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Yercaud is an amazing and picaresque hill station in the Salem district of Tamil Nadu and is a very popular holiday destination down south. In fact, it is said, that if you have not seen Yercaud, you have not seen one of the most beautiful places in South India. It is very popular as a weekend getaway for those who live in the cities of Bangalore and Chennai and other major cities in the south. This wonderful hill station is also often ignored as people head towards the more popular destinations of Ooty, Munnar and Kodaikanal, but thankfully, those who are on the lookout for offbeat locations, come here and leave singing praises about these amazing hill town. There is so much to this wonderful place and below are the top things to do in Yercaud.
The Kiliyar Falls is definitely a must visit when you travel to Yercaud. It provides a great ambience for those who are adventurous at heart and want to seek the solace and tranquility of nature at the same time. The falls is not very high in itself, plunging only about a 100 meters or so. There are other waterfalls with much greater plunge range. However, the Kiliyar Falls are not like other regular waterfalls where the water simply plunges down in a straight line. Rather, it forms a step like cascade and from below, the view is indeed quite magical. One has to walk down some steps to enjoy the actual view from below, which will be around 350 steps. There is a shorter route as well, but it is way trickier and only seasoned hikers should take this route. The falls are definitely at their most impressive during and just after the monsoons, freshly fed from the waters. It creates a dreamy and slightly wild ambience at the same time, with all the greenery around. Nature lovers will be sure to capture much through their lenses. Even the route up to the falls is very scenic, and you will get lots of exercise when you walk up to it.
Well, it is not as if men aren’t allowed to sit on it! However, the seat is so named because it was believed that during the colonial era, the British ladies used to come for their evening stroll here and sit down to enjoy the view around. Likewise, there is also a Gents’ Seat and a Children’s Point, but the view from Ladies’ Seat is considered to be the best. It is one of the best viewing points of Yercaud and you will see the entire town of Salem stretched out below you, along with Shavaroy Hills on the other side. There are a number of rock formations here and on clear days you can enjoy a clear view. Also, compared to other points it is more fun to come here as there are a number of stalls here that sell piping hot tea and freshly brewed coffee, along with a number of other things to munch on. You will hence, find a number of fellow tourists here as well. The area could get a bit congested during peak seasons but you can head to the other points mentioned above once you have enjoyed a glimpse of the surroundings from here.
One of the things that most tourists are unaware about is the 32 km Loop Road which begins and ends at the Yercaud Lake. It is indeed very difficult to imagine good roads without any potholes in any major metropolitan city of India, but here you can get 32 km of well maintained, wonderfully landscaped road, weaving its way through hills and coffee plantations. Hence, this is a Driver’s Paradise and you will hardly find such a good road to enjoy a good long drive with your beloved anywhere else. You would do best to bring your own car, and even if not, you can hire a cab or rent a car from your hotel to drive you through this road. The road will take you through coffee plantations, hills and valleys, quaint villages nestled in the loops of the hill and you will come across various kinds of trees, plants, birds and flowers. You can also stop from time to time to have a look around before you continue on your journey. You can also stop by at some local eatery or you could carry your own lunch. And if you have all day and are willing to take it slow, then you can even go around on a bicycle, once you are adequately geared. The view of the Yercaud Lake is itself stunning and you can have a picnic on its bank before or at the end of your journey. It is one of the most exciting activities to do in Yercaud.
The Sweet Rascal Café might have a quirky and fun name but you will not be allowed inside unless you have made a reservation in advance. The ambience is very chic and kitschy at the same time. The interesting thing about this place is that there is no menu- you will simply be asked how many of you are visiting when you make the reservation, and what are your preferences- as in vegetarian or non- vegetarian. The café mostly caters to non- vegetarians so vegetarians need to mention properly about their choice. You will find a very eclectic meal waiting for you when you reach, be it Asian, Continental or Indian. There is something very interesting about not knowing what to expect but there has never been a customer who has not been satisfied with the meal served here. You will get to meet a number of people and new friendships are formed here. You need to call the owner, Vishnu, to make your reservations and he would let you know whether you and your party can be accommodated.
The Teak Forest of Yercaud had been originally inhabited by the local tribes. Officially known as the Kottachedu Forest, tribes are no longer to be seen here but there are still locals who will be able to throw light on the way of life the tribals of the region once led. The forest is a great place to take a walk and you will catch mesmerizing glimpses of the sunlight streaming through the high teak trees and create interesting shapes and patterns on the forest floor. However, bisons are common here and they can get onto the path out of the blue, so you always need to be careful about your surroundings. Try to stick to the main forest path and you will be absolutely safe. You can also camp on the forest reserve ground with prior permission and if you want to cover a larger area, then you can also bring your own bicycle.
Yercaud has a number of old heritage buildings and they go back to the colonial era. Like most of the hill cities on India, Yercaud was also a getaway for the British to escape from the heat of the plains and some of the mansions and villas are still intact. They have been converted into hotels or government quarters but retain their outer façade which have a very European architecture. The Sacred Heart Church is a most revered landmark and the service in Easter and Christmas is attended by almost all the Christians of the region. Another famous landmark here is the Montfort Anglo- Indian Higher Secondary School, which was made famous by the filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor in his movie Rockford! Taking a tour of these heritage buildings will take you back in time and you will be even more amazed at how this hill city has still kept rapid commercialization at bay and held on to its natural beauty and heritage.
Located in the Salem district, there are a number of ways in which you can access Yercaud. The Salem city is about 32 km away but it can easily be reached with the help of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Buses. There are other bus routes from other major cities as well. On the other hand, if you are driving, you can also drive via Dharmapuri and Kanavaipudur. If you are flying in, then the nearest airport is the Salem Airport which is about 38 km away and if you are traveling by train, then you have come to the Salem Junction, which is also about 40 km away. From both the airport and the train junction, you will get cabs to take you to Yercaud. Alternately, you can also book a transport from your hotel beforehand. The fares are not very expensive at all during the off seasons.
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April 15, 2024 
