Friday, May 27, 2016

Yercaud Lake (Emerald Lake), Yercaud

Yercaud Lake (Emerald Lake), Yercaud
The Yercaud Lake is undoubtedly one of the not-to-miss places to be seen in Yercaud. Providing stunning, panoramic views of the hills and lush green lawns of this hill station, this Lake also barges out as one of the most sought after destinations in Yercaud. The pool, which is surrounded by gardens and well wooded trees, provides a soothing and tranquil experience. Here, travellers can experience everything that Yercaud and its hills have to offer. Situated in the heart of Yercaud, the place is known for its shops and eateries that offer the real taste of Tamilnadu.

  


Travellers can have an incredible experience of gaining insight into the food and cuisine of Tamilnadu, tasting dishes prepared with ingenious spices. This makes Yercaud Lake, a culinary destination for epicureans. Apart from this, travellers can also enjoy a wide range of activities, including boating. The quaint water bodies of the lake and the picturesque beauty of the surrounding offers the best boating experience in Yercaud. While boating in the lake, the visitors might find it hard to resist the temptation of clicking photos of the picture-perfect ambience. Precisely, all these facts make the Yercaud Lake one of the best Yercaud places to visit.




Yercaud Lake is the first attraction for a Tourist. It is a picturesque water body surrounded by gardens and well wooded area. Boating in the cold water of the lake is enchanting as well as refreshing. It is a pool surrounded by well-preserved gardens and dark woods. The lake has boating facility in which both paddle boats and oar-drawn boats are available.




The lake is also known as emerald lake and it is the only natural lake amongst all hill stations in the southern part of India. There is a floating fountain at the center of lake, which was constructed by MALCO. The garden surrounding the lake is well groomed and can be seen beautiful during the month of May when the Summer Festival is organized.




One bank of this lake has a beautifully manicured flower garden while the other, the Yercaud Boathouse. This lake is perfect for families with children of different ages as it has several activities with which they can be occupied. You can do balloon shooting or experiment with roller balloons; enjoy boating on different kinds of boats; or, you can even rent cycles and have a blast.





With the boathouse just by the lake, you have the option of paddle or row boats. A local will man the two and four seater row boats and take you for a leisurely ride in the lake, if you are so inclined. The timings of the boat house and park are strictly between 9a.m and 5:30p.m. The boathouse is extremely well equipped and in the monsoons, smothered in fog, boating is a different experience altogether - quaint as Yercaud Lake is one of the few natural lakes in the many hill stations that dot south India. Boating and having a picnic on her banks is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend the day when not trekking in these dense forest hills and shoals.





The lake is surrounded by a “Deer Park” and “leisure park” and “Tamilnadu Hotel”. Boat services are available at a reasonable rate [Rs. 110 /- for 2 seats and Rs. 140 /- for 4 seats]. Self-Pedaling [15 min] and Rowing boats [30 min] are available. You have to pay the same amount as caution deposit for self-pedaling boats. The safety measures are followed strictly. The minimum time can be spent: 20 min.






The Natural shoal seen around the Petrol Bunk, Round Tana and adjoining the Anna Park are about the oldest shoals of natural species of trees that one can see around the Shevaroys. Another shoal of this type can be seen adjoining the Orchidarium. In the interests of conservation, this last stronghold of original trees should be preserved and replenished for the future.