Yercaud Hill Station is a fascinating hill station of Tamil Nadu, situated about 8 kms from the district of Salem. It is situated at an altitude of 5000 ft above sea level, and the highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan Temple, at 5,326 feet (1,623 m). As a popular tourist destination, Yercaud is also called as Jewel of the South. It falls on the Shevaroy Range of Hills in the Eastern Ghats. Thus the Yercaud hill area is also called the "Shevaroy Hills". Sir Thomas Munroe, the then Governor of Madras exposed this beautiful hill station of Tamil Nadu in 1824.
Scenically, Yercaud is as enchanting and picturesque as the hill stations on the Eastern Ghats. There are a number of lakes big and small and waterfalls on this hill. The beautiful lake here has boating facilities. Yercaud is also ideal for trekking. Its low profile makes it a less expensive destination in South India. Yercaud"s pretty landscape mostly comprises coffee plantations and thickly forested slopes. It offers good trekking and boating opportunities. Yercaud has neither a biting winter nor a scorching summer. So, it is an ideal place to go around throughout the year.
Etymology of Yercaud
The term "Yer" means beauty in Tamil, "Kadu" means forest as this is flourished with fruit plantations like apple, cherry and orange. Hence, Yercaud in Tamil means "beautiful forest". It is also explained as Seven Forest.
Flora and Fauna of Yercaud
The National Orchidarium and Botanical garden is situated in Yercaud, it is maintained by southern circle of Botanical Survey of India. The total area of Orchidarium is 18.4 hectares. There are 3000 trees and 1800 shrubs grown in Orchidarium. Insectivorous pitcher plant is among the interesting plants grown in the Botanical garden. Some of the original forests still exist in the Yercaud hills and contain several endemic species of plants and fauna. Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance, as well as bananas, pears and jackfruit.
The local wildlife includes bison, deer, ant-eater, rabbits, hares, foxes, mongoose, squirrels, partridges, snakes, bulbuls, kites, sparrows, swallows and paradise flycatchers.
Tourism in Yercaud
The major industry is tourism, eco tourism with resorts amid high trees and green coffee. Apart from the lush green landscape of Yercaud, there are several other tourism sites to visit.
•Yercaud Lake: A pool surrounded by gardens and well-wooded trees.
•Lady"s Seat: Tourists can have a panoramic view of the plains below through the telescope mounted at the Lady`s seat.
•Killiyur Falls: A 90-foot (27 m)-high waterfall.
•The Servarayan Temple: Situated atop Servarayan hill, the temple is a narrow and dark cave having the God Servarayan and the Goddess Kaveri inside, which are believed as the deities of the Shevaroy Hills and Cauvery River.
•Bear"s Cave: Situated near the Norton"s Bungalow, Bear"s Cave is considered as one of the abodes of Lord Murugan.
•Green House: The greenhouse cultivates many varieties of flowers and spices.
•Botanical Survey of India: Botanical Garden situated at the Nagalur main road 2 km from Yercaud town.
•The Grange: The Grange is one of the oldest buildings in Yercaud, built in 1820"s is believed to have been the summer resort of Robert Clive, general of the East India Company in the late 19th century.
•Pagoda Point: Another vantage view point; once adorned with stone built pagodas; it is now home to a large temple.
•Silk Farm and Rose Garden: Situated very close to Lady"s Seat, Silkworms are reared here. Located 2 km from Yercaud town, tourists can see the cultivation of mulberries, growing of silk worms, and methods of silk-spinning. The rose garden has a collection of varieties of roses.
•Karadiyur View point: A wonderful site seeing placed in Yercaud about 12 km from the center of the town in a village Karadiyur.
•Sri Lalitha Thripura Sundari Amman Temple: Situated at Nagalur 7 km from Yercaud town. It is very important temple.
Best time to visit Yercaud
Yercaud experiences salubrious climate and is pleasant to be visited any time of the year. The climate of Yercaud is very pleasant and the temperature here never rises beyond 30 degree Celsius and never falls below 12 degree Celsius. Winters are fairly mild, starting in September and ending in December. During winter, the hills are covered in mist.
Route to Yercaud
It is situated on a fine motorable Ghat road with several hairpin bends linking the top after a 23 kms ride through coffee plantations. The nearest airports are Salem Airport at a distance of 38 km, Trichy Airport at a distance of 165 km and Coimbatore Airport at a distance of 195 km. The nearest railway station is Salem which is 38 km. There are plenty of buses to Yercaud.
