Weekend Getaway to Horsley Hills - Again

April 9th, 2008   Filed Under Travel Writing  

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.

Horlsey Hills

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.

Border

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.

Misty Morning 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

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

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.

Devdas Shop

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

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Comments

59 Responses to “Weekend Getaway to Horsley Hills - Again”

  1. Srinadh on April 9th, 2008 10:29 pm

    Cool pics (I’m sure u’ven’t clicked one)! Materialistic, and therefore, very useful, narration (but i’m afraid you aren’t that sensitive to poor guys like me who can’t afford to pay Rs.600 for a single room!). Jokes apart, I enjoyed it. The title is, as you rightly mentioned, just apt. Thanks for putting the whole stuff up on web.

  2. Smrti on April 9th, 2008 10:31 pm

    Srinadh,
    Rs. 600 is for a whole cottage, not a room and you can share it with your friends. I have also said, they have dorms for Rs.100/-. Considering tourism industry standards, these are pretty reasonable.

  3. William Ebenezer on May 5th, 2008 1:01 pm

    Hi Smrti, first of all thank you so much! People if you are looking for “See places” kinda thing then this is not the place for you but a if your looking for a “Getaway” (Irritated with the busy life you have? then this is the place) Do not expect anything - You will enjoy more:-). Explore and trek those hills and u will love it :-)… In summer its 840 per cottage otherwise its 600Rs. NOTE : The Bus (Madanapalli to Hosrley Hills - If your traveling by bus)timing has change from 9:30am to 8:30am. So make sure u be there before 8:30am.

  4. smrti on May 6th, 2008 8:47 pm

    Thanks William, for the updates. Glad to know that you enjoyed the trip.

  5. Srini on May 12th, 2008 10:12 am

    Hi Smrti,
    Nice read. We are planning a short trip from office, and thanks to your article, Horsley Hills is the most likely place we might go to. Just a quick question, do we get booze there or do we have to carry our own stuff?

  6. smrti on May 13th, 2008 10:38 am

    Srinivas,

    I bet you will enjoy the place. And many people come there FOR booze! Because there isn’t too many things you can do.

    The resort has a bar of its own, but you will have to pay tax and other things for each peg you take. Economically wise thing is to carry your own stuff, but beware there is a check post where you cross the border. And they DO check vehicles - for bombs or for bottles, I don’t know. If you can manage that part, fine.

  7. redthil on May 15th, 2008 6:50 pm

    hi smrti…

    first, thanks for all these valuable info.. And just wanted to know , will it be fine to go there at this May end / June first week????

    eagerly awaiting 4 ur reply..
    redthil.c.

  8. smrti on May 15th, 2008 10:36 pm

    redthil,

    Horsley Hills usually has pleasant weather throughout the year. I have gone there during winter and summer. You enjoy summer more, because it will be a cool break from what you otherwise experience. May-June should still be summer over there. Please call up and check with the resort if they have rooms. APTDC website has details. I can mail you more details if you want.

  9. Raj on June 9th, 2008 3:10 pm

    Hi smrti,

    I am planning to go to Horsely this weekend. I am from Bangalore and my friends would be joining me from Chennai. So I need to meet them at some point on the way. would be really helpful if you can let me know if there are any bus from Bangalore to say Chitoor or Madanapalli and how long will it take from Bangalore.
    Hope to get a reply from you.
    Thanks
    Raj

  10. smrti on June 10th, 2008 8:56 am

    Raj,
    There are buses to Madanapalli almost every 1/2 hour from Majestic. You can try both KSRTC or APSRTC buses. It is close to 3 1/2 hrs from Bangalore to Madanapalli. Goes via K R Puram -Hoskote – Chintamani – Madanapalle.

    The catch is that there arent many frequent buses from Madanapalli to Horsley Hills. If you are planning to take bus, you have to reach there before 8.00 or 8.30 in the morning. After that there is bus only in the evening. You can call up the busstation, if you can find the number from any directory, and find out exact timings. Or else you can bargain with any autos or taxies depending upon your team size.

    If you are a big team, also try to book rooms in the resort in the Hills from Bangalore before leaving.

