Yercaud, Kodaikanal & Coonoor
Yercaud
Yercaud Situated 1,515 metres high in the Shevaroy Hills, in the state
of Tamil Nadu, Yercaud is quiet little hill station on the Eastern ghats
is the only one of its kind in northern Tamil Nadu. While the rest of
this region is generally dry, Yercaud presents a welcome contrast with
its cool climate where temperature never rises above 30 º C and dip
below 13 º C . It is also a less expensive place than either Udhagamandalam
or Kodaikkanal the peaceful hill station of Yercaud nestles among coffee
plantations and thickly forested slopes and is a good place for trekking
and boating.
Some people believe that these hills were part of the ancient megalith-builders'
domain which stretched from Cornwall through Brittany and Iberia to India.
Clearly visitors have been streaming into Yercaud from well before recorded
history
Sightseeing (Yercaud)
Before getting into this coffee-plantation hamlet, you have to drive through
the textile town of Salem. If you browse around the shops, you might pick
up bright handloom fabrics at half the price you would pay elsewhere.
Just before the road begins to climb up the mountains to Yercaud, do look
out for an interesting group of brightly coloured idols to the left of
the road. These guardian deities, found only in Tamil Nadu, are worshipped
as protectors of villages and are often known as Aiyanars.
On the way up the winding hill road with its 20 hairpin bends, stop at
a thatched wayside stall selling 'Fresh Garden Produce': packets of cloves
and pepper. Then come the coffee plantations before entering cottage-dotted
Yercaud.
You can amble around leisurely, or do a tandem tour of the lake in a pedal
boat, or hire a taxi to 'do' the sights. 3 km away is the rocky escarpment
overlooking the plains. It is known as Lady's Seat and some wag has named
another viewpoint as Gent's Seat.
Pyramid point, 3 km away, has cairns of stones and was once a Stone Age
fortress shrine before the new temple was built. 7 km from the lake is
the Servaroyan Temple with a modern, striped, facade leading to an old
cave temple.
Once you get into this soothing, lake-centred, quiet and undisturbed
green place, you don't have to do anything but unwind .
Weather
Yercaud experiences salubrious climate and is pleasant to be visited any
time of the year.
Travel Information
By Air: The airport at Tiruchirapalli is the nearest to Yercaud.
Though the other options are the airports at Coimbatore and Bangalore.
Rail: The closest railway stations are those of the Salem junction
and the Salem town.
Road: Frequent bus services and taxi services link Yercaud with
Salem that is thirty km away. Other important places linked with Yercaud
are Madras, Trichy, Madurai, Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore.
General Information
Area :- 38.3 sq. km.
Altitude :- 1515 mt.
Population :- 36,863
Climate:-Summer-Pleasant whether;Winter-Mild Cold
Clothing :- Summer - Cotton ; Winter - Light Woolen
Languages Spoken :- Tamil, Hindi and English
Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal located amidst the folds of the verdant Pali hills is one
of the most popular serene hill stations in India, which mesmerizes any
visitor. With her wooded slopes, mighty rocks, enhancing waterfalls and
a beautiful lake, Kodaikanal is a charming hill station.
Kodai is situated at an altitude of about 2,133-m high and covers an area
of 21.45-sq-km. The hill town is renowned for its educational institutions
of international repute. The pride of Kodaikanal is the 'Kurinji-flower',
which blossoms once in 12 years. The hill-plantain fruits and plums are
known for their freshness and taste.
Prime Attractions of Kodaikanal
Berijam Lake
Berijam Lake located at a distance of 21-km from Kodaikanal in Tamil
Nadu is one among the beautiful lakes of South India. Spread over an area
of 24 hectares, the lake is star shaped and is known for its pure water.
Kodaikanal Trekking
Head for Kodaikanal in the Palani Hills for small-time trekking. You can
take short treks and hikes to tourist spots close by as well to local
viewpoints. Overnight treks are also possible here where one can spend
a night at a local village.
Fairs & Festivals - Kodaikanal
There are several beautiful hill stations in Tamil Nadu. With the Summer
Festivals, the hills are even hospitable to welcome the visitors. The
summer festival is held in the 'Queen of Hill Stations', the evergreen
Ooty; the exquisite Kodaikanal or the salubrious heights of Yercaud. Cultural
programs, adventure sports, boat races, flower and fruit shows add to
the splendor of the festival.
Leisure - Kodaikanal
Shopping
The famous places to shop in Kodaikanal are the Khadi Emporium, Handloom
Co-operative Stores and Travancore Crafts Work, Government Sales Emporium,
Kurinji Mini Supermarket, Spencer and Company.
Entertainment
The Golf Club is located 5-km from the Kodaikanal Lake. Boating and
Angling facilities are available at the Kodaikanal Lake. Picturesque trek
routes are available in and around Kodaikanal. For details, contact: The
Trek Director, Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.
How to get there
By Road
Kodaikanal is connected by road with Chennai (520-km), Ooty (264-km),
Trichy (197-km), Coimbatore (175-km), Kumili (160-km), and Madurai(120-km).
