Horsley Hills. Andhrapradesh. ~150 km from Bangalore. 1265 m above sea level. Cool and pleasant.
We went to Horsley Hills again on a weekend. So I thought I should be adding more to this entry.
This time, we were three families – 6 adults and 5 children. So, age group range: 3 months to 34 yrs.
And Horsley Hills? Moist. Flowery. More beautiful.
A Summer Morning. Photo by Deepak.
We started around 3.15 PM from Marathahalli, Bangalore in two cars. Lots of things to eat and intermittent rains. Good start.
Because we went by bus last time, we took the bus route again. The route was Bangalore – Hoskote – Chintamani – Madanapalle – Horsley Hills. It is just a straight road through Hoskote with only a couple of decisive turning points. You cannot be lost very easily. We took the Double road and stopped at M G Road, Chintamani. The roads were getting laid and it was a horrible drive. Little did we know we could have completely avoided Chintamani in our route.
Again a stop at a forked road for tea.
Then it was a straight drive and we reached Andhra Pradesh. You can actually feel the difference without reading the milestones. Just look for the difference in the road.
AP - Karnataka Border. Photo by Sanjeev
By the time we reached Madanapalle, it started raining heavily. Luckily by the time we took the hairpin bends, rains stopped. My brother drove his first set of hairpins! And here we were, in Horsley Hills APTDC resort by 7.30 PM. They have changed the name to Haritha from our last visit.
I opened the car door and cool whiff of mist greeted me. Looked around and I could not see more than a feet distance. What a summer it is! Surely none of us had brought enough wools with us.
We checked into the cottages we had already booked from Bangalore APTDC office [near Race Course]. The rates are quite reasonable: Rs. 600 for single and Rs.1000 for double. The cottages are not too extravagant, but decent. If you want plush rooms, they can provide Governor’s Bunglow with a view of the hills or if you want more economical ones, even dormitories are available. Some of us had a quick drink and all moved on to dinner.
Next day morning the men folk went for a misty morning walk and they say the whole trip was worth just that walk.
Deepak and my brother walking through the mist. Or cloud? Photo by Sanjeev.
I had a nice sleep under the warm blanket.
There aren’t many things here apart from the Andhra Pradesh Tourism resort, Forest department zoo and guest house and BSNL towers. There aren’t many tourists either. Only on the Saturday there was a busful of people landed there. So, in a nutshell: the best place to get cut off, relax, breathe clean air and laze around doing nothing. In fact I found the blog entry apt in describing: Doing nothing @ Horsley Hills.
You can be at the resort and enjoy the swimming pool or massage. But it was raining on and off so we could not take out our swim suits and caps. Though the children were waiting for the swimming session, there were enough things to distract them. Me, Neethu and Deepak tried the new adventure sports the resort has newly developed. Slightly expensive for Rs.75, but we enjoyed a lot.
Deepak on Burma Bridge. Photo By Sanjeev
Or you can opt to walk and treck around the thick hilly forest. The forest is dense and green, but not impenetrable. They say there are bears and panthers in it, but we didn’t go deep down, just walked on the periphery.
And all that we found on our last visit, is a deer, very friendly and tame.
Nisa feeding deer on our last visit. Photo Smrti.
Food is not too exceptional. The usual South Indian items as buffet and other things ordered separately. The costs are not very reasonalbe when you compare with Bangalore darshinies. Many people then visit the small Devadas shop run by Devdas. He prepares food as per your order. Good food. Try it, if you are going there. We ordered pepper chicken and sat down there to polish off more than a dozen mirchi bajis. Last time I had made friends with an old lady running a smaller shop there. She was not to be seen. Devdas said she moved out. Missed her.
My brother and me at Devdas Shop. Photo Sanjeev.
We played cards in the room, when rains didn’t allow us to go out. Otherwise we went down a couple of kilometers to show the kids what forest is. We couldn’t go trekking inside the forest.
Then we went around the place. Good landscape. Fresh Air.
Then we had to return. Bid farewell to the hills and the forest and the friendly staff of the resort. Sun was trying to come out of the clouds by then.
On our way, we stopped near a few pottery shops. They make pottery and sell there. It is quite reasonable and you get most of the items you get anywhere else.
If you are looking for a getaway place, and this one suits you, ask me more. I might be able to offer a tip or two. Like – carry enough cash with you, there is no ATM in the vicinity and nobody accepts cards over there.
There are more pictures here
Detailed information on enjoying a holiday at Horseley Hills.
Thank you.
my home town …………………. happy living place..
Thanks Chnadu and monickam
Hi Smrti,
How is the climate not in horlsey hill now. is it good time to go there now. Me staying in hyderabad, please suggest me the best transportation route to reach HH.
We are planning in 26th and 27th of this month. So reply asap:)
Hi Smrti,
How is the climate in horlsey hill now. is it good time to go there now. Me staying in hyderabad, please suggest me the best transportation route to reach HH.
We are planning in 26th and 27th of this month. So reply asap:)
Hello Vincent,
Horsley Hills has pleasant weather through out the year.
