Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
Emerald Lake

Yercaud

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Tamil Nadu India
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Yercaud Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: October to June Read More

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"The Land of Seven Forests."

Yercaud Tourism

Nestled in the Shivaroy Hills of Tamil Nadu, Yercaud is a hill station in the Eastern Ghats steeped in abundant greenery. Commonly called ‘Ooty of the Poor’, this region has a history dating back to the time of the British. Located at an altitude of 4970 feet, Yercaud is known for its vast expanses of coffee plantations and great weather.

Yercaud lake is the main point of attraction of the region.One of the many highlights is the summer festival that takes place in May. It is dedicated to Lord Servarayan, the supreme god of the ranges and gives visitors a glimpse into the rich heritage of this region.

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Must Visit Places in Yercaud

Emerald Lake, Yercaud

Emerald Lake, Yercaud
Pagoda Point

Pagoda Point
Botanical Garden, Yercaud

Botanical Garden, Yercaud
Lady's Seat

Lady's Seat

Places To Visit In Yercaud

Emerald Lake, Yercaud

Emerald Lake, Yercaud
Pagoda Point

Pagoda Point
Botanical Garden, Yercaud

Botanical Garden, Yercaud
Anna Park

Anna Park
Lady's Seat

Lady's Seat
Killiyur Falls

Killiyur Falls
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Top Hotels In Yercaud

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Trekker's Paradise

Yercaud is also known as the 'Land of 7 forests', situated at an altitude of 1515 meters above sea level. Fields of coffee, citrus fruits, jackfruit, banana and pear trees are all constituents of the forests in and around Yercaud. Therefore, trekking through all this is a wonderful experience.

Agriculture and Festivals in Yercaud

The other major source of income is agriculture, with coffee as the major crop. Coffee was first cultivated on the "Grange Estate" in 1820 when coffee plants were brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr M.D. Cockburn. Jackfruit, star apple, fig, lacota, water apple, oranges, guava and spices such as black pepper and cardamom are other crops raised on the coffee estate. Sandalwood, teak and silver oak are abundant as well.

Summer Festival is held during the middle of May, when the annual festival of Lord Servarayan, presiding deity of the Shevaroy Hills, takes place. There is a 7-day exhibition of flower shows, dog shows, boating races and a village fair.

Demography of Yercaud

Yercaud has a population of approximately 40,000 people during the 2001 census period. The scheduled Tribal population of Yercaud is 24,449 people. The majority of the population is Tribal people in Yercadu. The indigenous inhabitants of Yercaud are known as Malayalis (Hill men) or Vellalas. They are not aboriginal tribes but migrated from Kanchipuram 500 years ago.

The language spoken in Yercaud is Tamil and English. The total density of the population is 102 people per km2. The increase of population at the rate of 20% and Yercaud being a Rural township it lacks any urban population. The literacy rate in Yercaud is 62% out of the total population.

Flora and Fauna

A jewel of the South, Yercaud in the Eastern Ghats has a treasure trove of exotic flora and fauna. The name Yercaud is derived from the Tamil words yeri which means lake, and kaadu which means forest. Yercaud is home to the famous National Orchidarium and botanical garden which covers an area of 18.4 hectares and has over 3000 trees of jackfruit, pears, oranges etc. It also has a rich variety of wildlife including bison, deer, jackals, ant-eaters and birds like the whistling thrush, Indian grey hornbill, peacock and racket-tailed drongo.The beautiful Killiyur falls is another attraction of Yercaud.

History of Yercaud

The history of Yercaud, the Salem district of Tamil Nadu, can be traced back to the Stone Age, with artefacts being discovered in the Shevaroy Hills. It is believed that Sir Thomas Munroe, former Governor of Madras found this place in 1842, and the Scottish collector David Cockburn contributed to its development. He is thus often referred to as the Father of Yercaud, and he introduced a variety of plantations here like coffee, pears and apples. More Europeans arrived over the years in the city, and this led to further expansion of its plantations to include tea, cinnamon etc. The famous MSP Plantations and MSP Coffee of the town owes its inception to MSP Rajes, who was the first Indian coffee planter to settle here.