    Ask me if you need more information.

  11. Raghuveer on June 18th, 2008 5:11 pm

    Smrti,
    Thanks a bunch,Your post has been really informative and the pics attractive.I along with 3 friends of mine chose horsely hills as our holiday spot.This post made it all the more interesting.we’ll be leaving from hyderabad soon.Any tips to make our tour all the more enjoyable?
    Waiting in anticipation.
    Raghuveer

  12. RAJ on June 19th, 2008 7:49 am

    Hi smrti,
    your pics are really awesome we are palanning to have trip to horsley hills in couple of weeks could you please suggest us what all are required what all are the places we should visit so that we can enjoy the trip to the fullest waiting for ur reply
    Hope i get a reply byeeeeeeee……..

  13. smrti on June 19th, 2008 9:22 am

    Raghuveer,
    I think it is a pretty long journey from Hyderabad! But you can relax and refresh in Horsley Hills. One tip - If you are good at Telugu, make use of it. The staff over there are more comfortable in that. Enjoy!

  14. smrti on June 19th, 2008 9:32 am

    Raj,

    The photos are courtesy my fellow travellers!
    And there are no ‘places to visit’ idea in Horsley Hills. Just relax and enjoy the weather. There is a forest guesthouse with a small zoo, or else you can get into the forest if you like that idea, you can drop by for some terracota stuff for home or gifts on your way….things like that. Tell me if you find more things over there.

  15. RAJ on June 20th, 2008 6:57 am

    ohhhhh……. sure smrti thanku for info anywayz keep smiling and travelling byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

  16. Trekking Places near Hyderabad « keep a nagging line on July 30th, 2008 12:33 pm

    [...] Picture courtesy: smrti.net/archives/105 [...]

  17. Abrar on August 26th, 2008 9:02 pm

    Hi Smrti,

    Thanks for your wonderful and informative post. I am planning to take my family (and few other cousins) to Horsley hills this weekend and was not very clear about the cost of accomodation. You have mentioned that a cottage cost Rs.600 per day. Is that correct? Also, how many rooms does each cottage have/how many people can stay in each cottage? Ours is a family of 7 members. Thanks for your suggestions and advice.

  18. Yousuf on August 27th, 2008 12:21 pm

    hello smrti,

    I have been planning for a month now to get the group ready for the trip to Horsley Hills…and now the phone number mentioned in the APTDC site is not correct….please share the contact number so i can book the room from Chennai…you can email me the no.

    thanks a bunch!
    yousuf

  19. smrti on August 31st, 2008 11:23 am

    Yousuf,

    We used the number in the APTDC website and it worked at that time. I dont know any other number for the resort there.

    But you can book the cottage/room from any APTDC centres in Chennai and I am sure there is a centre in Chennai. I have once booked and paid money at a centre in Bangalore for Horsley cottages. Try that.

  20. smrti on August 31st, 2008 11:39 am

    Abrar,
    Sorry, I read your comment only now. You might have already gone to HH this weekend.

    A single cottage has a bedroom, small dressing room, toilet and a small room that can be considered a living room. A double cottage has an additional bedroom, living room and bathroom with a small verandah outside. For 7 members, you can consider the double cottage and ask for additional beds, if nedded. I can perhaps e-mail you their brochure.

  21. Dr.Jayanta Lahiri on September 4th, 2008 11:50 pm

    We are from West Bengal and plan to visit Horsley Hills within a fortnight. How should we move from Vizag to reach HH. Can you please Email their brochure at the earliest. Thanks and best wishes.

  22. Yousuf on September 9th, 2008 12:08 am

    smrti…. :))

    finally i went to Horsley hills last week….its was a plesant experience…. the lunch/dinner in the aptdc was not to the expected leve….and not much of site seeing places around…..but we all bunch of lazy ppl were hanging around ;)

    thanks a bunch smrti…

    cheers!
    Yousuf

  23. Yousuf on September 9th, 2008 12:09 am

    well..i also spoke to the forest department guest house…and its cheaper than aptdc rooms…. :)

  24. smrti on September 9th, 2008 8:19 am

    Thanks Yousuf for sharing your experience.

