Horsley Hills Tour Guide

Horsley Hills is part of the Nallamalai Range at 4,152 ft in South West Andhra, south India tourism places. In an earlier avatar when Horsley Hills was not the commercial hill station it is now, it used to be an undeveloped rustic hillock. According to local legend, a pious woman called Mallamma used to live on the top of the hill where she was protected and looked after by an elephant yenugu in Telugu. Word soon got around and the place was rather simplistically dubbed Yenugu Mallamma Konda hill.

News of the also reached WD Horsley the Collector of Cuddappah District who was desperately seeking an escape from the heat, dust and fiery food of the Andhra plains. He came here on a hunch and was bowled over by the natural beauty of the place. In 1870, he constructed two quaint houses and thus laid the foundation of a hill resort, which was duly named after him. The hills became his summer retreat and the sarkari trend continued with the hilltop villa becoming the summer residence of the Andhra Pradesh Governor.

On first glance it’s easy to dismiss Horsley hills as a touristy resort with bureaucratic bungalows that has nothing to offer except cement bunks, neatly numbered flowerpots and parks with slides. However a closer look reveals that it’s not without its perhaps one of the few places in India that calls a tree by name. A 150 year old eucalyptus treee near Horsley Bungalow is endearingly called Kalyani.
The lush forests around Horsley Hills are ideal for nature walks picnics and drives. The hill station has a few interesting excursions but beyond that there’s not much else. If you are looking for a place where you can just put up your feet and relax this is it.

Horsing Around

The most prominent tourist spot is Gali Bandalu windy roack, a rocky slope that derives its name from the gusty winds that blow nearly all day. The Eastern and Western viewpoints are great places to watch the sun rise and set. About 40 km from Horsley Hills and oftern confused with it is Gurram Konda, between Madanapalle and Raichoti. Literally Horse Hill, it is so named because its steep pathway was once accessible only on horseback. At the foot of the hill is a small fort called Mahal.

Temple and Followers

The Yenugu Mallamma Temple here is an ancient shrine, dedicated to the pious Mallamma who was looked after by a tusker.

The indigenous Chenchu tribes involve themselves in basket weaving and collection of honey. They are renowned for their Pungannur breed of cattle with its disproportionately high yield of milk.

Around Horsley Hills

Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary 94 km

This sanctuary is in the Palmaner area, off the Bangalore – chennai Highway near Kuppam. Spread over an area of 358 sq km, Kaundinya is in a decent state of preservation. The notable species here include elephant’s mouse deer and antelope.

Tirumalai 148 km

Towering above this celebrated temple town of Andhra is easily one of the richest places of pilgrimage in the world – Tirumalai the abode of Lord Venkateshwara – chiefly thanks to the zeal with which people throw money an dgold in the Lundi of the Lord. Every year, Tirupati draws mor epilgrims tjem Macca and the Vatican. It is among the most important places of pilgrimage in South India. Thousands throng for a darshan at the 10th century temple and for the prasad of the mammoth Tirupati laddu. Food and stay options are a dime a dozen here.

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