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This range of craggy hills (the highest peak being 2004 m) holds the shimmering Amrita Sarovar Lake and offers walks of sylvan beauty. A popular health resort today, it was also the place Tipu Sultan and assorted royalty retired when they sought to escape the din of battle and the heat of the plains.
The hills are located about 60 km north of Bangalore and about 5970 ft above sea level. The deviation road at Oordagere on the Bangalore-Tumkur Road can reach it. On the top of the hill, there are temples dedicated to Sri Ugra Narasimha and Sri Yoga Narasimha. On the lower hill there is a temple dedicated to Sri Bhoga Narasimha. There is a Traveler's Bungalow and a Kalyana Mantap on the top of the hill and a Forest Lodge and Taluk Board T.B. at the foot of the hill.
A flight of 1,175 steps leads from the base of the hills to the top. On top was Tipu Sultan's summer retreat and the remains of Tipu's fort bear this out. Tipu's Drop, a 600 metre high cliff face, where prisoners were hurled down the precipice, is an awe-inspiring sight.
Sir Mark Cubbon, when he was Commissioner of Bangalore made this his summer residence. Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Queen Elizabeth II were among the other dignitaries who enjoyed their stay here. More recently, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and the SAARC delegates chose this spot for a retreat after their international deliberations.
You can visit this place at any time of the year. Its best if you are on top of the hill before sunrise. The wind, fog and clouds that blow towards you in the morning is just amazing. To be on top of the hill by 5:30AM, you need to leave Bangalore at around 4AM.

These birds were shot in Lalbagh Botanical garden, Bangalore during a morning walk around this park. They were in abundance & were competing with pigeons & crows in the lakeside for grains fed by morning walkers in Lalbagh.

The Common Myna or Indian Myna or Mynah (Acridotheres tristis), is a member of the starling family. This is an omnivorous open woodland bird with strong territorial habits. These birds have well –adapted themselves to the urban environments & can be easily spotted in most parts of India. They are identified by the brown body, black hooded head and the bare yellow patch behind the eye. The bill and legs are bright yellow.

Interesting Fact – This bird lists itself in one of the only three birds (other two being Red-vented bulbul and European Starling) in the 100 most invasive species by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)