Yercaud, Tamil Nadu

This is a compilation of things to do in Yercaud

The route - Bangalore - Electronic City - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmagiri - Salem - Yercaud (222kms).

En-route - Just before the road begins to climb up the mountains to Yercaud, do look out for an interesting group of brightly coloured idols to the left of the road. These guardian deities, found only in Tamil Nadu, are worshipped as protectors of villages and are often known as Aiyanars. On the way up the winding hill road with its 20 hairpin bends, stop at a thatched wayside stall selling 'Fresh Garden Produce': packets of cloves and pepper. Then come the coffee plantations before entering cottage-dotted Yercaud.

Sky Roca - is where the lush, verdant delights of nature surround you, where exemplary service and modern comforts are at your beck & call. Hotel Sky Roca is situated on Salem – Yercaud main road at 3 km before Yercaud town. The hotel has 23 rooms with spectacular view of the valley, impeccable privacy and the most modern in-room amenities like Flat Screen Plasma televisions, DVD players, in-room Coffee makers, mini-bars, shower cubicles, etc. Uncle Sam"s Restaurant serves multi-cuisine, there is a mock tail bar and barbeque lawns. There are conference and banquet facilities. Sunset from Sky Roca. Uncle Sam's Kitchen.

From The Hindu newspaper: Buildings that seamlessly blend the old and the new, clouds that glide past, your own terrace lawn, and birds that sing to you from the stately silver oaks around the coffee plantations below – The Sky Roca, has all these, and some more.

The best part is the location. It is so near Yercaud, (altitude 1,500 MSL), but not fully there. So, it happily lacks the hustle and bustle that tourists bring to a hill station. The resort, developed by the Sekar Coffee family, is set amid 60 acres of coffee plantations and silver oak in the Shevaroy hills.

Care has been taken to not fell a single tree while building the resort. So, the rooms are at different levels. Antique carved iron and wood chairs from Karaikudi grace the common sitting areas, while the interiors are tasteful with a lot of wood and glass. Tribal paintings hang in every room, and the bathrooms are very fancy, with a Jacuzzi and shower jet cubicle.

Every room has been built to provide a great view of the still unspoilt hills, and the plains below. So, at night, one gets a breathtaking view of the dancing lights in Salem, on the foothills. A wonderful surprise is a section of glass flooring in some rooms that allows you to look down into the valley below.

Best of all, each room opens out into a private lawn, lush with grass. Benches have been put up on either side, and bamboo screens separate the terraces. Perfect for an intimate party with friends.

On the way to the restaurant is the Sky Walk bridge that spans the deep valley. Sheer glass sections underfoot let you know just how deep the valley is. And, the faint whisper of water greets you everywhere, thanks to the artificial cascades that thunder down in front of the suites, across three levels.

Places to see:
In Yercaud -

The Big Lake Or Emerald Lake: The first thing one sees as you enter the Yercaud town is this placid lake in a wonderful surrounding of hills and natural shoals. Also a beautifully landscaped garden on one bank. It has boating facility. This lake is the only natural lake among all the hill station lakes in the South. A floating fountain is constructed by MALCO, at the center of the lake. The lake is surrounded by a "Deer Park" and " leisure park" and "Tamil Nadu Hotel". Boat services are available at reasonable rate [Rs. 75 /- for 2 seats and Rs. 95 /- for 4 seats ]. Self Pedaling [15 min] and Rowing boats [30 min] are available. You have to pay the same amount as caution deposit. The safety measures are followed strictly. The minimum time can be spent: 20 min.

Deer Park: Situated in the Lake. Suitable for Kids to playground. It will be closed by 5.00 p.m.

Kiliyur Waterfall: This is 3 km from the Yercaud Lake. The best time to visit this place is immediately after the monsoons. The surplus water from the Yercaud Lake and the other reaches of the Shevaroys Hills fall deep into the Kiliyur Valley in the form of a 300 feet waterfall. This delightfully breathtaking water falls is 3 km from the Yercaud Lake and should be visited after the South West or North East Monsoon. The views from the bottom and top of the falls are breathtaking. The view from the top of the falls into the Valley is heart stopping. The trek to the bottom of the falls is only for hardcore trekkers as it takes about one hour from the lake to reach the bottom of the falls which is heavily wooded, but a good 2½ hours to get ones breath and trek back again. 7 km from town.
NOTE: The road to the falls is very narrow and only one vehicle can pass at a time. It is advised not take a vehicle to the falls. If you do so, park it at the big platform after about 3 km. Beyond that the road is very narrow & steep and you cannot turn your vehicle back. The only way back down is to drive it in reverse gear on steep and winding slopes: that is life threatening.

Anna Park: The park is situated next to the Lake. It is typical park used to host the "Flower Show" in the month of May. The "Japanese Park" inside Anna Park is a must see. Children can play around and elders can take rest. The entrance ticket will be Rs. 2/- for adult and Rs 10 /- for Camera. The minimum time can be spent: 30 min for laymen.