I havnt traveled from Hyderabad to Horsley Hills, only know that it could be 10-12 hrs of journey.
Thanks Smrti,
How about rooms there, are we able to book rooms after reaching there? or do we need to book it in advance before coming.
Please suggest me on this
Thank you Ms. Smrithi. This is my home town. I am very very happy to reading your words.
Thanks Radha, you are very fortunate!
You may get rooms, if it is not a long weekend or something like that, Vincet. It is always better to book from any of the APTDC counters near you.
Smrti
Hi Smrti,
I tried online booking for 26th and 27th of this month, no rooms available in haritha resort for this dates.. Is there some other hotels in HH, please suggest me on this
Hi Smrti,
I tried online booking for 26th and 27th of this month, no rooms available in haritha resort for this dates.. Is there some other hotels in HH, please suggest me on this
suggest some other hotels asap
Hi Vincet,
There are no other hotels. Perhaps you can try booking from any APTDC counters, or try calling up Punnami itself. APTDC website has their phone numbers.
Hi Smrti,
I called them up, but no luck, rooms are not available.. but they said there are some other private hotels.. Is that true?
Hello Vincent
I am not sure about private hotels. There could have been something new now. All the best.
Horsely Hills– Climate is simply awesome.. Whole area is completely covered with mist. One day stay is not enough, had a very good time there.
Food is too costly, transportation is not frequent, sight seeing is less. But the place in overall good for those who likes to relax and have some fresh air.
Hi Guys,
I am from chennai,planning a trip to Horsely Hills for New year,need some guidence for travel,accomodation and sight seeing etc.Pls give me contact nos too.
Hello Vinu,
Most of what I can provide are written in the blog above. If you have any specific questions, please do ask me.
Smrti
Hello Vincent,
Good to know that finally you got accommodation and that you liked the place!
Smrti
Hi Smrti,
Thanks for responding,I need contact nos so as to arrange for accomodatio and if possible for travel agents/guides.
Hi Smrti,
Thanks for responding,I need contact nos so as to arrange for accomodation.
hi smriti,
what you wrote is absolutely correct.
its a mindblowing place. thanks for sharing this
Manoj, happy to know that you liked the place!
Hi Smriti,
Nice review of the place. We went during the Christmas weekend and we loved the place. We drove down from Chennai. As said in your blog and various other similar blogs, there isn’t much to see or do at Horsley Hills except to just relax. We ate Mirchi bhajjis, went for our customary visit to the mini zoo and played the rope games available in the APTDC resort. The ‘Hotel Devdas’ was curiously closed on both the days we were there.
The weather was very cold during the nights and that probably was something we loved. There isn’t much to do beyond a day. But it definitely is a place worth visiting.
hi,
me and my friends wish to visit Horsley Hills….we wish to have it for 1 night 2 days…….
how can we visit this palce from hyd….. can anyone sugest a route map through road….are any trains available…..
i need a full info regarding this Horsley Hills
can mail it to kasthuri.sreekanth@gmail.com
Hello Sreekanth,
You may have to take any Bangalore bus passing through Madanapalli. And take a rikshaw or something to Horlsey hills. If you can contact the APTDC resort there, they can guide you.
Smrti
Thanks Karthik, for writing back after visit to HH. Glad that you liked this place!
Smrti
Nice …………
is the perfect day bag together with plenty of room for personal and business items. And it is authentic louis vuitton. At the office or perhaps around the vacation you will end up considered being a lady of favor using this carrier in your shoulder.
Hi Smrti,
I am very thankful to you about this article. Good poetic and creative language. I am a resident of Nellore, A.P. I’m unconditionally fascinated by the beauty and charm of this horsley hills. I went there last year with my wife and also planning to go in august of this year. Relaxation at its peak level. Once again thanks for the article.
Thank you Madhu Mohan Kumar. You are very lucky!
I am from Bangalore. We are planning a trip to Horsely Hills for October 1st week. can you please provide us guidance about travel, climate and food.
Thanks
Senthil
Bangalore
Hello Senthil,
October would be a good time. Just ensure that there ar rooms available.
This blog has all about travel, weather and food. Do let me know if you would like to know anything more han these.
Smrti
Hi Smrti,
I would like to visit Horsley when it is raining to enjoy a chill weather. I am planning to visit there in November. what do you suggest me?
Ha ha , dis is my home town vch i lv to visit again and agin , i live at HYDERABAD ,but yearly 2-3times i visit mi place nd love spend time at hills
I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog readers have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any suggestions to help fix this issue?
Hello Melodee,
I use WordPress themes, so have not run into browser compatibility, till now.
Hello Rajakumari, you are very lucky!
is thr rooms available for a night & how will be the weather nw
so excellent and so beutifull
so excellent and so beutifull because there is lot of atmosphere are there
Thanks Prabhakar.
Hello Manju, you must call up the resort to find out about rooms.
Hi Smrti,
we are planning for a trip this weekend i want to know the forest dept numbers
pls help
Regards,
Meeta
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