Horsley Hills or Horsleykonda or Yenugulla Mallamma Konda is a series of hills in Andhra Pradesh in Madanapalle taluka of Chittoor district and is about 9 miles from Madanapalle town. The hills are about 1300 metres above sea level. The local name of the hill was Yenugu Mallama Konda after a legend of a saintly old woman named Mallamma who lived atop the hill and was fed by elephants (yenugulu). W.D. Horsley, a British collector, built his home around 1870 after whom it is named. In contrast to the dry and hot surrounding, this area is well vegetated with cooler climate. This made it attractive as a hill station and a tourist spot.
Winters in Horsley-hills start in the month of December and last till February. The weather is pleasant during these months and the temperature ranges between a comfortable 10°C to 22°C. The summers in Horsley-hills are hot and generally avoided by the tourists. The month of March marks the start of summer season and it lasts till May. Temperature ranges between 20°C to 30°C during these months.
The best season to visit Horsley-hills is the winter season. The temperature remains comfortable and is apt for sightseeing. The best months to visit are December, January, February and March.
The nearest International Airport is Bangalore International Airport, roughly three hour drive from Horsley-hills. It is well connected to a spectrum of cities in the country and worldwide like Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jorhat, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai Dubai, Singapore and Dammam through Air India, Go Air, Indigo, Jet Airways, Jet Konnect, Kingfisher Airlines and Spice Jet.
The nearest Railway Station is Madnapalle Railway Station which is connected to the major cities of Andhra Pradesh and is just 26 Kms from Horsley-hills. It is situated on the major New Delhi-Chittoor railway line and is linked with the cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, Lucknow, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Patna and Gaya. How to reach Horsley Hills by Road Horsley-hills is 29 Kms from Madanapalle, 74 Kms from Kadiri, 121 Kms from Chittoor, 131 Kms from Kadapa, 155 Kms from Vellore, 185 Kms from Bangalore, 270 Kms from Ambattur, 277 Kms from Chennai, 305 Kms from Puducherry, 348 Kms from Mysore, 521 Kms from Hyderabad and is connected through Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and some private travel services.
There are some deluxe and a lot of medium to budget accommodation options nearby Horsley-hills. Bans The Hotel (Pantrampalli Village) is the deluxe accommodation options near Horsley-hills. Other medium to budget accommodation options include Haritha Hill Resort (Horsley Hills), Sree Krishna Lodge (Patel Road, Madanapalle), Sindhu Towers Hotel (Opp. Railway Station, Chittoor), Bhaskara Hotel (Chittoor), Sri Ganesh Deluxe Lodge (Sundrayya Street), Haritha Hotel (Aranyam Kadriga Post), Udaykrishna Residency (Sundarayyer Street) and TSN Residency (Nagari).
The festivals in Horsley-hills are celebrated with great delight and religious sentiments .The festivals here are extremely colourful and their celebrations exude a sense of unity and feeling of brotherhood.
One of the most awaited events in Horsley-hills and all over the state, Pongal is celebrated with great passion and vigour. The term Pongal signifies sweet dish of rice which is eaten on the Pongal festival day. Jaggery, Cardamom and cashew nuts are also included in this dish for the celebration. The local people dedicate this dish to God Surya, The Sun God. It is one of the most imperative and well known festivals held in the month of mid January every year.
This festival is held in the months of August-September and is one of the famous festivals in Horsley-hills. It is celebrated with immense passion.
Sightseeing Around Horsley Hills Horsley Hills has quite beautiful sights to offer. In addition to its tranquil natural charms, it is also the land of Kalyani, the oldest known eucalyptus tree which is believed to be around 148 years. While you're at it, visit Thimmamma Marrimanu banyan tree which is said to be the world's largest banyan tree spread covering an area of 8 acres. The highest point of the hills offers a mesmerising view of the surrounding foliage, and the sight is serene against the backdrop of the sapphire sky. Situated nearby is the Horsley Hills Environment Centre which is home to a number of animals such as deer and crocodiles. Gurramkonda Fort and Governor's house are other fascinating pieces of history should be a part of your weekend getaway here.
A part of the Eastern Ghats, the hills in the region are believed to be one of the oldest in terms of geological existence. How the hills came to be known as Horsley Hills is an enigmatic story! It is said that there was once a horse that guarded the Gurramkonda fort situated nearby with such ferocity that as long as it remained there, no one dared to attack the fort. The title of the hills near the fort was hence dedicated to the selfless service of the horse, and the name Horsley Hills came to be. Some others believed that it is named after a British General with the same name who built a bungalow here.
In addition to being a peaceful haven of nature, Horsley Hills is the perfect spot for some good old trekking, and you can also try your hand at swimming. Rock climbing here is an exceptional experience to rediscover your physical strength and slide down the peaks by rappeling as you like. You can also enjoy elephant rides, rope sliding, crossing the Burma Bridge, zorbing, shooting bow and arrow, fish spa and water walking. You can enjoy eating out in Horsley Hill which includes savouring the scrumptious South Indian meals and a must try is Pulihora Tamarind Rice. You can also shop for the traditional tribal handicrafts of Chenchu tribes that will make for excellent souvenirs to take back home.
