Nandi Hills

We drove to the Nandi Hills today. They are solid granite monoliths about 75kms north-east of Bangalore, and the top is 1479m (4851 ft) above sea-level. I think that makes them about 500m higher than the surrounding plains. They remind me of the eastern Sierra's in California.

The drive there was more interesting than the hills themselves. The road north was actually pretty good, a divided highway for most of the way, but it (like everything here) was under construction, which means that half the time you are squeezed onto one half of the road, and the much of the rest of the time people drive on the wrong side of the road. It's as if they have a license to do whatever they want when there is construction going on.

It was a beautiful sunny day, cool and clear, but once up on top of the hill, the haze was too strong to get any good distance images. There is a small temple, a guest house, and a small restaurant.

The restaurant was operated by the Karnataka State Government, which may explain why it was the first veritable "bad" meal I've had in India. Really just kinda nasty. I will definitely be bringing my own food if we go back here with visitors in the future.

The area around the bottom of the hills is full of grape-growers. Grapes, not vineyards, so don't go thinking you can road-trip out here Sideways style... Nice looking grapes, on vines supported on stone posts, but no wine to be found...