Horsley Hills, a tranquil village, is situated at an altitude of 1,265 m above sea level in
Chittor District of
Andhra Pradesh. It is 144 km from
Tirupati, 165 km from
Bangalore and 460 km from
Hyderabad. The place got its name after the collector of
Cuddapah District during the reign of British, W D Horsley. Taken by the beauty of the hills, Horsley made it his summer retreat and as a result two quaint houses were built.
The major landmarks are Mallamma Temple, Gali Bandalu (windy rock) and a small fort known as Mahal. There is a 150-year-old eucalyptus tree named Kalyani, which is worth-seeing. Lush forest with a variety of flowers and trees including Sampangi, Amla, Sandalwood, Red Sanders and Mahogany add to the beauty and fragrance. Main inhabitants are Chenchu tribes whose occupations are basket weaving and honey rearing. The area is also famous for Pungannur, a breed of cattle that has a high yield of milk.
At a distance of 40 km is Gurram Konda (literally means horse hills), which is between Madanapalle and Raichoti. Once it was accessible only on horseback and hence the name.
Bungalows owned by APTDC are available for accommodation. Horsley has a cool weather throughout. The best time to visit is from March to June.
Nearest airports are at Tirupati and Bangalore. The closest railhead is Madanapalle Road Railway Station. State transport buses and taxis ply to Horsley.