    Yes, the Forest department guesthouses are more economical. But as far as I know, you need to show somebody’s signature and letter for that.

    Glad to know that you enjoyed the laziness of the place.

  25. naveen on September 15th, 2008 12:58 pm

    kekaaaa excelent super kummesavu

  26. sagar on September 15th, 2008 12:58 pm

    swargam

  27. swapna on September 24th, 2008 11:03 am

    i want good stay in madanapally anybody give details

  28. joseph on October 3rd, 2008 10:36 am

    Horsley hills is a wonderful place and when
    you go you should definatly not miss the food of Devadas which is excellent!!!

  29. Srini on October 12th, 2008 10:56 pm

    How far is HHiils from Hyderabad. Can we Travel by car ?? with family and Kids

  30. Smrti on October 19th, 2008 8:38 pm

    Srini,

    It is quite far from Hyderabad. It is much closer to Bangalore, so you can imagine. Almost a full night drive, if I am not mistaken.

  31. sonu on December 11th, 2008 11:36 pm

    Hi Smrti

    We are 10 in a group and Looking for A good Hill Station for just 2 or 3 nights and we are very party freak and Lively People in the group !!! what do you say ???? and we r looking to go by 24th Dec

  32. naga prathap on December 14th, 2008 9:52 pm

    hyderabad people you can make night journey by bus, private travels are there to madanapalle, form hyd to madanapalle and from madanapalle to horsely hills it is very near….ya myself..i’m big lover of madanapalle and my native is madanapalle…!

  33. Vijayakumar on December 24th, 2008 10:06 pm

    thanks a lot for the detailed description. i am planning to go there from chennai this weekend and your review comments and fotos were very good and informative.

  34. radhika on January 13th, 2009 5:00 pm

    hi,

    your pics and the description makes the place sound really good. im thinking of visiting it this 16th jan…im from bombay coming to blr. can you give me details on the number for reservations of hotel (the governor’s bungalow or some nice cottage in the forest). id really appreciate it!!

  35. Nischala on February 9th, 2009 4:07 pm

    Hi Smrti,

    Are there decent hotels to stay in Madanapalli. I not keen on Horsley Hills.
    This is related to the pottery culture at Madanapalli.
    Pls let me know about this.

    Thanks
    Nischala

  36. NAGARAJA.B.A on March 6th, 2009 10:34 pm

    Is it cool, if I visit next week, plz send me the address where I can book cottege form bangalore.

  37. Pavan on March 9th, 2009 5:58 pm

    Hi, Smrti,

    i am planning to go, searching on google, i found ur address, good pics and descp..

    Mail me about the horsely, iam planning on 13th of mar 2009

  38. satishgupta on March 26th, 2009 1:16 am

    I want to go horsely hills from hydera bad i want some hotels information and etc if you have adress let me know by email

  39. Jagdish on April 13th, 2009 9:49 pm

    Hi…excellent details. looks really attractive and welcoming. do you think May 1st weekend we would see the same atmosphere as you described above..will it be really cool? I went to Yelagiri hills enroute to chennai during last week of march this year and didn’t find it cool

  40. Ravipprasad on April 15th, 2009 1:48 pm

    APTDC is charging 6K for two from hyd. Which includes pick up and drop from Tirupati. And they say stay will be in Harita Horsley Hill resort which they quote as 1750/ night. Which resort you are talking about? Please gimme more details.

  41. vani on April 19th, 2009 12:19 pm

    hai
    I am from visakhapartnam. our family of four planning to go to tirupathi and Horsley Hills in may end. our children are at the age of 16 and 12. do we enjoy there.can u suggest good route from tirupathi.and also phone no. for booking accomodation. please e mail me. thank u.
    vani

  42. sanjeevulu.A on May 10th, 2009 9:47 pm

    hello smrithi ji

    thanks alot, very useful information and also beautyful fotos.

  43. Bhushavali on May 26th, 2009 7:22 am

    Hi Smriti,

    Great website. Loved it. Just planning and waiting to go to Horsley Hills.
    And check out my blog when time permits flutteringandwandering.blogspot.com. Take care. Bye.

