Yercaud – History and Useful Info
Yercaud
is situated in the green vistas of the Servaroyan (Shevaroy) Hills in the
Eastern Ghats, close to the Steel town of Salem in Tamil Nadu. Its popularity
as an escape from the heat and grime of the city rests not just upon its
landscape of forest covered hillsides, and coffee, cardamom and black pepper
plantations, but also its very affordability, as against the more upmarket Ooty
and Kodaikanal nearby. The picturesque manmade lake at the centre of the town
here is a popular spot for picnickers.
Yercaud
was a lesser known hill station when compared to Ooty and Kodaikanal till some
time back. Yercaud is situated at an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,920 feet), on
the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats. The lofty hills are of extraordinary
scenic beauty endowed with a salubrious climate. Although close (33km) to the
bustling industrial town of Salem, Yercaud has a spirited charm of its own.
It
is a quiet, calm and full of natural charms hill station in Tamil Nadu. The
Yercaud Hills as a whole provide you many scenic beauties and panoramic views
with a pleasant cool climate. Due to its moderate temperature all year round
Yercaud can be visited whenever you wish to. Popular as the 'Poor man's Ooty',
it is an hour's drive from Salem, easily driveable from Bangalore and is the
least expensive hill station in India.
This
is one hill station where one does not feel the biting cold of winter. With
such a salubrious climate, Yercaud can be visited round the year. One can see
the place Lady's Seat. It overlooks the winding ghat road and provides a breath
taking view. This view is spectacular at night with the twinkling lights of
Salem town in sight. The Tourists can have a panoramic view of the plains below
through the telescope mounted at the lady's seat. There are many more places to
visit.
Yercaud is a picturesque hill station at an altitude of 1500
meters above sea level. It is situated in the Servarayan range (Shevaroy) in
the Eastern Ghats. This hill station is renowned for its coffee plantations and
orange groves. The Shevaroyan Hills at an altitude of 5326 feet is the highest
point in Yercaud. Arthur's Seat gives a bird's eye view of the Big Lake,
Yercaud town and the Shevaroyan Peak. The Big Lake or Emerald Lake is a placid
lake set in a wonderful backdrop of hills and natural shoals. It offers boating
facilities. Adjacent to the lake is the Anna Park. The Japanese park inside the
Anna Park is worth a glance. Tourists throng to the Rose garden to see a
collection of colourful roses situated 02 Km from Yercaud. Grange is one of the
oldest buildings in Yercaud and is 03 Km from Yercaud Lake. Lady's Seat is a
natural rock formation resembling a seat. It is on the south western side of
Yercaud hills overlooking the Ghat road on the town of Salem to the south.
Tourists also visit the mulberry cultivation, growing of silk worms and the
method of spinning silk yarns at Silk Factory. On the eastern side of Yercaud
is the Pyramid or Pagoda Point. This is an idyllic picnic spot located 05 Km
from Yercaud. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Rama here. The Kiliyur Falls
is a majestic waterfall 03 ks from Yercaud Lake. It presents spectacular views
from the top and bottom of the falls. The Botanical Survey of India has a range
of orchids. Notable among these are the ladies Slipper and an insect eating
orchid. Shri Raheshwari Temple is dedicated to Shri Raheshwari the God of
wealth and prosperity. The Kottachedu Teak Forest is 11 Km from Yercaud and one
can see the bison here. Tipperary View Point is the southern most view point
from Yercaud. One can see the Elephant Tooth Rocks which is reportedly said to
be the remnants of a meteorite which fell to earth
Literally
the name Yercaud in Tamil means lake (Yeri) and forests (Kadu), and is said to
be named after the lake amidst wooded trees in the centre of the town. Yercaud
is famous for its schools such as Montfort School and its various monasteries
and convents. A delightful hill with magnificent views of the hills and the
plains in between. On top of the hill there is a cave temple with a modern
facade dedicated to the local deity Lord Shervarayan and his wife Goddess
Kaveri. It is the highest point in Yercaud, 5,326 ft above sea level.Thousands
of tribals take part in the colourful annual festival in the month of May.It is
famous for its educational institutions such as the Sacred Heart Convent for
girls, Montfort School for boys and the Holy Cross Novitiate House.
