The destination was decided, the people were decided and a time of 5am was also decided. However when I got up at 7am, the people weren't there and the alarm didnt buzz. Suddenly I realize that if I get out of my bed am gona make my first solo ride. Got up in a jiffy and left for Horsley Hills by 8am.
I dint know much about the route and the destination. However with the help of the locals and the sign boards I hoped to reach Horsley Hills. The roads till Hoskote were quite bad as there were a number of flyovers that were under construction. At Hoskote I took a deviation towards the left and headed to Chintamani, a small town on the way. From Hoskote, the roads were decent enough despite being single lanes. I crossed Chintamani and had my first tea break at a small tea shop. I asked the shop keeper for directions and he guided me well. He also gave a remark that there is hardly anything to see in Horsley hills. I told him that I just wanted to enjoy the ride. His next question was why I had come all alone and where my friends were. However I just replied that with a smile and headed for Madanapalle, which is another small town enroute Horsley hills. I passed by many villages, paddy fields, bullock carts, beautiful trees, red soil, curious on-lookers and enjoyed my first solo ride. Bliss...!!
After crossing the Andhra border near Rayalpadu, I never had to ask anyone for the directions, as the AP tourism boards were displayed very frequently with the directions and the distance to Horsley hills. There were a lot of turnings and deviations that had to be taken and I almost missed a couple of them. At the base of the hills, a huge gate welcomed me. I was in for a disappointment as there were only a couple of hair-pin bends. However, the roads were quite winding and the views got better as I went higher. At one view point on the way you can see another hill which is known as Gurram Konda. The solo ride became all the more lonely as I didnt see any vehicle on the way till I reached the top.
At the top of the hills, there is a resort run by the AP tourism dept. I went around the resort and found that infact there is nothing much other than the resort and a children's park. Towards the left of the resort is a huge slopping rocky area from where you get wonderful views of the hills nearby and the valleys below. This place is known as Gali Bandalu in Telugu. Its a nice place where you can enjoy the surrounding scenery and the lovely winds. After a couple of photoshoots and a nice lunch at the resort, I started my return journey.
I stopped at the same tea shop for a break while returning. This time the shop keeper just offered me tea and did not ask anything. It started getting cloudy after Chintamani and I ripped to make sure that I dont get drenched. However the rain Gods werent that kind enough and it started drizzling after Hoskote. A lovely ride to the hills came to an end with a beautiful shower.
Horsley hills is nice little hill station, where you can head to if you have a day in hand and are tired of the more famous and frequently visited places. It can well be defined as an off beat destination from Bengaluru.
Signing Note: Destinations are not the only reason for travel because sometimes the ride to the same also becomes equally significant.
Route: Bengaluru- Hoskote- Chintamani- Madanapalle- Horsley Hills
Distance- 165kms.
Lucky you, you can ride off whenever you feel like. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat read of this trip.
I haven't been here yet.
Thanks Indrani. I feel all should just take off once in a while and go explore the less trodden places.
DeleteWay to ride!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, a blissful one. :)
Deletegood account...I have been trying to go there for some time...
ReplyDeleteThank you. Head there soon.
DeleteAnd thus the first solo trip happened, eh! Didn't meet your friends at the destination?
ReplyDeleteThat was nice reading.
Thanks Nambiar. Yeah, a good start to my solo rides. Neither did I meet friends nor did I see many people there.
DeleteThe fact that there is absolutely nothing to do has stopped me from going there all these years. Maybe someday when I have absolutely nothing to do, I might think of it...
ReplyDeleteSometimes 'nothing to do' should be the reason to visit a place.
DeleteI always believe that destination is important but its the journey which is meant to be enjoyed and that's the reason (apart from fare :)) that I don't take flights for places where I can go by bus/train . I have heard about this place from my mother as she went there as a part of her NCC programme way back in 1960s..... Glad to know that you can go away as simple as that....stay the same. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Glad you liked it. Head there soon,
Delete