Yercaud - A Hill Side Panorama
Situated around 35 kilometers away from Salem, Yercaud is sitting handsomely at an altitude of 1500 meters above sea level in the Shevaroy hills. It takes around an hour to reach here from Salem by bus. In fact bus is the only mode of transport to reach Yercaud through a route which is full of hairpin bends. Being as beautiful and gracious as Ooty and Kodaikanal but being remarkably cheaper than both of them, it is quite logically referred to as 'poor man's Ooty'. Yercaud got its name from combination of two Tamil words 'yer' and kaddu which respectively mean lake and forest.
Apart from visiting the most famous tourist destination, shop for the locally made handicrafts and handlooms. You will be amazed to see the price difference between the prices here and any where else in Tamil Nadu and probably for the same material quality. So it is advisable that you shop for such items from Yercaud rather than other cities. You can also go for a trekking an excursion which are worth the time you spend on them.
Places To Visit
Attraction that one can visit in this wonderland are numerous. You will find few of the most dreamlike sights in Yercaud that probably cannot be expressed in words. The most talked about and visited spot on this hill station is the refreshing Yercaud lake which is surrounded by greenery from all sides. There are many other breathtaking sites and viewpoints whose true beauty you can only enjoy when they are right in front of your eyes.
The Servaroyan Temple
Situated at the highest point in Shevaroy hills, the Servaroyan temple is a beautifully carved cave temple. This temple is famous for the festival, which is organized here by the local tribes in the month of May. The festival sees a huge turnover of local people. This splendid temple due to its remote location does not witness a huge number of tourist footfalls. So be the one of the few privileged who have discovered the hidden aura of this wonder.
Green House
Green house is a must visit place for all nature lovers as one sees the most beautiful and colorful plants It is an orchard which also doubles up as a Nursery of rose and other flowers. Innumerable varieties of rose and other flowers are thriving in the premises. It also has loads of orange trees which when are fully laden present the most exotic views full of color. Visit this place and find the perfect amalgamation of all the color you can even think of.
Yercaud Lake
This is the first place in Yercaud that catches the attention of travelers. No matter how many beautiful lakes one has seen, they always find this pool of water extremely appealing and tempting. The water is cold and plea sing and it leaves you refreshed to your deepest self. Enjoy a scintillating boat ride in the lake, which is amidst the most breathtaking gardens and trees. What you will see from this crystal clear lake is greenery all around.
Bear's Cave
Situated near the Yercaud's oldest bungalow, Norton Bungalow, Bear' s Cave is formed by two huge boulders and lies on the way to Servaroyan Temple. It is located inside a private coffee estate but the occasionally, a staying tourist is allowed inside the premises. The cave is about 7 feet below the ground level and is said to extend beyond the Servaroyan temple till Kaveri in the state of Karnataka which is around 485 Km away. It is believed that the cave was used as a hideout and an escape route by Tipu Sultan during the time of War. If tourists wish, they can try to squeeze past the boulders into the cave and explore it. Although one cannot go beyond few hundred meters as fallen rocks block the path but its worth an experience.
YerKadu is said to be named after the lake amidst wooded trees in the centre of the town. Yercaud is famous for its schools such as Monfort School and its various monasteries and convents.
The road to Yercaud has nearly 20 hairpin bends that offer panoramic views of the hills and valleys. Orange Groves, and Coffee plantations which blossom in April are a few among the prime attractions. The hill station is a great place for trekking and has many vantage view points like Ladies Seat, Children's Seat, Arthur's seat and Pagoda Point which give beautiful views of the surrounding hills, villages and cities in the vicinity.
Botanical Garden
The Botanical garden located 5km from Yercaud town run by the Botanical Survey Of India showcases thousands of species of plants. A national orchidarium, one of the only two national orchidariums run by BSI (The other one being in Shillong, Mekhalaya) and a green house is also found in this garden. Kurinji flower, which blooms once in twelve years and is very famous along the Western ghats of South India, is found here. The 20 year old national orchidarium has more than 100 species of orchids including rare varieties like the Vernonia shevaroyensis and lady's slipper orchid etc. There is also a pitcher plant that eats insects and a peculiar rock known as 'Bell Rock' which makes a bell sound when you hit it with a stone. The garden is closed on weekends.
Shevaroy Hill & Temple
A delightful hill with magnificent views of the hills and the plains in between. On top of the hill there is a cave temple with a modern facade dedicated to the local deity Lord Shervarayan and his wife Goddess Kaveri. It is the highest point in Yeracaud, 5,326 ft above sea level.Thousands of tribals take part in the colourful annual festival in the month of May.
Ladies seat
One of the most crowded and visited spots in Yercaud, Ladies seat located 2 kms south west of Yercaud town offers a panoramic view of the ghats. It is best at night with the twinkling lights of Salem town in sight. A telescope is installed at this point for tourists to have a closer look at the plains below and the winding roads in between. The facility is available only during the day. On a clear day, you could also see the Mettur Dam on the Kaveri river. Great shots of the river can be had in the evening around 3:00 clock when the sun rays are reflected in its waters.
Children's seat
This point lies to the right of the Lady's seat. It is the best of the all the 3 adjacent points. Access is climb a bit through the Rose Garden .
Getting There
By Air
Trichy is the nearest airport situated some 180 km away. From there you can catch a train to Salem or you can opt for scenic road travel. It will take around 4 hrs to cover the distance either by rail or by road.
By Rail
Nearest railhead is at Salem around 36 Km away from Yercaud. Trains from all parts of India are regular at Salem
By Road
Yercaud is well connected to all the surrounding town by state transport buses and privately operated buses. State transport buses of Karnataka also ply to Yercaud.
Local Transport
Local transport is basically restricted to three wheelers like auto rickshaws and manual rickshaws. Public transport is not available to move around inside the city walls.
Where To Put Up
Accommodation in Yercaud are very thoughtfully located amidst the picturesque surroundings and are quite pleasant to stay in. There are budget as well as luxury hotels here, although not in great numbers. The presence of good and nominally priced hotels make Yercaud a dream destination for a holiday. The best of all in Yercaud are Hotel Grand Palace, Sterling Resort, and Gem Holiday Resort.
No comments:
Post a Comment