Horsley Hills
Encyclopedia
Horsley Hills , elevation 1,769 m, is a famous summer hill resort in Andhra Pradesh
, about 160 km from Bangalore, India and 144 km from Tirupathi
. Madanapalle
is the closest town near the hills. The major tourist attractions here include the Mallamma temple and the Rishi Valley School
. Horsely Hills is the departure point for the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary
located 87 km away.
Horsley Hills is named after a British
officer named W.D. Horsley, the Collector of Cuddapah district. He visited this place around 1840-43 and was impressed by the beauty of the hills and chose this spot for his summer residence. Now the Governor of Andhra Pradesh
uses this house as a summer residence and hence this house is called the Governors bungalow.
, jacaranda
, allamanda
and gulmohar trees.
The major tourist places around Horsely hills are Lake Gangotri, Highview seeing place, Gaalibanda, Environmental park and the Horsley Hills Museum.
Horsley Hills is also one of the few places to offer Zorbing
in India. Other adventure sports conducted are Rapelling and Trekking.
The Environmental park known as EEC centre was built with the help of a hydrogeologist and environmentalist from Hyderabad named Balijepalli Venkata Subba Rao, Director of the Centre For Resource Education. He spent the early years of his career in building EEC centres all over Andhra Pradesh trying to educate the common man about the importance of saving the environment and encouraging Eco Tourism.
Mr. B.V. Subba Rao in association with the State Forest Department, Andhra Pradesh, developed 8 Environment Education Centers in different Wildlife Sanctuaries. [1986 – 92]:
Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve [located at Srisailam, Nallamala forests 200 km south east of Hyderabad]
Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary [located 120 km west of Hyderabad , unfortunately this interpretation centre was blasted by extremists after the inauguration]
Urban Environment Education Center (at Harinia Vanasthali, or Deer Park, located 25 km east of Hyderabad on the Hyderabad – Vijayawada
highway)
Jennaram Wildlife Sanctuary [located 350 km north of Hyderabad in Adilabad District]
Nelapattu Sanctuary – fresh water eco system offers habitation for more than 5000 migratory Grey Pelicans. Located 400 km east of Hyderabad, on the Hyderabad – Chennai
highway in Nellore
district.
Pulicat Lake
Sanctuary – is a shallow brackish water zone; it offers habitation to more than 6000 migratory pelicans.
Nature Study Centre – located near Madanapalle at Horsley Hills in Chittoor District
, at a distance of 450 km south of Hyderabad on the Hyderabad – Chittoor
road.
Grassland Eco- System – Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary – located 275 km south of Hyderabad.
Participation at World Conferences :
Fourth Session of the Preparation Committee for United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at New York, 2 March - 2 April 1992.
Attended UN Conference, popularly known as Earth Summit, 3-14 July 1992.
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Palmaner
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, about 160 km from Bangalore, India and 144 km from Tirupathi
Tirumala - Tirupati
Tirupati is a major pilgrimage city located in the Chittoor district and seventh biggest city of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats at a distance of south of Hyderabad, the capital of the state, east of Bangalore, and north of Chennai.Tirupati is famous...
. Madanapalle
Madanapalle
Madanapalle , is a town and a Municipality located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state, India - population 107,512 . Legend has it that the name of the town was originally " Maryaada raamanna puram" which has over time, changed into " Madanapalle".It is one of the biggest Revenue...
is the closest town near the hills. The major tourist attractions here include the Mallamma temple and the Rishi Valley School
Rishi Valley School
Rishi Valley School is a boarding school in India, founded by the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. It is located close to the town of Madanapalle, Krishnamurti's birthplace, in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Rishi Valley is a three hour drive from the city of Bangalore.- Founder's...
. Horsely Hills is the departure point for the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary
Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is about 60 kilometers from Chittoor and about 30 kilometers from the city of Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka. It starts in the forest near Palamaner and the area is also known as Mogili Ghat...
located 87 km away.
History
The old name of Horsley Hills was Yenugu Mallamma Konda. According to legend, there used to be a little girl named Mallamma who was taken care of by Elephants. She used to heal the tribal people on the hills. When she disappeared suddenly, people thought that she was a goddess and built a temple for her.Horsley Hills is named after a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
officer named W.D. Horsley, the Collector of Cuddapah district. He visited this place around 1840-43 and was impressed by the beauty of the hills and chose this spot for his summer residence. Now the Governor of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
uses this house as a summer residence and hence this house is called the Governors bungalow.
