Plan your trip · Nandi Hills
What's on in Nandi Hills
Upcoming festivals, fairs and events in Nandi Hills — plan your visit around them, then check the best time to visit.
Nothing dated is confirmed for Nandi Hills right now, so here is the year instead — the fixtures that come round annually, and what each one means for a visit.
The year in Nandi Hills
Nandi Hills's calendar runs through most of the year, with the busiest weeks in the clear, comfortable months and a quieter stretch in the heaviest rain. Broadly, Oct – Mar is when visiting is most comfortable here, and that is when the calendar is busiest — which also means accommodation is most expensive and books furthest ahead.
Most of these follow lunar calendars and move by weeks from year to year, so treat the windows below as the season rather than the date, and confirm the year’s dates before you book around one.
Nationwide
Diwali
🗓️ October–NovemberThe biggest holiday of the year — lamps, sweets, fireworks and a week of visiting family. Cities are lit up and markets stay open late.
Holi
🗓️ MarchColoured powder and water, thrown at anyone within reach, mostly through the morning.
Navratri and Dussehra
🗓️ September–OctoberNine nights of fasting, music and dance, ending with Dussehra. What it looks like changes completely by region — garba in Gujarat, pandals in Bengal, processions in the south.
Eid al-Fitr
🗓️ shifts ~11 days earlier each yearThe end of Ramadan. The old quarters of Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal are at their best in the evenings through the preceding month, when food streets run past midnight.
Makar Sankranti and Pongal
🗓️ mid-JanuaryThe harvest turn, marked with kites in the west and north and four days of Pongal in Tamil Nadu.
Nandi Hills is a quiet place most of the year, and its biggest days are religious ones. Maha Shivaratri, usually in February or March, is the most important festival at the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple in Nandi village, when devotees come from across the region. Diwali, Dussehra and Makar Sankranti are also celebrated in the villages and in nearby Chikkaballapur.
The hilltop itself gets its biggest crowds on long weekends and holidays rather than festivals. Around New Year, local authorities have restricted night-time entry to the hill in past years, so check the rules before planning a visit then. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year.
Tips for Attending Events & Festivals in Nandi Hills
- Check the date of Maha Shivaratri for the year before you plan your trip.
- Expect big crowds and slow queues at the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple on festival days.
- Dress modestly and wear shoes you can remove easily.
- Reach early, as parking near the temple and on the hill is limited.
- Check local news for entry restrictions around New Year and long weekends.
- Keep your belongings secure in crowded areas.
Questions
Nandi Hills — FAQ
What are the main festivals at Nandi Hills?
Maha Shivaratri is the biggest festival, celebrated at the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple. Diwali, Dussehra and Makar Sankranti are also marked in the surrounding villages and in Chikkaballapur.
When is Maha Shivaratri at Nandi Hills?
Maha Shivaratri usually falls in February or March, depending on the lunar calendar. Check the exact date for the year before you travel.
Can I visit Nandi Hills on New Year's Eve?
In past years, authorities have stopped visitors from going up the hill on New Year's Eve and night. Check the latest local notices before you plan a trip around it.
Is Nandi Hills busy during festivals?
The Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple is very busy during Maha Shivaratri. The hilltop is busiest on long weekends and public holidays, so arrive early on those days.