Yercaud
Yercaud | |
---|---|
Village |
Yercaud, popularly known hill station near Salem, Tamil Nadu, India in the Servarayan range of hills (anglicized as Shevaroys) in the Eastern Ghats. It is at an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,920 feet) from mean sea level. The town gets its name from the lake located at its center - in Tamil "Yeri" means "lake" and "Kaadu" means "forest". Yercaud is known for coffee plantations and orange groves. It also has an orchidarium run by the Botanical Survey of India.
The highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, which is situated at a height of 5326 feet. Hence the Yercaud hill area is called Shevaroy Hills.
Some of the original forests continue to exist in the Yercaud hills and contain several endemic species of plants and fauna. The Yercaud hills have many faunal and floral similarities to the Western Ghats.
Wild life includes bison, deer, ant-eater, rabbits, hares, foxes, mongoose, squirrels, partridges, snakes, bulbuls, kites, sparrows, swallows and the bird of paradise.
The main crop of Yercaud is coffee. Coffee was first cultivated on the "Grange Estate" in the year 1820, the year in which coffee plants were brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr. M.D. Cockburn.
Jack fruit, orange, guava and spices such as black pepper and cardamom are the other crops raised on the coffee estate.
Sandalwood, teak and silver oak are abundant too.
The best time to visit Yercaud is the warmer months between May and October. May and June are the months when tourist activity is high.
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 and 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.
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.
This temple was founded by Tirukovilur Thapovanam Srila Sri Gnanananda Giri Swamigal's Parampara disciple HH Swami Poornananda Giri in the year 1983 (Swamiji attained samadhi in the year 1998) and now the temple is being looked after by his son V.Sri. In this temple the Goddess Sri Raja Rajeswari is seen surrounded by a plethora of Gods.
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.
Air :The nearest Airports - Trichy (163 km), Bangalore(230 km) and Coimbatore (190 km). Both are connected to Chennai (Madras). Trichy has an international airport.
Railway : The nearest railway station is Salem Junction (35 km)
Road: There are good roads connecting Yercaud to various places in South via. Salem. It is 358 km from Chennai (via. Tindivanam) 222 km from Bangalore (via. Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem - Yercaud) 190 km from Coimbatore (via. Avinashi) 163 km from Trichy (via. Namakkal) 271 km from Madurai (via. Karur) 80 km from Mettur (via. Meacheri) 144 km from Hogenakkal (via. Dharmapuri) 176 km from Tiruvannamalai (via. Harur)
Bus Service : There are regular bus services between Yercaud and Salem, which is connected to Madras, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Pondicherry and Tirupati among other places.
There are many good hotels available at Yercaud for nominal cost. You can also check at religious residences for simple and neat stay. [ belongs to Brothers, Sisters and Fathers of Christian Missionaries ]. Another option is that you can stay at Salem Town and reach Yercaud. But Night Stay at Yercaud is a pleasant experience.
Hotel Name | Identification | Contact | Web | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rahm's House | Own by Brothers of Holy Cross | Mr. Balu, Ph: 91-4281-223372 | http://www.salema2z.in/hotels.htm | ||
Star Holidays Inc | next to Lake | Mr. Murli, Ph: 91-4281-223337, 223338, Mobile : 9443553618 | http://www.starholidaysyercaud.com/ | ||
Hotel Grand Palace | Grand Hotel of salem | Ph: 91-4281-223481-86, Fax : 223489 | http://www.grandpalaceyercaud.com | ||
Hotel Shevaroys | Near to Lake | http://www.salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Hotel Tamil Nadu | next to Lake | http://salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Tilakam Nest | Ph: 91-4281-223410 | http://salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Classic Cottage | Ph: 91-4281-223388, 223399 | http://salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Hotel SKT Residency | Ph: 91-4281-291633, 291634 | ||||
Kongu Resort | Ph: 91-4281-223178, 223278 | ||||
Silver Holidays | Ph: 91-4281-222656, 222541 | ||||
Thendral Resort | Clifton Gardens, Rahm's Road, Near Five Roads,Yercaud, Salem Dist, Tamil Nadu, S.India | Ph: 91-4281-222800, Mobile: 94433 49204 | http://thendralresorts.co.cc | E-mail Id: [thendralresorts@gmail.com] | |
Hotel Yercaud International | [1] | ||||
Sterling Resort | near Lady's Seat | ||||
Grange Resort | |||||
Glass House (Retreat House & Guest House) | Rahm's Road, Near Five Roads,Yercaud, Salem Dist, Tamil Nadu, S.India | Ph: 91-4281-222262, 222401 | E-mail Id: [houseofpeaceycd@yahoo.com] | ||
Clifton Inn | Rahm's Road, Near Five Roads | Ph: 91-4281-222911, Mobile: +91 99524 21099 | |||
Glenrock Estate | an eco friendly camp | Mobile: 99761 80405 , Bookings from Bangalore : 09986026069 Rohit | www.glenrock-estates.in | ||
Hotel Sky Roca | 20th Hairpin Bend, Salem-Yercaud Main Road, Ondikadai Post,
Yercaud - 636 602 |
Ph: 91 - 4281 - 223115-8, Mobile: 94421-01302, Fax: 04281 - 223120 | www.hoteltheskyroca.com |
Yercaud
Yercaud | |
---|---|
Village |
Yercaud, popularly known hill station near Salem, Tamil Nadu, India in the Servarayan range of hills (anglicized as Shevaroys) in the Eastern Ghats. It is at an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,920 feet) from mean sea level. The town gets its name from the lake located at its center - in Tamil "Yeri" means "lake" and "Kaadu" means "forest". Yercaud is known for coffee plantations and orange groves. It also has an orchidarium run by the Botanical Survey of India.
The highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, which is situated at a height of 5326 feet. Hence the Yercaud hill area is called Shevaroy Hills.
Some of the original forests continue to exist in the Yercaud hills and contain several endemic species of plants and fauna. The Yercaud hills have many faunal and floral similarities to the Western Ghats.
Wild life includes bison, deer, ant-eater, rabbits, hares, foxes, mongoose, squirrels, partridges, snakes, bulbuls, kites, sparrows, swallows and the bird of paradise.
The main crop of Yercaud is coffee. Coffee was first cultivated on the "Grange Estate" in the year 1820, the year in which coffee plants were brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr. M.D. Cockburn.
Jack fruit, orange, guava and spices such as black pepper and cardamom are the other crops raised on the coffee estate.
Sandalwood, teak and silver oak are abundant too.
The best time to visit Yercaud is the warmer months between May and October. May and June are the months when tourist activity is high.
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 and 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.
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.
This temple was founded by Tirukovilur Thapovanam Srila Sri Gnanananda Giri Swamigal's Parampara disciple HH Swami Poornananda Giri in the year 1983 (Swamiji attained samadhi in the year 1998) and now the temple is being looked after by his son V.Sri. In this temple the Goddess Sri Raja Rajeswari is seen surrounded by a plethora of Gods.
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.
Air :The nearest Airports - Trichy (163 km), Bangalore(230 km) and Coimbatore (190 km). Both are connected to Chennai (Madras). Trichy has an international airport.
Railway : The nearest railway station is Salem Junction (35 km)
Road: There are good roads connecting Yercaud to various places in South via. Salem. It is 358 km from Chennai (via. Tindivanam) 222 km from Bangalore (via. Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Salem - Yercaud) 190 km from Coimbatore (via. Avinashi) 163 km from Trichy (via. Namakkal) 271 km from Madurai (via. Karur) 80 km from Mettur (via. Meacheri) 144 km from Hogenakkal (via. Dharmapuri) 176 km from Tiruvannamalai (via. Harur)
Bus Service : There are regular bus services between Yercaud and Salem, which is connected to Madras, Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Tiruvannamalai, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Pondicherry and Tirupati among other places.
There are many good hotels available at Yercaud for nominal cost. You can also check at religious residences for simple and neat stay. [ belongs to Brothers, Sisters and Fathers of Christian Missionaries ]. Another option is that you can stay at Salem Town and reach Yercaud. But Night Stay at Yercaud is a pleasant experience.
Hotel Name | Identification | Contact | Web | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rahm's House | Own by Brothers of Holy Cross | Mr. Balu, Ph: 91-4281-223372 | http://www.salema2z.in/hotels.htm | ||
Star Holidays Inc | next to Lake | Mr. Murli, Ph: 91-4281-223337, 223338, Mobile : 9443553618 | http://www.starholidaysyercaud.com/ | ||
Hotel Grand Palace | Grand Hotel of salem | Ph: 91-4281-223481-86, Fax : 223489 | http://www.grandpalaceyercaud.com | ||
Hotel Shevaroys | Near to Lake | http://www.salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Hotel Tamil Nadu | next to Lake | http://salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Tilakam Nest | Ph: 91-4281-223410 | http://salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Classic Cottage | Ph: 91-4281-223388, 223399 | http://salema2z.in/hotels.htm | |||
Hotel SKT Residency | Ph: 91-4281-291633, 291634 | ||||
Kongu Resort | Ph: 91-4281-223178, 223278 | ||||
Silver Holidays | Ph: 91-4281-222656, 222541 | ||||
Thendral Resort | Clifton Gardens, Rahm's Road, Near Five Roads,Yercaud, Salem Dist, Tamil Nadu, S.India | Ph: 91-4281-222800, Mobile: 94433 49204 | http://thendralresorts.co.cc | E-mail Id: [thendralresorts@gmail.com] | |
Hotel Yercaud International | [1] | ||||
Sterling Resort | near Lady's Seat | ||||
Grange Resort | |||||
Glass House (Retreat House & Guest House) | Rahm's Road, Near Five Roads,Yercaud, Salem Dist, Tamil Nadu, S.India | Ph: 91-4281-222262, 222401 | E-mail Id: [houseofpeaceycd@yahoo.com] | ||
Clifton Inn | Rahm's Road, Near Five Roads | Ph: 91-4281-222911, Mobile: +91 99524 21099 | |||
Glenrock Estate | an eco friendly camp | Mobile: 99761 80405 , Bookings from Bangalore : 09986026069 Rohit | www.glenrock-estates.in | ||
Hotel Sky Roca | 20th Hairpin Bend, Salem-Yercaud Main Road, Ondikadai Post,
Yercaud - 636 602 |
Ph: 91 - 4281 - 223115-8, Mobile: 94421-01302, Fax: 04281 - 223120 | www.hoteltheskyroca.com |