Tourist Attractions
The narrow road to Horsely Hills is very scenic. It is surrounded throughout its entire length with dense growths of eucalyptusEucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
, jacaranda
Jacaranda
Jacaranda is a genus of 49 species of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of South America , Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is also found in Asia, especially in Nepal...
, allamanda
Allamanda
Allamanda, also known as Yellow Bell, Golden Trumpet or Buttercup Flower, is a genus of tropical shrubs or vines belonging to the dogbane family .The genus Alamanda is native to South and Central America...
and gulmohar trees.
The major tourist places around Horsely hills are Lake Gangotri, Highview seeing place, Gaalibanda, Environmental park and the Horsley Hills Museum.
Horsley Hills is also one of the few places to offer Zorbing
Zorbing
Zorbing is the recreation of rolling downhill in an orb, generally made of transparent plastic. Zorbing is generally performed on a gentle slope, but can also be done on a level surface, permitting more rider control. In the absence of hills some operators have constructed inflatable, wooden or...
in India. Other adventure sports conducted are Rapelling and Trekking.
The Environmental park known as EEC centre was built with the help of a hydrogeologist and environmentalist from Hyderabad named Balijepalli Venkata Subba Rao, Director of the Centre For Resource Education. He spent the early years of his career in building EEC centres all over Andhra Pradesh trying to educate the common man about the importance of saving the environment and encouraging Eco Tourism.
Mr. B.V. Subba Rao in association with the State Forest Department, Andhra Pradesh, developed 8 Environment Education Centers in different Wildlife Sanctuaries. [1986 – 92]:
Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve [located at Srisailam, Nallamala forests 200 km south east of Hyderabad]
Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary [located 120 km west of Hyderabad , unfortunately this interpretation centre was blasted by extremists after the inauguration]
Urban Environment Education Center (at Harinia Vanasthali, or Deer Park, located 25 km east of Hyderabad on the Hyderabad – Vijayawada
Vijayawada
Vijayawada is the third largest city in Andhra Pradesh, India, located on the banks of the Krishna River and bounded by the Indrakiladri Hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city is located in the Krishna District, about from the state capital Hyderabad.Vijayawada literally...
highway)
Jennaram Wildlife Sanctuary [located 350 km north of Hyderabad in Adilabad District]
Nelapattu Sanctuary – fresh water eco system offers habitation for more than 5000 migratory Grey Pelicans. Located 400 km east of Hyderabad, on the Hyderabad – Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
highway in Nellore
Nellore
Nellore , is a city and headquarters of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore District, formerly Nellore district.And in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Ancient name of Nellore was "Vikrama Simhapuri"....
district.
Pulicat Lake
Pulicat Lake
Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish – water lake or lagoon in India. It straddles the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states on the Coromandal Coast in South India. The lake encompasses the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary...
Sanctuary – is a shallow brackish water zone; it offers habitation to more than 6000 migratory pelicans.
Nature Study Centre – located near Madanapalle at Horsley Hills in Chittoor District
Chittoor district
Chittoor District , also known as Chittur, is a district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. The district headquarters is Chittoor City. The district has a population of 4,170,468 according to 2011 census of India. Chittoor district is famous for the Tirupati, Kanipakam and Sri Kalahasti temples...
, at a distance of 450 km south of Hyderabad on the Hyderabad – Chittoor
Chittoor
Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a City and municipal corporation located in the Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is conveniently located on major highways linking the cities of Bangalore and Chennai....
road.
Grassland Eco- System – Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary – located 275 km south of Hyderabad.
Participation at World Conferences :
Fourth Session of the Preparation Committee for United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at New York, 2 March - 2 April 1992.
Attended UN Conference, popularly known as Earth Summit, 3-14 July 1992.
New places around HH
There is a famous Shiva temple about 15 km towards Madanapalle from Horsley Hills.Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Palmaner
Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary
Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is about 60 kilometers from Chittoor and about 30 kilometers from the city of Kolar Gold Fields in Karnataka. It starts in the forest near Palamaner and the area is also known as Mogili Ghat...