Published By: Sayan Paul

A Travel Guide to Horsley Hills, Andhra Pradesh

Horsley Hills is a scenic hill station, bestowed with a picturesque landscape.

It makes for a popular weekend getaway from Bangalore, Hyderabad, and some other South Indian cities.

Read ahead!

Horsley Hills is a series of hills located at an elevation of around 1290 m above sea level, in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It's also known as the "Ooty of Andhra Pradesh", thanks to the breathtaking landscape, pleasant climate, and peaceful ambiance all around. It's renowned for housing the largest Banyan Tree and the oldest Eucalyptus Tree. Also, it's packed with dense forests providing shelter to an excellent range of flora and fauna. It makes for an ideal spot for trekking, rock climbing, water walking, and other adventure activities.

How to Reach

There are several transportation options to get to Horsley Hills. The nearest airport is in Bangalore, located at a distance of 160 km. The nearest railway station is situated in Manapalle. The hill station is also well-connected to numerous parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka by road.

Horsley Hills can be visited any time during the year. However, summer is considered the best season to visit here.

History of Horsley Hills

Horsley Hills was originally called Yenugu Mallama Konda. As per records, a British collector W. D. Horsley built his bungalow on the grounds here in the late 19th century. This led the place to be named Horsley Hills later.

There's a legend associated with the hill station as well. It's believed that there was a horse that guarded the Gurramkonda Fort situated atop the hills. This protected the place from invasion for years and later led it to be named Horsley Hills.

Major Attractions to Explore

The entire area is home to several sites that are worth a visit. Here, we'll get a look at the best ones among them.

ViewPoint: The ViewPoint is situated at a distance of 200 m from the Horsley Hills Bus Stand. It lies at a high altitude, creating a spectacular view of valleys, hillocks, and forests.

Gali Bandalu: Gali Bandalu - which literally translates into Wind Rocks - is among the most picturesque spots here. It has many small gardens, making it an amazing place to have lots of me-time. Also, it offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding lush valleys.

Horsley Hills Zoo: Horsley Hills Zoo is a must-visit site for nature as well as wildlife enthusiasts. The area is not large, but the range of animal species here is exceptional in the truest sense of the term. It's home to rabbits, peacocks, bunnies, monkeys, crocodiles, and more.

The list also includes Gangotri Lake, Mallamma Temple, Chennakesava Temple, etc.