Regular bus services are available from Madurai, Palani, Kodaikanal Road,
Theni, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Kumuli (Thekkady) and Coimbatore. Additional
buses ply during the season. Taxis and vans are available for local transportation.
There are no auto-rickshaws in Kodaikanal.
By Air
The nearest airport is at Madurai (120 km from Kodaikanal).
By Rail
The nearest railway stations are the Kodai Road Railway Station (80-km)
and the Palani Railway Station (64-km).
Places To Stay - Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal offers good accommodation facilities to the tourists. The TTDC
run Hotel Tamil Nadu on Fern Hill Road is one example where comfortable
accommodation is provided to tourists.
Climate - Kodaikanal
The climate of Kodaikanal is pleasant throughout the year, but the best
time to visit Kodaikanal is from April to June and from September to October.
Rainfall: 165 cms (average). Heavy rains occur during October-December.
Winter: Max17.3ºC, Min8.3ºC
Summer: Max 19.8ºC, Min 11.3 ºC
Clothing: Light woolen in the evening during summer and heavy
woolen during winter.
Altitude: 2,133 metres.
Location: 120 Km From Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
Best time to visit
April To June And September To October.
Languages spoken
Tamil and English.
Coonoor
Location : In the south Indian State of Tamil Nadu in the Nilgiris.
Tourist Attractions : Sim's Park, The Pasteur Institute, Pomological Station,
Dolphin's Nose, Lamb's Rock, Droog, Law's Falls, Ooty.
Best Buys : Local handicrafts
Best Hangouts : Sim's Park, Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint, Lamb's Rock,
Law's Fall.
Best Activity : Bird Watching, strolling around.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Ooty, Madhumalai, Kodaikanal, Madurai.
When to Visit : September to May
About Coonoor
Coonoor is the second largest hill station located in the Nilgiri hills
in the state of Tamil Nadu in the south of India. Famous for its verdant
environs and for a variety of wildflowers and birds, Coonoor provides
a perfect setting for activities like trekking and hiking. It is also
famous for its tea plantations and festivals. At Coonoor, travelers can
also enjoy the toy train ride, which is also the means of traveling to
other hill stations in the Nilgiri Hills from Coonoor. The trip provides
some breathtaking views of the Nilgiri hills in all its natural glory.
Coonoor provides the traveler with the panoramic view of the lush green
Nilgiri hills, with its ravines, valleys, and waterfalls. Bird watching
is a popular activity in Coonoor, as the area boasts of a large variety
of species like cormorants, pipits, thrushes, parakeets, skylarks, Nilgiri
verditer, etc. Travelers can take a walk through the long stretches of
tea gardens. There are numerous trekking and hiking trails around Coonoor.
Major Tourist Attractions in Coonoor
Sim's Park
The Sim's Park is an important place to visit in Coonoor. Spread in an
area of 12 ha, the park has a collection of over 1,000 plant species,
including magnolia, pines, tree ferns, and camellia. The botanical garden
is partly developed in the Japanese style and derived its name from J.
D. Sim, the secretary of the Madras Club in 1874. The key attraction of
the park is the annual fruit and vegetable show held in May.
Pomological Station
The institute is a research center of the State Agricultural Department
for persimmon, pomegranates, and apricot.
Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint
The Dolphin's Nose Viewpoint is 10 km from Coonoor and is a spectacular
spot to visit. It not only provides a panoramic view of the vast expanse
of the Nilgiri hills but also of the famous Catherine Falls.
Lamb's Rock
On way to Dolphin's Nose, about 5½ km from Coonoor, lies Lamb's
Rock, another vantage point to view the fantastic landscape and the tea
and coffee plantations.
Droog
At a distance of 13 km from Coonoor, Droog takes one into the past, with
the ruins of a fort, which was once used by Tipu Sultan in the 16th century.
Law's Falls
The majestic falls are 5 km from Coonoor, on the way to Mettupalayam.
Ooty
The famous hill station of Ooty, also known as the queen of hill stations
is 19 km northwest of Coonoor. Ooty is an immensely popular tourist destination.
Like Coonoor, Ooty is also set amongst the green settings of the Nilgiri
hills and is famous for its lake, gardens, and colonial architecture.
You can enjoy a number of outdoor activities like horse riding, trekking,
hiking, and boating in Ooty.
Getting There
Air : Coonoor does not have an airport of its own. The nearest
airport is at Coimbatore located 71 km away.
Rail : Coonoor is on the toy-train line between Mettupalayam (28
km) and Ooty (19 km).
Road : Coonoor is very well connected by a network of roads and
road transport to all major towns of Tamil Nadu like Ooty (19 km) and
Coimbatore (71 km) besides the surrounding areas.
Accommodation
Excellent accommodation facilities are offered in and around Coonoor.
In order to make the travel tour to Coonoor even more joyful you need
to choose just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family
or friends in Coonoor. The various hotels in Coonoor offer the world class
facilities, as per the tourists choice.You may take your pick from a range
of luxury and budget hotels in Coonoor besides the star categorized accommodation
hotels around the landmarks of Coonoor offer excellent view of the landmarks
through their suites.
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