Popular weekend hotspot Nandi Hills, an ancient hill fortress in Chikkaballapur district of Karnataka which falls en route to the Kempegowda International Airport, will soon get a new look. Infosys Foundation led by Sudha Murthy, the philanthropic arm of IT major Infosys, has committed Rs 75 lakh for the purpose.

With this money, new pathways and stone steps will be set up to make the area more tourist-friendly. The restoration project will also involve reconstruction of existing pathways and steps that lead to the birthplace of the Arkavati river, which originates in the lap of Nandi Hills. The organisation will also beautify some of the damaged walls near Tipu’s Drop.

The popular cycling and trekking destination has historical significance on account of a battle that took place there between the British and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. The Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple at the base of the hills is a Grade-1 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected structure.

Even Mahatma Gandhi had stayed in the Hills for a total of 50 days in 1927 and 1936. A hotel by the name of Gandhi Nilaya has been established at the hills by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation.

The hillock which attracts many weekend and holiday visitors is expected to see a further rise in footfalls if the long-proposed ropeway facility to the top from the foot of the hill covering over 1.5 km, becomes a reality.

Meanwhile, the Horticulture Department has started a pilot initiative from Tuesday of introducing three electric cars which will take visitors on a two-kilometre tour of the area exploring the various flora and fauna at a cost of Rs 100 for adults and Rs 50 for children. This comes after a similar initiative at the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens proved to be a hit.