The Scenic Drive to Thally: Exploring "Little England", Rolling Hills, and Border Lakes

Why British Surveyors Named It "Little England"

Just across the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, merely 18 kilometers south of Mango Mist Resorts, lies the charming plateau town of Thally. During the 19th-century British colonial era, British administrative surveyors were so struck by the region’s perpetual cool microclimate, rolling green hills, morning mists, and year-round mild temperatures that they officially dubbed it "Little England".

Today, the drive from Harapanahalli through Anekal into Thally remains one of the most idyllic, traffic-free countryside motoring routes in the southern Bengaluru region.

Scenic Highlights Along the Thally Circuit

Key stops to make along your scenic morning or late-afternoon drive:

• ·Commercial Rose & Gerbera Nurseries: Thally is a major floricultural center exporting millions of Dutch roses and carnations worldwide. Poly-house farms line the rural roads with vibrant bursts of color.
• ·Thally Lake & Dam: A peaceful freshwater reservoir surrounded by granite hillocks where local fishermen paddle coracles in the tranquil morning light.
• ·Winding Countryside Lanes: Smooth, empty asphalt roads curving through eucalyptus groves, tamarind tree canopies, and traditional dairy villages.
• ·Kallugopahalli Viewpoint: An elevated rocky hill offering 360-degree vistas of the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border valley.

The Perfect Weekend Driving Itinerary

Depart Mango Mist Resorts at 7:30 AM after a quick coffee, drive 35 minutes through the misty country lanes to Thally Lake, admire the morning reflection, visit a local flower nursery, and return to the resort by 9:00 AM just in time for our grand hot breakfast buffet!