Nandi Hills, one of Bengaluru's most beloved tourist spots, will shut its gates to all visitors on February 14 in a first-of-its-kind move. The Chikkaballapur district administration has announced the Valentine's Day ban, justifying the decision on grounds of public safety and managing large crowds.

Restrictive measures in place

The official order prohibits the entry of all private vehicles and tourists between 6 am and 6 pm on Saturday. While such restrictions are common during New Year celebrations, this marks a shift in policy for mid-February. Security personnel will be stationed at the primary entry points to ensure no unauthorized access is granted to the hill station located approximately 60 km from Bengaluru.

Surge in expected footfall

Chikkaballapur Deputy Commissioner Prabhu G noted that the decision was a precautionary measure due to the limited infrastructure leading to the summit. The hill station typically experiences a massive surge during holidays, often hosting 16,000 to 18,000 visitors arriving in thousands of two-wheelers and cars. Given that Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year, authorities anticipated a volume of traffic that the single approach road would be unable to sustain safely.

Comparison with daily traffic

On standard weekdays, Nandi Hills usually sees between 5,000 and 6,000 tourists. However, the projected weekend crowd combined with the specific occasion prompted the administration to prioritize safety over tourism. Visitors planning a weekend getaway have been advised to adjust their schedules as the gates will remain shut throughout the peak hours of the day.