Restaurants and Local Food in Yercaud

Tamil Nadu people believe that serving food to another living being be it humans or animals, is a service to god itself. Therefore, they are generous when it comes to food, whether it is in their home or temples or even restaurants. Traditionally, this south Indian cuisine is served on a banana leaf and people sit on the floor to eat. It is rich in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
The food mainly consists of rice, lentils, legumes with spices such as curry leaves, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, garlic etc. Coconut in various forms in widely used. A typical meal consists of Rice, Sambhar(Curry), two types of vegetables, curd and a pickle. Dosas, idilis, Upma, Parota, Sambhar, Rasam, Pongal are the dishes with which the cuisine of Tamil Nadu is identified. Paysam, Kesari, Sweet pongal are the sweet treasure of this cuisine.
Filter coffee is a specialty of the south-Indian cuisine. The making of filter coffee is like a ritual, as the coffee beans are first roasted and then powdered. They then use a filter set, few scoops of powdered coffee, enough boiling water is added to prepare a very dark liquid called the decoction. A 3/4 mug of hot milk with sugar, a small quantity of decoction is then served in Dabarah, a unique Coffee cup.
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Suggested Itinerary for Yercaud

Day 1- Arrive at Yercaud, check-in and rest. Then visit the Big Lake and Pagoda Point.
Day 2- Begin day with a trek atop the hills. Later, visit Anna Park, Lady's Seat.
Day 3- Visit the Kiliyur Falls, Deer Park, Karadiyur View Point, Sri Chakra Mahameru Temple and Shevaroy Temple.

Best Time to Visit Yercaud

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Yercaud Photos

Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
Emerald Lake

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FAQs on Yercaud

What are the places near Yercaud?

The top places near to Yercaud are Hogenakkal which is 60 km from Yercaud, Bangalore which is located 148 km from Yercaud, Munnar which is located 225 km from Yercaud, Ooty which is located 169 km from Yercaud, Coorg which is located 278 km from Yercaud

What are the things to do in Yercaud?

The top things to do in Yercaud are Killiyur Falls, Lady's Seat, Bear's Cave, Emerald Lake, Yercaud, Pagoda Point, Shevaroy Hills. You can see all the places to visit in Yercaud here

What are the top hotels in Yercaud?

There are 89 in Yercaud which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Yercaud are Fairholme Bungalow, Garden Woods, Yercaud, HillCrest Cottages, Chess Cottage, Villa With Kitchen, SSSILVEROAKS HOTEL AND RESTAURANT. You can see all the hotels in Yercaud here

What is the best way to reach Yercaud?

You could reach Salem and then it is 35 km uphill to Yercaud. Buses are available fat regular interval from Salem central bus stand. The fare is just Rs. 22 and you should get down just before the last bus stop at Yercaud. Trichy (163 km) is the nearest airport to Yercaud and Bangalore airport, which is an international airport, is around 230 km from Yercaud. You can take a taxi or a bus to reach Yercaud from these places. Buses from other South Indian towns also ply to Yercaud and you can hop into any one of them to reach here in a nice and pocket-friendly way.
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What is the local food in Yercaud?

Tamil Nadu people believe that serving food to another living being be it humans or animals, is a service to god itself. Therefore, they are generous when it comes to food, whether it is in their home or temples or even restaurants. Traditionally, this south Indian cuisine is served on a banana leaf and people sit on the floor to eat. It is rich in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
The food mainly consists of rice, lentils, legumes with spices such as curry leaves, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, garlic etc. Coconut in various forms in widely used. A typical meal consists of Rice, Sambhar(Curry), two types of vegetables, curd and a pickle. Dosas, idilis, Upma, Parota, Sambhar, Rasam, Pongal are the dishes with which the cuisine of Tamil Nadu is identified. Paysam, Kesari, Sweet pongal are the sweet treasure of this cuisine.
Filter coffee is a specialty of the south-Indian cuisine. The making of filter coffee is like a ritual, as the coffee beans are first roasted and then powdered. They then use a filter set, few scoops of powdered coffee, enough boiling water is added to prepare a very dark liquid called the decoction. A 3/4 mug of hot milk with sugar, a small quantity of decoction is then served in Dabarah, a unique Coffee cup.
Read More

What is the best time to visit Yercaud?

Yercaud offers breathtaking views and a tranquil ambience throughout the year. However, October to June is the best time to visit Yercaud because the weather is dry and cool. With lush green forests and sprawling coffee plantations, this spectacular hill station is home to numerous trekking trails, heritage monuments, delicious dishes, and beautiful culture. During the month of May, a seven-day Summer Festival is conducted which includes flower shows, dog shows, boating races and village fairs. Monsoons could be avoided as rains might hamper your sightseeing plans, but the rains make this place extra beautiful and you might not want to miss that either.
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Who should visit Yercaud?

Yercaud is a great weekend getaway for those living in and around Tamil Nadu.

What is not so good about Yercaud?

Difficult to reach.

What is famous about Yercaud?

Jewel of South. Lake forest. Scenic and beautiful surroundings.

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Yercaud Reviews

Your rating

All Rounder Sangam

5 years ago
Perfect place at that time of mist fog time. You feel good and relax your holiday that time only

Rohit Lodha

on Pagoda Point 6 years ago
A beautiful spot. Walk to this place, if you can, instead of taking an auto.

Rohit Lodha

on Emerald Lake 6 years ago
The beauty of the lake is hyped. It's a family spot which backpackers can give a miss.
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