There
are nearly 20 hairpin bends that afford panoramic views of the hills and
valleys. It overlooks the winding Ghat road and provides a breathtaking view.
This view is spectacular at night with the twinkling lights of Salem town in
sight. The tourists can have a panoramic view of the plains below through the
telescope mounted at the Lady's Seat.
There's
nothing spectacular about Yercaud's beauty, and that's precisely its charm and,
aside from the solitary lake, the endless expense of green is all that meets
the eye. Take a long walk away from the lake into the mysterious wooded
hillside or climb up to the Murugan temple for a heartstoppingly beautiful view
of the valley, and you're guaranteed an experience as exhilarating perhaps even
as mystical as you could hope for in any of the more celebrated hill stations
in the country.
Here
are two major attractions that draw visitors to Yercaud, the temperatures are
cool all year round, and the fact that it is easy on the pocket. But don't let
the budget factor fool you into believing that you might be headed for a
completely tame experience.
At
the highest point sits the Servarayan temple dedicated to the deity Servarayan
and his consort Kaveri. The cave at the temple extends far beyond the shrine's
limits. Legend has it that it extends all the way to the very source of the
Kaveri in Kodagu, Karnataka ,a distance of 480 Km. Very few have explored the
entire cave, an enterprise beset with dangerous terrain and poisonous snakes.
Clouds
appearing and flowing past you climbing the hills and blurring the vision one second
and next clearing and giving a glimpse into mother nature's beautiful creation.
You are at such a height that human existence ceases to be visible. There seems
to be no houses nor vehicles nor the associated noises until the sun sets and
night becomes black do you realize the golden glitter and diamond studs that
humanity has created through its lighting system.
Yercaud is a wonderful family get away other than being the
beautiful hill resort. With the Yercaud Lake and the Killiyur waterfalls, the place
is always green, enjoying a pleasant climate through out the year. Other than
the natural charms the place also has a beautiful temple on the Shevaroyan
hills.
The
hill resort of Yercaud has its own vintage points. There is the lady's seat
that offers wondrous vistas of the gorgeous Ghats and the trees. At dark you
must watch out for the view of the lit Salem that resembles the twinkling
stars. The other vintage points at Yercaud are the Gent's Seat, the retreat and
the Pagoda Point.
Yercaud
started gaining popularity as a hillstation in the 19th century. It was David
Cockburn, the Scottish Collector of Salem (said to have first introduced the
cultivation of coffee here) who set about developing its natural resources. The
Grange, his old home which still stands, was fortified and equipped with
ramparts and cannons, to act as a sanctuary for the European community here, in
the event of another uprising after the Indian Mutiny.
Flora and fauna
Some of the
original forests continue to exist in the Yercaud hills and contain several endemic species of plants and fauna. The Yercaud
hills have many faunal and floral similarities to the Western Ghats. Wildlife includes bison, deer,anteater, rabbits, hares, foxes, mongoose, squirrels, partridges, snakes, bulbuls, kites, sparrows, swallows and Paradise flycatchers.
Agriculture
The main crop of Yercaud is coffee. Coffee was first cultivated on the "Grange Estate" in the year 1820, the year in which coffee plants were brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr. M.D. Cockburn.
Jack fruit, orange, guava and spices such as black pepper and cardamom are the other crops raised on the coffee estate. Sandalwood, teak and silver oak are abundant too.
Festivals
Summer Festival: This is held during the middle of May when the annual festival of Lord Servarayan, presiding deity of the Shevroy Hills, takes place. It has a 7-day exhibition of flower shows, dog shows, boating races and a village fair.
Politics
General Information
Area
|
383 sq.kms
|
Altitude
|
1515 m
|
Population
|
36863 (1991 Census)
|
Language
|
Tamil and English
|
Rainfall
|
Min 1500 mm - Max 2000 mm
|
STD Code
|
04281
|
Season
|
Throughout the year
|
Classification of Lands in Yercaud Taluk
Forest
|
23,200
|
Grassing grounds
|
131
|
Lands unfit for cultivation
|
692
|
Lands used for other purposes
|
2,534
|
Net cultivable area
|
11,194
|
Tope etc
|
326
|
Other Waste
|
12
|
Waste
|
13
|
Waste land fit for cultivation
|
85
|
Total
|
38267 hetares
|
