A temple to the goddess Kolaramma, the guardian deity of Kolar, built in the Chola period, with inscriptions dating back about a thousand years. Its plain granite exterior hides finely carved interiors, and a shrine to Chelamma, the scorpion goddess, is believed to protect from scorpion stings. It is an important stop for devotees from across the region.

At Kammasandra, near Kolar, this temple is known for its enormous linga, about 33 metres high, one of the largest in the world, and a 11-metre Nandi beside it. Hundreds of thousands of smaller lingas installed by devotees fill the grounds, the goal being ten million, or one crore, lingas. Its scale makes it a striking sight.

Nandi Hills rises about 1,470 metres above the plains some 60 km north of Bengaluru, and it is the classic sunrise trip from the city. On winter mornings a sea of cloud fills the valleys below the viewpoints at Tipu's Drop and Amrutha Sarovara. Tipu Sultan used the hill as a summer retreat and built a small fort and palace here, and the Bhoga Nandeeshwara temple at the base dates back more than a thousand years to the Ganga dynasty. The hill is the source of several rivers including the Arkavathi. Go very early on weekdays, as the narrow road and the car park fill fast at weekends.

At the foot of Nandi Hills, the Bhoga Nandeeshwara Temple is one of the oldest temples in Karnataka, begun in the 9th century and added to by the Cholas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara rulers. Its pillared halls, carved stone screens and large stepped tank, the Shringi Theertha, are among its highlights, and it is far quieter than the hilltop above.

Devanahalli Fort, near Bengaluru's airport, was built in the 16th century by local chieftains and later rebuilt in stone by Hyder Ali. It is best known as the birthplace of Tipu Sultan in 1750, marked by a small memorial inside the walls. Much of the oval fort wall with its bastions survives, enclosing an old town with temples.

A temple near Doddaballapur where Murugan, as Subramanya, is worshipped in the form of a seven-hooded serpent, with Narasimha seen behind him in the same stone, reflected in a mirror. Childless couples and devotees seeking relief from serpent-related afflictions come here, especially during the Pushya Shuddha Shashti festival in December.

A conical hill near Dobbaspet whose shape is said to look like a linga, a bull, a snake or Ganesha depending on which side you see it from. A long rocky climb leads past shrines to the Gangadhareshwara cave temple and on to the summit with its Nandi statue and wide views. Weekends see many pilgrims and trekkers.

A forested hill near Tumakuru crowned with temples to Narasimha, Devarayanadurga rises in layers of granite with old fort walls winding around its slopes. The Yoga Narasimha temple stands on top, while the Namada Chilume spring nearby is linked with Rama's legend. The road up has wide views over the plains.

A rocky hill near Ramanagara, Ramadevara Betta is a vulture sanctuary, set up in 2012 to protect the long-billed vulture, and a temple to Rama stands on its top. The surrounding boulder-strewn hills are where much of the film Sholay was shot. The climb up the rocks gives wide views over the countryside.