Annamayya Travel Guide: 8 Places to Visit, How to Reach & Best Time

Places to visit in Annamayya

8 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.

Hill stations and nature 1

Horsley Hills (Yenugu Mallamma Konda) Two sources

Highlight · Mandal: Madanapalle division (mandal to confirm) · about 27 km from Madanapalle

Andhra's best-known hill station, at about 1,265-1,290 m in the Eastern Ghats: wind-swept rocks, valley viewpoints, eucalyptus avenues and more than 133 bird species.

On the map · Directions ↗

Forts and heritage 3

Gurramkonda Fort Official source

Highlight · Mandal: Gurramkonda · about 40 km from Horsley Hills, between Madanapalle and Rayachoti

Hill fort with a lower fort, moat, gateway and a palace (Mahal), all ASI monuments of national importance; one of the oldest forts in the area.

On the map · Directions ↗
Chennakeswara Swamy Temple, Sompalle Two sources

Mandal: Chinnamandem (to confirm)

Vishnu temple protected as a Monument of National Importance (ASI list). History and visitor details to collect.

On the map · Directions ↗
Palliswara Mudaiya Madeya Temple, Kalakada Two sources

Mandal: Kalakada

Old Shiva temple on the ASI list of Monuments of National Importance. Visitor details to collect.

On the map · Directions ↗

Temples and pilgrimage 1

Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, Rayachoti Two sources

Highlight · Mandal: Rayachoti · Rayachoti town; Kadapa airport about 45 km

Temple of Veerabhadra on the Mandavya river, called Dakshina Kasi, where Daksha is shown worshipping the god. Festival dates to collect.

On the map · Directions ↗

History and culture 3

Besant Theosophical College, Madanapalle Two sources

Mandal: Madanapalle · Madanapalle town

College founded by Annie Besant in 1915 where Rabindranath Tagore, in 1919, translated Jana Gana Mana into English as The Morning Song of India and set it to notation. A working college: ask before entering.

On the map · Directions ↗
Gangamma Jatara, Madanapalle Two sources

Mandal: Madanapalle · Madanapalle town

Annual folk festival with street fairs, processions and folk dance (Wikipedia). Dates to confirm each year.

On the map · Directions ↗
Rishi Valley Two sources

Mandal: Madanapalle area (to confirm) · near Madanapalle

Valley home of the boarding school founded by J. Krishnamurti and run by the Krishnamurti Foundation India. A private campus, not a public attraction; visits only by arrangement.

On the map · Directions ↗

In depth: Horsley Hills (Yenugu Mallamma Konda)

Horsley Hills rises abruptly from the dry Rayalaseema plain, and the air on top is noticeably cooler than in Madanapalle below. It is small and slow: walk to Gali Bandalu, where the wind never seems to drop, watch the valley from the viewpoint behind the Governor's Bungalow, and look for the endemic yellow-throated bulbul in the scrub. Stay overnight; sunrise and sunset are the reason to come.

At a glance

Type: Hill station in the Eastern Ghats Two sources
Altitude: About 1,265-1,290 m (Wikipedia); 4,152 ft, about 1,265 m (CPREEC) Two sources
Where: Madanapalle taluk, Annamayya district Two sources
Distance: About 27 km from Madanapalle (Wikipedia: Madanapalle); Madanapalle Road station about 26 km (Film Facilitation Office) Two sources
Climate: About 15-30 °C (Wikipedia); 20-30 °C (Film Facilitation Office) Two sources
Known for: Gali Bandalu wind rocks, valley viewpoints, the Kalyani eucalyptus, birds Two sources
Time needed: One night; two to see the viewpoints at dawn and dusk

History and significance

Old name: Yenugu Mallamma Konda, after a legend of Mallamma, a holy woman on the hilltop fed or protected by elephants; locals later built her a temple (Wikipedia; CPREEC). Two sources
Horsley: Named after W.D. Horsley, a British Collector of Cuddapah, who built a summer home here around 1870 (Wikipedia; CPREEC). Two sources
People: Yanadi and Chenchu communities lived here before the hill station, rearing Punganur cattle (Wikipedia). Two sources
Today: Run by the Horsley Hills Township committee chaired by the Madanapalle sub-collector (Wikipedia). Two sources

What to see

Gali Bandalu (Wind Rocks): Rocky slope about 300 m from the bus stand; strong wind year-round.
View Point: Behind the Governor's Bungalow, over the valley and forest.
Kalyani: Eucalyptus planted in Horsley's time; Wikipedia gives about 40 m tall and 4.7 m round, CPREEC about 35 m.
Environmental Park: Park for environmental education and eco-tourism (CPREEC).
Mallamma temple: Temple to the hill's legendary protector (CPREEC).
Birdwatching: More than 133 species recorded, including the endemic yellow-throated bulbul and the black eagle.

