Yercaud is a quaint little hill station located in on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats in Salem District of Tamilnadu state. This picturesque hill station is situated at an altitude of 1515 metres above sea level and has a pleasant weather which never rises above 29 °C or falls below 13 °C.
This place is also called poor man’s Ooty because it is much less expensive than the famous hill station Ooty. The term yeri in Tamil means lake and Kaadu means forest. Yercaud has a lake located at its centre. This charming hill station is nestled among the enchanting coffee plantations and densely forested slopes. The thickly wooded hills offer some of the best trekking routes. Yercaud is known for its coffee plantations and orange groves. The place has bounty of beautiful and exotic flowers. The dense forests are rich in trees like teak, sandal wood and silver oaks. Wildlife here includes bison, deer, rabbits, hares, foxes, mongoose, squirrels, partridges, snakes. It is also home to many species of birds like bulbuls, kites, sparrows, swallows etc.
Yercaud’s natural charm, scenic beauties and panoramic views coupled with a moderate temperature all year round attracts many tourists. Though it is a year round destination, the ideal time to visit Yercaud is from October to June.
Top Tourist Places to Visit in Yercaud
There are many local attractions in Yercaud.
Big Lake
The main attraction of Yercaud is the Big Lake. It is a picturesque natural lake surrounded by hills and a garden. Boating facility is available here. There is a floating fountain in the lake. Deer Park and Leisure Park are located adjacent to this lake.
Botanical Garden
This botanical garden is a paradise for nature lovers and houses an orchidarium and the green house. The National Orchidarium houses a wide variety of rare and indigenous species of orchids. This is ranked as the third largest of all the orchidarium in India.
Shevaroy temple
This temple is situated on top of the Shevaroy hills. This is the highest point in Yercaud at 5.326 ft. above sea level. Shevaroy temple is dedicated to local deity Servaran. Locals celebrate the annual festival in the May with great grandeur every year. The view of the mountains and plains around the temple is spectacular.
Killiyur Falls
Killiyur Falls is located at a distance of 3 km from the Yercaud Lake. It is a beautiful waterfall where the water from Yercaud Lake along with the water from Shevaroy Hills falls down from a height of 300 ft. into the killiyur valley.
Lady's Seat
Lady's Seat is a rock in the form of a seat overlooking the ghat road and Salem road. It is believed that English ladies used to spend their evening here enjoying the panoramic view. There is a viewing tower here with a telescope to see the spectacular view. There are Gent's Seat and Children's Seat on the right of the Lady’s seat, which are also rocks in the form of a seat.
Pagoda Point
Pagoda point is a vantage view point located on the eastern part of Yercaud hills. Pyramid point as it is also called has four piles of stones arranged in the shape of a pyramid believed to be built by the local tribes. You can find a Rama temple between the stones piles. One can enjoy a beautiful view of the Salem town and a small village called Kakambadi from here.
Bear’s Cave
It is situated within a private coffee estate near the Norton Bungalow. This cave was considered to be home for bears in the earlier days. There is a temple close to the Bear’s Cave which is believed to be one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga.
Other places of tourist’s interest are The Grange, Fairholme Bungalow, Heaven's Ledge, Silk Farm and Rose Garden etc. Besides this a Summer Festival is held in the middle of May months. During this time kids fancy flower shows, dog shows, boating races etc. are organised.
How to Reach Yercaud
Nearest airport to Yercaud is Trichy International Airport which is 163 km from the destination. The other major airports nearby Yercaud are Coimbatore and Bangalore. The nearest railway station is in Salem which is 38 km away. Yercaud is well connected to major cities in Tamilnadu through TamilNadu Road Transport Corporation buses. Deluxe luxurious bus services are also available from all major cities. Regular bus services are available from Salem to Yercaud.
Accommodation
Many accommodation options are available suitable for different budgets. Tourists can choose from luxury hotels and resorts to homestays and budget hotels in Yeracud.