The Natural shoal: seen around the Petrol Bunk, Round Tana and adjoining the Anna Park are about the oldest shoals of natural species of trees that one can see around the Shevaroys. Another shoal of this type can be seen adjoining the Orchidarium. In the interests of conservation this last stronghold of original trees should be preserved and replenished for the future.

To the North -
Arthur's Seat: This is a vantage point, which can be reached by taking a steep road going north from the center of the town, 1 km from town. It gives a bird's eye view of the Big Lake, Yercaud Town and the Shevaroyan Peak.

The Servarayan Temple: This temple is situated on top of Servarayan hill. The temple itself is a narrow and dark cave and seated inside are the god Servarayan and the goddess Kaveri representing the Shervaroy Hills and the Cauvery river. The local people believe that the god Servarayan is the guardian angel for the 67 villages in and around Yercaud. It is believed that the temple's cave is so deep it touches the Cauvery river. The local tribes celebrate their annual festival in this temple during May.

Bear's Cave: This is situated within a private coffee estate owned by a Mettur based business man. The main part of the cave is situated about 7 feet below the ground level and contains a deeper gorge which is believed by the local people to lead up to the cave situated in the Shervaroyan Temple.

To the South -
Lady's Seat: This is a cluster of rocks on the south west of the Yercaud hills overlooking the ghat road and the city of Salem to the south. There is a sheer drop of about 200 feet at this point into a private estate in the valley below. It has a telescope house with a panoramic view of distant Salem and the winding road up. On the right of Lady's Seat are Sterling Resorts, Gents Seat and Children's Seat. During the night, the Lady's Seat offers a spectacular view of the lights of Salem city. There is a natural rock formation in the form of a seat where reportedly a white English Lady of yester years spent her evenings viewing the magnificent panorama before ones eyes. There is a mini park and it is a breath taking spot for a picnic. 2 km from town.

Tipperary View Point: One can reach this southern most view point of Yercaud by taking the Tipperary Road. From there one can see the Elephant Tooth Rocks. Which are reportedly said to be the remanants of a meteorite which fell to earth. It is pure white rock compared to the Black Granite available on these hills. The Estate adjoining known as Tipperary Estate was once a posh hotel catering to the elite of British India from 1930 to 1940. The night view from this spot-with the lights of Salem in the distance is mesmerizing. 2 km from town.

White Elephant Tooth: One is located on the Southern Spur of the Shevaroys below the villages of Guntur and the other is located in the east overlooking the Ghat road, above the 60' bridge. The larger one next to Guntur has two rocks about 120' high and consists of pure white quartz, which is in stark contrast to the greenery around and the black of the granite available around. Easy to climb up but hard to climb down as the material is soft and crumbles beneath your feet. 9 km from town, it is a days trek up and down. Alternatively one can trek down to the plains and catch a bus to return to Yercaud. The Smaller one which can be reached on the short cut to the 60' bridge from Tipperary Estate is said to have seen some Gold Mining Activity. It can be reached in about 2 hours time and from there another 1 hour to the ghat road, from which one could catch a bus to Yercaud or Salem.

To the East -
Pagoda Point, also known as Pyramid Point: This is on the eastern side of the Yercaud hills. The name comes from four piles of random stones in a pagoda or pyramid formation, made by the hill tribes. Today there is a Rama temple situated between these pagodas. One can get a grand view of Attur and Ayothiapattinam from this picnic spot. 5 km from town.

And Misc -
Grange: This is one of the oldest buildings in Yercaud, built in the 1820s by M.D. Cockburn, who was the District Collector of Salem District at that time.

Botanical Survey of India: Well maintained Botanical Garden by the BSI contains a rich collection of plants. It is a treat for "Botany" Students. A "Bell Rock" in the BSI campus makes bell sound when you hit with stone. You have to climb to reach the rock. The entrance ticket will be Rs. 3/- for adult and Rs 10 /- for Camera. It remain closed on Sundays and National Holidays.

Horticulture Farm: It has "Rose Garden" and "Children Seat". The Rose Garden is filled with various verities of Roses from Button Rose to Very Big Rose. A "Green Rose" plant is grown along with beautiful rose plants. Saplings of various plants are available at reasonable price. The entrance ticket will be Rs. 2/- for adult and Rs 10 /- for Camera.

Silk Farm & Rose Garden: One can see the cultivation of Mulberries, the growing of silk worms and the method of spinning silk. The Rose Garden – one can see a good collection of colourful Roses and also purchase nursery plants from here 2 km from town.
Kottachedu Teak Forest: The hills tribes who cultivated these lands are said to have abandoned this area after plague struck the area. These lands were than utilized by the Government for a Teak Wood plantation. Vaniar River passes through this Teak forest and leads to the Vaniar Dam. Bisons are frequently seen in the Teak Forest. 11 km from town.