Yelagiri is a quaint place that can be enjoyed according to the time you want to spend out there. From picnickers in hurry to avid trekkers and the stressed-out executives desperate to escape the humdrum of daily life- Yelagiri is the place to be in. However, the real charm of this sleepy little Hill station (just 30 sq Km) lies in “doing nothing”. Yes, it’s true. There are no fancy stores, no hordes of tourists, no touts nothing. Most of the time you will find the roads empty, (there is only one main road) except for Sundays and holidays. Summers see some crowds arriving here perhaps to beat the scorching heat of the planes. Let’s explore some of the places at Yelagiri.
Pungannoor Lake Park: Pungannoor Lake Park is the primary object of interest at Yelagiri. The lake is not very big and has a garden as well as a miniature zoo as attractions.
Nilavoor Lake: Nilavoor Lake is not very big and more like a pond. The lake takes its name from the village of Nilavoor. The district administration has drawn a big plan to promote the lake.
Swamimalai Hill: Swamimalai Hill is another popular sightseeing destination in Yelagiri. No matter if you are a trekker or a picnicker you will find the place just fabulous.
Jalagamparai waterfalls: This place is a must-visit if you happen to be in Yealgiri after the post-monsoon period. To reach Jalagamparai waterfalls, it takes about an hour from the center of Yelagiri. There is also a trekking option here.
Karadi Malai Hills: This is also an ideal trekking option. It literally means “Bear Hill “in Tamil.
Velavan Temple: Lord Murugan Temple or the Velavan Temple as the locals call it is situated atop a hillock. The temple is located at one of the highest places of yelagiri offering a panoramic view of the entire hill.
Moksha Vimochana Temple: visit this temple if you want to get rid of your sins. The temple was founded by a saint. The atmosphere of the places is quite serene, unlike a temple.
Nature Park: Nature Park is one of the best addresses in Yelagiri. It’s actually a theme park, set up in 12 acres area.
14 Hairpin bends: A total of 14 pin hairpin bends fall on your way on the spiraling ghat road that leads to the top. Read More...
Telescope Point: As you make your way up the hill through the famous hairpin bends, just after the 12th hairpin bend there is the “Telescope House”. It’s a 2 km drive from the main road. The Telescope point is maintained by the Forest Department of Tamil Nadu. They charge nothing for viewing. You can get a good view of the plains below. However many times the visitors have complained that they had seen a huge lock at the entrance and came back disappointed. You can wish you only best of luck.
Government Silk Farm: The Government silk Farm also known as the Sericulture farm is a place where you can actually see silkworms. It is located at a place called Mangalam that is 5 km away.
Government Herbal Farm: The Government Herbal Farm is located adjacent to the Punganur Lake. It is maintained by the local forest department. Many herbs and shrubs cultivated here form the ingredients of Ayurveda and Siddha medicines.
Kiomoi Must-Dos while in Yelagiri
Yelagiri is a place that is not perhaps a great sightseeing destination. This perhaps comes as a blessing in disguise, for it throws up a great number of other activities that can be done at Yelagiri. The hereafter extensive research we have tried to put forth some of the activities or activities that can be done at Yelagiri.
Adventure Sports: Yelagiri now figures prominently as one of the few destinations in India to offer paragliding opportunities. In fact, the Yelegiri Paragliding club is all set to form a paragliding training school by 2009. Apart from Para-gliding, you can expect full-fledged adventure tourism, rock climbing and mountain biking in the hills of Yelagiri.
Nature Walks/ Trails: Be it early morning walks or evening walks, walks are something that has the potential to make your stay at Yelagiri memorable. In the early morning as you get out of the hotel you can be greeted with some amazing sceneries. The clouds touching the lush green hills are sure to leave you asking for more. A walk in the evenings in the Yelagiri hills is sure to invigorate you. The long walks on the wandering roads makes you feel as if you are strolling in a valley. After dinner walks in the near-empty roads is nothing less than an adventure. Pitch darkness greets you as you venture inroads. No ugly blaring of horns, no streetlights and no lights from houses you need to just enjoy the darkness. Do not forget to carry the torch though. Amidst the silence, the only sound you could hear is the croaking of frogs and the chirring of the insects.
Buy Pure Honey: Yelagiri is famous for 100 % pure Honey in the whole of Tamil Nadu. Homegrown, as well as natural honey, is available. It is priced much lesser than the cities. With a little bargain you can easily get a 750 ml bottled honey for less than Rs 100. This is about 4 times lesser than the price at cities for the same quantity. We suggest that you take natural honey that is extracted from beehives. These natural Honey extracted from Beehives on rocks or trees have a strong smell as well as a deep color.
Biking & Riding: Yelagiri is truly a biker’s paradise. You can ride the bike from Chennai and Bangalore. The ride is an amazing experience. With Bikes, you have the liberty to stop at any location on the way uphill to capture some great moments with the camera or simply view the plains through a Binocular. Your riding skills would be tested for sure here on this route.
Watching the city at night: This is one activity that you are going to cherish for a long long time. You can drive down or simply walk to the view point that is around 3/4th of the hill and watch the city below. Words cannot describe the feeling as you see the whole city lit up just like stars. Position yourself comfortably around the railing and enjoy the vast expanse. You would sure be transported to an out of the world feeling.
Trekking & Hiking: Trekking is considered one of the prime activities in this picturesque Eastern Ghat Hill station. You have the option to trek uphill or downhill. For uphill treks, there are Swamimalai hills. It is the highest peak in Yelagiri. A trek downhill takes you to Jalagamparai waterfalls. If you do not mind a tough climb there is the trek to Karadimalai. For professional trekkers, there is another great route. This takes you through the southern part of the Javvadi Hills to reach a place called Polur. From Polur the temple town of Thiruvannamalai is just 30 kilometers. The hotels where you put up can brief you about the various trekking options as well as provide you with the guides.
Campfires and Party games: Most of the hotels where you put in organize campfire in chilly wintery nights. You can dance, sing, indulge in mimicry, crack jokes or just cozy up yourself and do nothing around the campfire in full blaze. Party games generally follow the bonfire nights.
Indulge in Gastronomic Adventures: Treat yourself with some great food both Vegetarian and Non-veg food is available. As your sojourn would involve a lot of physical activity there is nothing like indulging in some great eating exercise. There are a number of eateries at Yelagiri where you can find south/north Indian food at affordable rates. Jackfruit is available in plenty here and if you are in the right season you can have lots and lots of this fruit. You need to bargain with the locals for the right price though.
Bird Watching: If you are a keen Bird watcher, Yelagiri is the place for you. Without being an expert you can spot different bird species on your way to treks or leisurely walks. Baya Weaver, the red-vented bulbul, spotted munia, paradise flycatcher, etc can easily be spotted.
Boating: There are two lakes at Yelagiri where you can take boat rides. They are Pungannoor Lake Park and Nilavoor Lake. Both paddle and riding boats are available.
Jungle Safaris: Hotels and resorts where you stay can arrange for you Jungle safaris in the night. As you go out in the quietude of night except for the sounds of insects and your own footsteps the feeling is something that cannot be described in words. However, do not attempt this without the professional guidance as chances are there that you can lose your way in the wilderness.
