Nandi Hills is a craggy range squatting obstinately on the absolutely flat surrounding plains, just outside Bangalore. These are not gently rolling hills, but a giant, 2,000-ft granite monolith towering over you that seems to appear from nowhere. The effect is magical.

The hills get their name from the beautiful statue of Nandi standing guard outside the Yoganandeeshwara Temple atop the hills. Elsewhere, the peaks give birth to the rivers Arakavati, Pennar and Palar. Nandi Hills have for long attracted a loyal following among royalty and commoners alike. Tipu Sultan, who ruled Mysore in the late 18th century, came here to recover from the din of battle. He fortified Nandi Hills and made it his summer haven. The Brits took over Nandi Hills, looking for the salubrious climate of their homeland. Sir Mark Cubbon, former Commissioner of Banga?lore, made it his official summer residence. Many bungalows the Brits built still pepper the hills. Dignitaries, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Queen Elizabeth have since visited. The point of all this name-dropping is that, with cobbled paths leading up to hills full of birdsong, Nandi Hills is a good getaway for you and your family too.