Yercaud: Is it really poor man's ooty

Yercaud is a hill station in Salem district of Tamil Nadu. The hill station is 4970 feet above mean sea level and on the Eastern Ghat. The general features of the Eastern Ghats are dry and barren ranges but Yercaud does not fit into these features.  The place is located in the Shevaroys range of mountains on the Eastern Ghats. The place is known as ‘the poor man’s Ooty’. Yercaud is called the ’Jewel of the South.’

Yercaud was earlier known as Yericaud, translated into English meaning, ‘lake-forest’. The name is derived from the dense forest of trees near the lake. The Servarayan temple is at the peak of the mountain at an altitude of 5326 feet.

To reach Yercaud, there are 20 hairpin bends that are not too difficult to negotiate. The going is smooth and lovely as there are coffee plantations and orange orchards on the way. During seasons the flowers of the coffee plants give out a heady smell (the flowers bloom in April) and it is intoxicating as well as beautiful; altogether a lovely drive up the mountain.

HISTORY

The hill station has a history dated back to the time when stone implements were being used. These implements had been found on the Shevarayan Hills, 5 km. from Yercaud Lake. The first ever recorded settlement is from Kanchipuram when Telugu kings overran the Tamil Thondai region. The people belong to the Malayali tribe who had escaped from the oppression of the Arcot kings about 500 years ago.

Later the British ascended the place and in between 1820 and 1829, David Cockburn built a bungalow and introduced coffee, pears and apple in the area. He was known as the ‘Father of Yercaud’. Later other British countryman came and introduced a variety of fruit cultivation and tea. A German-born British citizen purchased land from a Zamindar as he was fascinated with the place.

PLACES TO VISIT

1. Servarayan Temple: The temple is dedicated to the local deity Servaran and his consort,  Kaveriamma. The temple is on the highest peak at an altitude of 5326 feet above sea level. The festival is held with great pomp in May by the locals.
2. Sri Lalitha Tripura Sundari Amman Kovil: The temple is in Nagalur, which, is 7 km. from Yercaud and is a famous pilgrim place.
3. Norton’s Bungalow: It is one of the oldest bungalows on this mountain. This bungalow was owned by a famous criminal lawyer in the court at Chennai. There is a cave near the bungalow known as Bear’s Cave.
4. Bear’s Cave: Though privately owned, visitors can take a look at it, with permission. It is believed that a Raja from the yesteryears had built a tunnel through the cave to escape from enemies. It is also considered as Lord Muruga’s abode by the religious.
5. Big Lake:  The lake is lovely and has rowboats and two and four-seater pedal boats.
6. Anna Park: Near the Big Lake is a well-groomed garden.
7. Lady’s Seat:  Best time to visit the place is after dinner. A wonderful vantage point and at night the twinkling lights of Salem can be seen from this place. The wind at that time puts one in a lazy mood and it is sheer tranquillity. It overlooks the twisting roads in the Ghats. There is a telescope in the neighbourhood and Mettur Dam and the River Cauvery can be seen.
8. Pagoda Point: This is yet another viewpoint and nicknamed Gent’s Seat. There was a stone built pagoda in the place, earlier.  There is a large temple of Lord Rama in its place.
9. Kiliyur Falls: The water to this fall comes from the Big Lake. It cascades down 300 feet and is in a very picturesque setting.
10. Fairholme Bungalow: A very old British styled architectural building on Tipperary Road. It was owned by a Miss. Pope who sold it to the present owners. The building is now a hotel with a fireplace and old furniture.
11. Heaven’s Ledge: 15 km. out of Yercaud, this is a cliff in the Gowri Estate, now a campsite.
12. Karadiyur View Point: Karadiyur is 12 km away from Yercaud and is a stunning viewpoint.
13. Botanical Garden: Established in 1963, this place hosts some of the rare and exotic varieties of flowering plants. There are about two orchid varieties that are not seen anywhere else in the world. The garden has over a hundred species of orchids out of which 30 are exclusive. This orchidarium is considered to be the third biggest when compared to that in Kolkotta and Shillong. The garden has a rare pitcher plant. It also hosts the famous Neela Kurinji plant that flowers once in 12 years. It also boasts of 3000 trees and 1800 shrubs. There is a bell rock within the premises, which when hit, will sound like a bell.
14. Tipperary View Point: The elephant Tooth Rock and parts of Salem can be seen from this point. There was a posh British Hotel during their rule from 1930 to 1940.
15. White Elephant Tooth: It is believed that this rock is a fallen meteorite as the rock is white in colour and not consistent with the black granite found in these parts.
16. The Grange: An imposing building in Yercaud, it was built by the then British Collector of Salem, M D Cockburn. Robert Clive who was a clerk in the British East India Company in Madras was so dejected with life at Madras that he once tried to commit suicide but the gun that he chose to kill him did not fire. He came to know of Yercaud and used to visit the place, taking breaks from the routine job. He went on to be the Commander of the British forces and was successful in the Battle of Plassey. It is believed that the rejuvenation by being on the hills brought success to him.
17. Montfort School: Open to the public only on Sundays and that too, with permission from the school authorities; this school is a reminder of the colonial past. The architecture is grand and building constructed with granite and wood with a sprawling ground and a quaint old church.

ACTIVITIES

Come May and there is a festival in the place by the Lake. There are dog shows and flower shows boating races and fairs. The Big Lake has boating facilities. This is a peaceful place and a bit laid back. Trekking is another favourite activity in the hills. There is a place near the Grange Resorts for dirt biking.

HOW TO GET THERE

Yercaud is 227 km. from Bengaluru by road on NH 7 up to Dharmapuri and then there is a deviation. The nearest railway station and airport is in Salem. It is 195 km. from Coimbatore; 165 km. from Trichy and 355 km. from Chennai.

WHEN TO GO

The monsoons are not a favourable time but otherwise, the climate is pleasant. It is an uphill journey of 31 km. from Salem. The temperature in Yercaud varies between 290C in the highest hot season and is low as 120C to 250 C in winter. Winters start in early September and end in December. The peak season is from March to June and again from October to February. Cotton dresses are advisable in Yercaud throughout the season.

WHERE TO STAY

There are a few hotels in and around the hill station which are comfortable to all pockets. There are hotels with special entertainment areas for children and also for adults. The restaurants are basically serving South Indian dishes. The language spoken is Tamil and a small number speak English. During peak seasons it is advisable to book the rooms to avoid disappointment.