Horsley Hills is a modest hill retreat in Annamayya district, about nine miles from the town of Madanapalle and at roughly 1,265-1,290 m above sea level. It is cooler than the dry country around it, but it is not a Ooty-style hill station: there is no bazaar, no long promenade and no long list of monuments. What you get is air, rock, eucalyptus and open views.
The English name comes from W.D. Horsley, a British collector who built a house on the hill around 1870. The older local name, Yenugu Mallamma Konda, comes from a legend of a holy woman called Mallamma who was said to have been fed by elephants. Before the resort grew up here, the Yanadi and Chenchu communities lived on these slopes.
The sights are short and close together: Kalyani, a giant eucalyptus beside the old Horsley bungalow, the Forest Department's Environment Park, Gali Bandalu with its wind-blown rocks, and viewpoints that suit late afternoon. More than 133 bird species have been recorded, so early mornings reward patient visitors with binoculars. Madanapalle below is the gateway, with a college tied to Rabindranath Tagore's English version of Jana Gana Mana.
It works best as one night or a long day trip, with a calm pace and few expectations. Facilities on the hill are limited, and food options in particular are thin outside weekends and holidays, so plan meals and check what is open before you go. Older travellers will find the main sights gentle, with the usual caveat of an 8 km winding ghat road up from the plains.
Before you plan
Horsley Hills at a glance
- Best months
- November to February is most comfortableNovember to February is most comfortable; March to June is warmer but the hilltop stays milder than the plains; monsoon months bring mist and slippery paths (our judgement, based on general hill-station conditions)
- Ideal trip length
- 1 night1 night, or a long day trip from Madanapalle, Tirupati or Bengaluru
- Airport
- Kempegowda International Airport,…Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR), is about 114 km from Madanapalle; Tirupati (TIR) is about 128 km from Madanapalle, plus roughly 15 km up to the hill
- Railway station
- Madanapalle RoadMadanapalle Road (MPL) is the main railhead, on the Dharmavaram-Pakala line; the hill is about 9 miles from Madanapalle town
- Getting around
- Hire a car or taxi to the top via an…Hire a car or taxi to the top via an 8 km hairpin road; the hilltop sights are within short walking distance of each other
- Daily budget
- Hard to generalise: stays and food…Hard to generalise: stays and food on the hill are limited, so confirm current options before you travel
- Senior comfort
- Fair: sights are short and mostly gentleFair: sights are short and mostly gentle, but there are uneven paths, few benches and a winding ghat road
- Language
- Telugu locallyTelugu locally; Hindi and some English are understood at tourist sites, and Kannada and Tamil speakers are common among visitors
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Horsley Hills: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Horsley Hills itinerary
One good day
1 day in Horsley Hills
Drive up the 8 km hairpin road in the morning and start at the Environment Park, taking in Kalyani and the old Horsley bungalow. Walk to the Governor's Bungalow and the Valley View Point behind it, then stop at the Mallamma shrine. Rest through the early afternoon, ideally somewhere with food confirmed in advance. End at Gali Bandalu and the western sunset viewpoint before heading down before dark.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Horsley Hills
Reach the hill by late morning, settle in and visit the Environment Park, Kalyani and the Governor's Bungalow viewpoint. Rest in the afternoon, then walk to Gali Bandalu and the sunset viewpoint.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Horsley Hills
Drive up, check in and see Kalyani and the Environment Park. Spend the evening at the sunset viewpoint.
Day-by-day plan →
