Yercaud

Yercaud Hill Station

Yercaud (ஏற்காடு) is a hill station in Salem District, in Tamil Nadu, India with 20 hairpin bends. It located in the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats .

It is situated at an altitude of 1515 metres (4970 ft) above sea level, and the highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, at 5,326 feet (1,623 m) .

Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance apart from bananas, pears and jackfruit. Scenically, Yercaud is as enchanting and picturesque as the hill stations on the Western Ghats and trekking here can be one of the most pleasurable ways to pass time. It is 32kms from salem city. 

Places to Visit in Yercaud

Ø  Big Lake, Yercaud

Ø  Botanical Garden, Yercaud

Ø  Pagoda Point

Ø  Servarayan Temple

Ø  Lady's Seat, Gent's Seat and Children's Seat

Ø  Killiyur Falls

Ø  Anna Park

Lady's seat is located 2 Km south west of Yercaud town and is a point that offers spectacular sights of Yercaud. A wonderful viewing point, the Lady’s seat provides wonderful sights of the plains below and is great for sun rise and sun sets. The best time to spot the river is from 300 p.m. onwards when the sun rays reflect off the river waters.

Killiyur Waterfalls is a beautiful waterfalls in the Shervaroyan hill range in the eastern ghats. It is a 300 feet high waterfalls and is about 3kms from the Yercaud lake. The final 500 meters consists only of a rough unpaved steep pathway. But it is a breathtaking sight in the monsoon time when the water levels are at the maximum. The best time to visit this place is immediately after the monsoon season.

Pagoda Point is also another viewpoint, which is worth visiting. Pagoda point or pyramid point is a viewpoint located on the eastern part of Yercaud hills. This has four piles of stones arranged so as to form a pyramid shape. It is said to be built by the local tribes and now there is a Rama temple located between the piles of stones.

Bear's Cave is situated near the Nortona Bungalow, which is on the way to the Shervaroyan Temple. The cave is now part of a private property, however tourists are allowed to visit. There is a temple near this cave that is considered to be one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga and has its central area carved out of a single rock.

Yercaud Servarayan Temple is situated on the top of Shervaroyan hill and is a modern cave temple located 5326 feet above the sea level. The highest point in Yercaud hill is the Sherveroyan temple. The residing deities in the temple are god Shervaroyan and his consort the goddess Cauvery representing the Shervaroy Hills and the Cauvery river. The temple is inside a large rock. One has to bend and get into the temple because of the lack of space.

Near the Servarayan temple is the Raja Rajeswari Amman temple, dedicated to Raja Rajewsari, the goddess of all the gods.

Silk Farm, not too far from the Lady’s Seat, a silk worm unit is open to visitors to see the entire process of silk making. Worms are bred on mulberry bushes and then taken through the process of spinning and weaving.

Rose Garden and Anna Park is a lovely garden located near the Yercaud lake and has slides that would certainly interest children.

Yercaud Lake is a pool surrounded by well preserved gardens and dark woods. The lake has boating facility in which both paddle boats and oar-drawn boats are available. People boating in the cold water of the lake can feel enchanting as well as refreshing. The lake is also known as emerald lake and it is the only natural lake amongst all hill stations in the southern part of India.