Nandi Hills

60 km north

A 1,478-meter hill fort that Tipu Sultan and later the British used as a summer retreat, with Tipu's Drop, the cliff from which prisoners are said to have been thrown, and the ninth-century Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple at its foot.

Opens around 6am; leave Bangalore by 4:30am for sunrise and expect weekend queues at the gate. Hours and entry rules change, so check before going. Stop at the Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple on the way down.