| YERCAUD, HILL STATION |

Selam's Own Hill Station, Selam Tamilnadu

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 meters (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.

HISTORY OF YERCAUD

Yercaud got its name from the Tamil words, yeri and kaadu, meaning lake and forest respectively. The British discovered it in the early 19th century. There are accounts of coffee plantations being introduced by a British officer in the area in the second decade of the 19th century. Though first house was built in 1840, the first metalled roads were laid only in the early 20th century. The cool climate attracted Christian missionaries and they established the Sacred Heart Convent for girls and Montfort School for boys. Schools like the Holy Cross Novitiate House, started by the Brothers of Don Bosco, followed these.

Yercaud was a Sun Taluk upto 14.10.1997.  It became a full fledged Taluk with effect from 15.10.1997. There are 67 Revenue villages which have been grouped into 9 Tariffs for the sake of administration and each Tariffs has one Village Administrative officer. Yercaud Taluk is divided into 3 Firkas viz., Yercaud, Vellakkadai and Puthur.

Yercaud Town is situated above 4800' from mean sea level. The highest point in Yercaud Taluk is Shevaroy Temple which is situated at a height of 5326'. Hence, Yercaud hill area is called  "Shevaroyan Hills". It is also called "Ooty of the Poor". The Summer  Festival is being celebrated in the second week of May of every year.The climate of Yercaud is a moderate one. The maximum temperature is 167.6°F and minimum is 66°F. In the year 1988,the average maximum temperature was 27°C and minimum is 15°C. Winter season starts in the month of September and ends in December. During Winter, the hills are covered by mist and looks beautiful. There is a long road going around the middle part of the Taluk connecting Nagalur, Semmanatham, Cauvery Peak, Vellakkadai, Manjakuttai villages and it is 35 kms in length.There is also a bus route from Salem to Yercaud via Ayothiyapattanam, Kuppanur and Kottachedu. State Transport Corporation, Salem and two private operations serve the traveling public. There are many villages connected by bus in Yercaud Taluk.

There are no wet lands in Yercaud Taluk. The main crop of this Taluk is Coffee. At first, Coffee was cultivated in "Grange Estate" in the year 1820. Coffee plant was brought from Africa to Yercaud by the then collector Thiru. Cock burn in the year 1820. Jack Fruit, Berry, Orange, Guava and spices like Pepper and Cardamom are the other crops raised in Coffee Estate. Sandalwood, Teak and Silver Oak are abundant. 

MY TRIP TO YERCAUD FROM BANGALORE

It was 2 O Clock eary Morning. I told Bye Bye to My Friends Grittu and Ajay who were there in my Room. I walked till Madivala town, Just 1 Km Away and waited for the Taxi, I have booked Yesterday. As soon As it came, i got into it and told my final Bye Bye to Bangalore City. The Driver, Mr Balu (09751429984) from Dharmapuri was an Expert driver and had a good view of the Bangalore Selam Route in His Mind. I could see the Bangalore City Lights moving past so fast while he was racing his car to its top speeds of 120 Kmph. It was a very smooth drive along the 6 Track National Highway with very Few Vehicles to Compete With Us. By 6 Early Morning, I was at Selam in just 3 Hours. Mr Balu had some other program at selam and i was left at the Selam bus stand. I got a ticket for a bus to Yercuad which starts to Yercuad at 7 O clock another 45 Minutes to Leave.

I dripped a cup of Coffee slowly into my Mouth from a Shop nearby and had a chat with a few locals there about the Yercuad hill Station. By 7: 10 the nus was out . I was very happy as i was able to get a window seat. I was so thrilled with the beauty of the hills that i was not able make my eyes Glued to the LCD television in the Bus and the Rajani Movie playback. By Around 9 i was at yearcuad. It was not so Cool like Thekkady , but not bad. I got a Local Trip Bus which moves to all Popular destinations of Yercuad with Tourists. By evening, the Trip was over and I returned to Selam by Another Bus and Moved to Kerala By Train that Night.

PN: The charge For Yearuad Sight Seeing Trip was just INR 50 And Yercuad to Selam Bus Charge was INR 20 . The Bus fare from Bangalore to Selam is Something near to INR 100 .

MAPS

Map of Selam and Yercaud

PHOTO GALLERY

My Yercaud Trip Photo Gallery

PLACES OF INTEREST AT YERCAUD

YERCAUD LAKE                        
                
The Yercaud Lake with a picturesque pool surrounded by gardens and well-wooded trees are the first things that attract a visitor. The garden surrounding the lake is well groomed and best seen during the month of May when the Summer Festival is organised. The Yercaud Lake with a picturesque pool surrounded by gardens and well-wooded trees are the first things that attract a visitor. The garden surrounding the lake is well groomed and best seen during the month of May when the Summer Festival is organised.

LADYS SEAT

One of the best views that Yercaud promises.You get a panoramic view of the ghats and all the distant vehicles dwindling their way in and out of trees along the winding ghat road.It surely is a breath-taking view. You can have a closer view of the plains below with the help of the telescope mounted at the Lady's Seat. This view is spectacular at night with the twinkling lights of Salem town in sight. It gives a feeling of looking over a bed of twinkling diamonds and if You are lucky to have a moonlit night..nothing could be more romantic!

KILIYUR WATER FALLS

Kiliyur Falls is a 90-foot high waterfalls is situated amidst picturesque surroundings in Yercaud. Akasagangai waterfalls is on Kolli hills which is known for medical herbs and plants.

PAGODA POINT

This is also another vantage view point. Once upon a time a beautiful place adorned with stone built pagodas, it is now home to a huge temple. The neighbourhood is splashed with erratic buildings that is a real turn off. Yet, if You have'nt been here. Don't miss it. The best time to visit it is during the night or early morning. It gives You a total new view of Salem and a voyeur's view over the little village called Kakambadi.The cliffs on the opposite side are fabulous and any rock climber would'nt be able to resist the temptation to scale them.

THE SERVAROYAN TEMPLE

This is the third highest range in this part with a modern cave temple at its top. The hill top is bald with a real open view of all the hills around. It presents another angle of the distant town. The adjacent hill is gradually chopped (mined) off daily as it is a very rich source of Bauxite.

TRANSPORT
 

Air :The nearest airport is Trichy – 163 kms. Other options are Coimbatore or Bangalore for convenient air connections. Coimbatore is 190 kms away. They are all connected to Madras ( Chennai ) which has an international airport. Trichy is also connected to Colombo (Sri Lanka).

Rail : Ideal would be to take the Yercaud Express from Madras ( Chennai ). Salem is 335 km from Madras on the main railway line. Salem Junction is 36 Kms away from Yercaud and Salem Town is 33 Kms. Since Salem station is a junction, all south bound trains passing via Salem do stop over at Salem.Trains link Salem to Cochin, Erode, Trivandrum and Mangalore.

Bus : Bus Services operate from Salem Junction and Salem Municipal Bus Stand to Yercaud frequently. There is no town  bus service in Yercaud. But, certain buses coming from Salem ply through Yercaud and connect important villages like  Cauvery Peak, Valavanthi, Nagalur, Vellakkadai Swinton Bridge with Yercaud.

Yercaud is well connected by road and is

163 kms from Trichy,
271 kms from Madurai,
358 kms from Chennai,
222 kms from Bangalore,
190 kms from Coimbatore.

THANKS TO

To My Friend Naresh From Selam (nareshsalem@peermade.info)

Some Text In this Page Were Taken From

http://www.yercaud.com/ Thanks To the Makers Of the Website

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