Visiting

Entry: No entry fee or gate timings published. Confirm on the field visit. Not yet verified
Accommodation: Small hotels and an APTDC resort (to confirm); book ahead for weekends and holidays. Not yet verified
Local transport: Jeeps run by local drivers (Wikipedia); fares to collect. Two sources
Network: Mobile coverage on the hill to confirm. Not yet verified
Food: Limited; eat in Madanapalle or at the resort.

Festivals

Festivals: No festival specific to Horsley Hills was found in official sources; Gangamma Jatara is held in Madanapalle below. Two sources

Visitor guidelines

Keep back from cliff edges at Gali Bandalu; gusts are strong.
Drive the ghat road in daylight; it has hairpin bends.
Do not feed monkeys or wildlife.
Carry a jacket from November to February; evenings are cool.
Take litter back down; the hill has a fragile forest.

How to reach Horsley Hills (Yenugu Mallamma Konda)

By road: From Madanapalle about 27 km; from Bengaluru via NH-44 and Madanapalle (distance to confirm). Two sources
By train: Madanapalle Road (MPL), on the Dharmavaram-Pakala line, about 26 km. Two sources
By air: Bengaluru (BLR) about 134 km (Film Facilitation Office); Tirupati (TIR) and Kadapa (CDP) also usable. Two sources

Month by month

Month	Temp °C	Sunrise	Sunset	Verdict
Jan	IMD normals to add	06:43	18:07	Best: cool, dry
Feb	IMD normals to add	06:40	18:21	Best
Mar	IMD normals to add	06:25	18:27	Warming
Apr	IMD normals to add	06:04	18:29	Warm on top, very hot below
May	IMD normals to add	05:50	18:35	Hottest; still cooler than plains
Jun	IMD normals to add	05:49	18:44	Hot, windy
Jul	IMD normals to add	05:56	18:48	Warm; light rain
Aug	IMD normals to add	06:03	18:39	Warm; light rain
Sep	IMD normals to add	06:05	18:19	Rain
Oct	IMD normals to add	06:07	17:58	Rain; green
Nov	IMD normals to add	06:16	17:46	Good
Dec	IMD normals to add	06:32	17:51	Best: cool, dry

Suggested plans

One night: Arrive by afternoon, Gali Bandalu for sunset, viewpoint and birds at dawn, down to Madanapalle.
Two days: Add Gurramkonda Fort and Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle.
Weekend from Bengaluru: Drive via Madanapalle; return via Gurramkonda.

How to reach Annamayya

By train: Madanapalle Road (MPL) on the Dharmavaram-Pakala line; Kadapa-Bengaluru line under construction at Rayachoti.
By air: Bengaluru (BLR) about 114 km from Madanapalle; Tirupati (TIR) about 128 km; Kadapa (CDP).
By road: NH-42 through Madanapalle; NH-40 through Rayachoti.
Headquarters: Madanapalle
Coast: Landlocked

Find trains, flights, buses and tours to Annamayya

Best time to visit Annamayya

Best time: October to February.
Climate: Dry Deccan plateau; Horsley Hills stays about 15-30 °C.

Dates to plan around in Andhra Pradesh

Pydithalli Sirimanotsavam — Vizianagaram: Tue 27 Oct 2026, 3-5 PM (Deccan Chronicle)
Papikondalu boats — Polavaram: running again since 12 Oct 2026; season to Sankranti
Maredumilli Tourism Festival — Polavaram: 12-15 Dec 2026 (Incredible India)
Sambara Polamamba Jatara — Parvathipuram Manyam: January 2027, dates to confirm
Godavari Pushkaralu — Rajamahendravaram: 26 Jun-7 Jul 2027 (PTI)

Where to stay in Annamayya

Haritha Hill Resort, Horsley Hills (APTDC) Not yet verified

Horsley Hills

APTDC resort on the hill; rooms, tariff and contact to confirm on aptdc.gov.in.

Official website ↗

Quick answers about Annamayya

What is Annamayya known for?

Rayalaseema hill country: Horsley Hills above the plains, the forts of Gurramkonda and the town where Tagore translated the national anthem.

What is the one place not to miss in Annamayya?

Horsley Hills (Yenugu Mallamma Konda). Andhra's best-known hill station, at about 1,265-1,290 m in the Eastern Ghats: wind-swept rocks, valley viewpoints, eucalyptus avenues and more than 133 bird species.

Which is the nearest railway station to Annamayya?

Madanapalle Road (MPL) on the Dharmavaram-Pakala line; Kadapa-Bengaluru line under construction at Rayachoti.

Which is the nearest airport to Annamayya?

Bengaluru (BLR) about 114 km from Madanapalle; Tirupati (TIR) about 128 km; Kadapa (CDP).

When is the best time to visit Annamayya?

October to February.

How many places are there to visit in Annamayya?

Our guide lists 8 places in Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, across hill stations and nature, forts and heritage, temples and pilgrimage, history and culture.

Annamayya travel guide