  44. Srinivasan on June 1st, 2009 2:01 pm

    Hi,

    I planned to visit by this month after 20th as a group of more than 10members, pls tell me some cottage or hotels which should be in the budjet.

  45. Feroz Khan on August 3rd, 2009 2:46 pm

    Hi Smrti,

    I went to Horsely Hills this weekend. it was a please experiance and we all friends had a great time during the trip.

  46. saleem on August 3rd, 2009 3:33 pm

    Hi Smriti,

    After reading your blog we all friend decided to go and had been to Horsely Hills last weeknd.

  47. Rajesh on August 15th, 2009 1:02 am

    Hi

    we are planning to go horsly hills on 27 aug to 29 but we are getting rooms in aptdc. pls any body help me, can some one give phone numbers of any privat guest house or any other details so that i can get rooms.

    Thanks & Regards
    Raj

  48. Smrti on August 15th, 2009 11:59 am

    Hello Raj,

    There is nothing other than this APTDC resort, a BSNL office and forest department office in Horsley hills. That is the beauty of the place.

    The APTDC resort is pretty good. Why are you insisiting on private guest house?

  49. samba on August 16th, 2009 1:43 pm

    @ raj

    Apart from APTDC resort der s one boarding hotel named HOLIDAY HOMES….i jus had a trip 2 horsley hills 2 dazz back…de rooms r decent nd dey mak gud food depending on yewr orders….v buked a dormitory fo 9…t was more than a luk of dormitory ….i assure yew tat yew wld get rooms f yew go during de weekdays, so need of bukin…bt difficult durin de weekends…

    NOTE = ITS RAINY SEASON NOW >>CLIMATE WAS AWESOME!!!

  50. samba on August 16th, 2009 1:48 pm

    @ RAJ nd SRINIVASAN

    DE RATES ARE AFFORDABLE>>>>V PAID 1.5K fo a day !!!!

  51. Shiv on August 24th, 2009 10:19 pm

    Hi Smrti,

    We are a team of about 80 members (24 from Bangalore) and (56 from Chennai), planning to have a joint CORPORATE outing. You could consider this to be a team-building / get-to-know kind of activity. The idea is to find a mid-point w.r.t travel and have a good time. I have no idea w.r.t Madanapalle / Chittoor. I found a resort “Bans The Hotel”. Do you have any knowledge of how good this resort is? Any inputs in this direction would be of great help. Awaiting your response,

    Regards,
    Shiv

  52. sandrar on September 10th, 2009 8:08 pm

    Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

  53. roopesh on September 21st, 2009 2:59 pm

    Hi quite interesting about the comments. inspired about it… Well is there any contact no at that place so tat v can push ourselves systematically..

  54. priyamaalini on September 24th, 2009 4:43 pm

    very useful post, thanks a lot

  55. Bhushavali on October 14th, 2009 6:53 pm

    Hey Smrti,
    I went to Horsley and luuuurrved the place completely. Do check out my blog link My Travelogue - Horsley Hills

  56. Coutant Jean-Pierre on October 25th, 2009 3:14 pm

    Hi,
    We are french people. Travelling in India soon.We think Horsley hills a good place for us , because we are interesting by Rishi Valley.
    Are booking very easy at resort ?
    Thank you for help ! Sorry but my english is short.
    Merci beaucoup !

  57. vinnu on December 16th, 2009 9:47 pm

    ur photos r excellent and can u give me details about the distances

  58. kiran on December 26th, 2009 11:21 pm

    hi guys,

    i am planning for a visit to horsley hills next week…..heard that there is only 1 bus in morning at 8:00 am and one in evening ,but say if i want to take a auto/taxi from madanapalli to horsley hills , how much on average it will cost ? any idea?

    regards,
    Kiran

  59. smrti on January 12th, 2010 9:38 pm

    Yes, Kiran. You are right.
    There is only morning and evening trips for the bus. We met a very good station master in APSRTC bus stand. He arranged an auto Autorikshaw. IIf I remember right, 2 years ago it costed us Rs. 150.

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