Hi folks,
This time around, I thought of contributing some useful information as usually whenever I share something its either bull**** or as such unnecessary :)))
Its always troublesome in getting the right information when you are ready or about to ready to travel to new place for the first time.
I had similar incidences, and keep happening.
I wanted to go on a weekend holiday very near to Chennai. I did not want to waste a lot of time in traveling as time was very precious for both of us(my wife and myself), we both are working.
We already visited Pondicherry, Mahabalipuram, Kancheepuram, etc. I had remembered seeing some hill station called Yercaud in google. I searched again and got some useful info. But I am not writing my experience here, am giving you a tip or two on Yercaud and how to get there.
1. Yercaud is a nice hill station in Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
2. You can either take a train from Chennai to Salem(around 5 hours) or Chennai to Erode(around 6 hours)
3. Erode is a little farther so I suggest you take a train to Salem.
4. From Salem railway station Yercaud is just 35 kms. You can google for taxi operators and take a pick up from Salem station itself. It should be somewhere around Rs.1200/- per day. Worth it.
5. Alternatively there are quite a few buses plying from Salem bus station which is 10 minutes from the railway station.
Yercaud does not have very fancy resorts and it is not a typical tourist place. If you can afford luxury, try to book yourslef in Hotel Grand Palace or GRT nature trails. Its heavy on purse but the location is stupendous.
Otherwise directly book at Hotel Shevoroys, which is very decent and the oldest 'good' hotel in Yercaud.
Its necessary to have advance booking so that you are not stranded as there are quite a few guys from Salem who just come over on weekends..
But in any case, its a beautiful place. Dont expect anything but natural beauty. there are hardly any sites to see. Theres a good enough botanical garden, other than that nothing.
Its ideal for families and groups as you can pack up some lunch and enjoy small outings.
You will find restaurants attached to big hotels. the food is average. Shevoroy again is the best as its priced moderately too.
I went a couple of times, once in monsoon and the other time during winter. So I cannot comment on the climate during summer. But winters and monsoons whould be chilly by Indian standard. Night was around 12-14 and day time was around 18-20 degrees C.
This place is called the poor man's Ooty for right reasons. Its not so commercialized either. But again, as warned earlier, dont expect big things, theres nothing in Yercaud except nature.
By the way, do try the freshly made bakery products from inside Shevoroy hotel's bakery. This is in the Hotel management college campus inside the hotel.
Cheers
Sanju
