distances are from the hilltop, as listed by KSTDC.

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple

Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple is one of the oldest temples in the region and has two main shrines, Bhoga Nandeeshwara and Arunachaleshwara, with the Shringi Theertha pond inside the complex The carved pillars and the quiet courtyard are a good contrast to the busy hilltop.

Skandagiri Trek

Skandagiri is the trek option for a sunrise above the clouds without the Nandi Hills traffic. Sunrise slots are booked online through the Karnataka Forest Department’s Aranya Vihaara portal, and you climb in the dark to reach the top before dawn

Devanahalli Fort

Devanahalli Fort is a 16th-century fort with well-kept ramparts and temples inside, and it is the birthplace of Tipu Sultan It sits right on the Bangalore to Nandi Hills route, so it costs you only a short detour.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills One Day Trip Itinerary

A one day trip from Bangalore covers the sunrise, the hilltop heritage walk, Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple and Devanahalli Fort, and gets you home by mid-afternoon. The plan below suits a winter weekday with your own vehicle or a hired cab.

Apart from that, you can also swap Devanahalli Fort for a Grover Zampa vineyard tour or the Sir M. Visvesvaraya museum at Muddenahalli, as per your group’s interest. For a sunrise trek instead of the drive, book a Skandagiri slot and do Nandi Hills on the way back.

Where to Eat at Nandi Hills

The hilltop has two KSTDC options, the restaurant and bar at Hotel Mayura Pine Top and the new Sunrise restaurant that KSTDC opened in July 2026. Tea and snack stalls near the parking cover a quick bite after the sunrise. Keep food packets inside your bag on the hilltop, because the monkeys here are bold and snatch anything in hand.

Where to Stay at Nandi Hills

KSTDC’s Hotel Mayura Pine Top sits on top of Nandi Hills with 17 rooms, including heritage rooms in Gandhi Nilaya and Nehru Nilaya Staying overnight lets you skip the 4 AM drive and the checkpost queue, and you wake up on the hilltop itself.

Tariffs are base rates per night with GST extra, and a seasonal hike applies on peak dates. Check-in is at 1 PM, check-out at 11 AM, and guests must check in before 6 PM since the gate closes then. Book on the KSTDC booking site only, as KSTDC has warned about fake booking websites.

For more choice, you can pick from resorts and homestays around the foothills, Chikkaballapur and Devanahalli.

Nandi Hills Travel Tips Before You Leave Bangalore

A few small things decide how your Nandi Hills trip goes, and most of them are about timing, cash and the weather at 1,478 m.

• Check for closures first: the hill shuts on New Year’s Eve and shut on Valentine’s Day 2026, and the road closes for events and roadwork. A quick look at local news the day before saves a wasted 4 AM start.
• Carry a photo ID: solo visitors have been stopped at the gate for an ID check and a short chat with the staff Solo travel is allowed, so keep your ID ready and the stop takes a minute.
• Carry cash and UPI both: entry and parking are paid at the foothill checkpost, and mobile signal can be weak in the queue.
• Pack a jacket: winter mornings on the hilltop drop to 10°C while Bangalore is still warm.
• Mind the monkeys: keep food, sunglasses and phones in hand or in a zipped bag.
• Drive the ghat road in low gear: the 6 km stretch has tight hairpin bends, and on weekends it fills with bikes and cyclists going both ways.
• Leave nothing behind: carry your plastic bottles and food wrappers back down. Activists have already raised the alarm about tourist-driven harm to the hill.
• Plan the return before noon on weekends: the descent and the Hebbal stretch get slow once day visitors start heading back.

Bangalore to Nandi Hills FAQs

How far is Nandi Hills from Bangalore?

Nandi Hills is 60 km from Bangalore city and 35 km from Kempegowda International Airport. The drive takes 1.5 to 2 hours via Bellary Road (NH 44) and Devanahalli.

What are the Nandi Hills timings?

Nandi Hills is open from 6 AM to 6 PM every day. The official opening time is 6 AM even on sunrise mornings, so reach the foothill checkpost by 5:30 AM to be near the front of the queue.

What is the entry fee for Nandi Hills?

The entry ticket is ₹10 to ₹20 per person. Parking is extra: ₹30 or ₹50 for a two-wheeler, ₹60 or ₹100 for a car, and ₹150 or ₹250 for a tempo traveller or bus, with the higher rate on weekends.

Can we see the sunrise at Nandi Hills?

Yes. From November to March the sun rises between 6:19 AM and 6:46 AM, after the 6 AM gate opening, so you can watch it from the top. From April to October the sunrise is at or before 6:10 AM, and only the first few vehicles through the gate catch it.

Do I need to book Nandi Hills tickets online?

No. You buy the entry and parking ticket at the foothill checkpost on the day of your visit. Only the KSTDC hotel on the hilltop needs an advance booking.

Is Nandi Hills open on weekends?

Yes. Nandi Hills is open all seven days, but it closes on high-crowd dates such as New Year’s Eve, and it was closed on Valentine’s Day 2026. The state has also announced plans to regulate private vehicles on weekends and holidays, so check the latest rule before a Saturday or Sunday trip.

Is there a direct bus from Bangalore to Nandi Hills?

Yes. A direct KSRTC bus to the hilltop leaves Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) in the morning, with 8:30 AM as the long-running departure time. Confirm the timing at the KSRTC counter, or take any Chikkaballapur bus and change to a local bus or auto. Women domiciled in Karnataka ride non-luxury KSRTC buses free under the Shakti scheme.

Can I hire a tempo traveller from Bangalore to Nandi Hills?

Yes. You can hire a tempo traveller from 9 to 26 seats for the 60 km trip, and parking at the hilltop costs ₹150 on weekdays and ₹250 on weekends. Fare starts from ₹[fare]/km. We run the Bangalore to Nandi Hills route regularly and our drivers know the ghat road and the pre-dawn checkpost routine.

Can we stay at night on Nandi Hills?

Yes, but only as a guest of KSTDC’s Hotel Mayura Pine Top. Day visitors have to leave by the 6 PM closing, and room tariffs start from ₹2,200 per night plus GST.

How much time do I need at Nandi Hills?

Plan 4 to 5 hours on the hill for the sunrise, breakfast and the heritage walk. Add 3 to 4 hours if you want to cover Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple and Devanahalli Fort on the way back.

Is the Nandi Hills ropeway open?

No. The 2.93 km ropeway was still waiting for final forest clearance in July 2026, so the 6 km ghat road is the only way to the top.

Is Nandi Hills safe for solo travellers and families?

Yes. Solo travellers are allowed, though gate staff may check you’re ID’ING For families with kids and elders, a weekday visit avoids the weekend crowd at the viewpoints, and a hired vehicle with a driver means no one in the family has to drive the hairpins at dawn.

Abhishek Singh

I’m a wanderer who loves venturing on to unknown and unseen places. I explore freely to various fun and adventurous places, whether it be spiritual temple tours, captivating landscapes, and more. I wonder around in search of hidden gems and tourist attractions, temples, and other places.