Yercaud

We are 4 office colleagues who went on a trip to Yercaud by Road from Chennai this past weekend in a Maruti 800.  Below is some information, which would be of help for Chennaiites doing a similar trip.  Most tourists in Yercaud are from Bangalore and/or other places from Karnataka....You can't see many Chennaiites there.

Road route:
1.  Chennai - Tambaram to Tindivanam - Approx 2 hours (Superb Toll road with 2 tollgates (single fare Rs. 20)).

2.  Tindivanam to Kallkuruchi - Roads are being done up, so the drive was very slow in this stretch.

3.  Kallakuruchi - Attur - Salem - Yercaud (approx 3 hours).

Total petrol consumption for the round trip:  45 liters.

Cimate:
1.  Very refreshing 15-16 degrees and chill air.
2.  Night temperatures are pretty good..
3.  Surprisingly clean for an Indian tourist spot.

Stay:
We stayed at Hills Resort which was excellent, but there was no food available, so we ate at random wherever we could grab a bite.  The room was very good at Rs. 1000/- per night (24 hours checkout facility).  Very close to the lake.

Places that we visited:
1.  Walk around the lake.  We avoided the boat rides as it was perceived as a mundane activity.
2.  Pagoda Point:  Mainly a viewpoint with many valleys around.
3.  Gent's seat.
4.  Killiyur falls - A very small fall in this part of the year.  We drove around 4 km and parked.  Then its a steep and treacherous descent of about 3/4th km, which may not be suitable for the faint hearted and this trek will definitely test your endurance, but it is real fun down that route.
5.  Shevaroyan temple - A very steep drive up, which is fun.

Return route:

1.  Yercaud - Kuppanur (Pagoda point route) (Fantastic route with excellent views through the forest and very good road).

2.  Kuppanur - Ayoddhya pattinam - Attur - Tiruvannamalai (NH66) - Gingee - Tindivanam - Chennai.

We found this route especially better and smoother although may be slightly longer, but with major roadworks going on on the other trunk route, this would be a better drive.  Watch out for those rash state transport buses always overtaking dangerously.

Things that we bought:
1.  Atthipazham (called in Tamil - dont know its English equivalent - looks like a beetroot) about 60 Rs. a kilo.
2.  Mountain Pears - about 30 Rs a kilo.
3.  Pure local Yercaud Honey - 90 Rs. a bottle.
4.  Pure Eucalyptus oil - Rs. 150 for a 200 ml bottle.
5.  Pure black panther oil (very famous) - Rs. 200 for a 150 ml bottle.
6.  Roses.

Costs:
1.  Costs are pretty effective.....It really lives up to its name....'A poor man's ooty'

Hope this information is useful.  Enjoy yourselves......

Be prepared to enjoy the drive more than anything else.....It can feel like a really long drive back and forth.

Will try to attach a few snaps.......

Regards,

Rakesh N
rakesh_mt@yahoo.com