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Are you planning to go on a trip? Should you visit Yelagiri?

I visited Yelagiri a month back and, here I am sharing all the information I gathered, plus my amusing experience during the journey. I hope this blog will help you decide if you want to add Yelagiri as a destination for your next trip.

I also have a travel video created during my visit to Yelagiri which you can find at the end of this blog. So, if you want to directly jump to the video, scroll to the last section of the blog, hit that play button, and enjoy the video.

Introduction

Yelagiri is a small but beautiful hill station in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu packed with lush greenery, lakes, waterfalls and hills. Situated around 230 KMs from Chennai and 170 KMs from Bangalore, it could be a good weekend getaway option if you are staying in Chennai or Bangalore.

The weather in Yelagiri remains moderate throughout the year, but it is recommended to visit here between November and February to enjoy the glorious climate.

Why Yelagiri?

At the time of visit, I was in Chennai working as a photographer and filmmaker and I was planning for a weekend getaway to a nearby hill station. Yelagiri stood out on the list, as it was perfectly located for a short drive and didn’t seem to be commercially exploited. Also, It had only few places to visit, so I thought I’d have ample time to explore these places.

So, without thinking much, I booked a tent stay, packed my Camera and clothes, and started my road trip.

Road trip experience

Apart from me squeezing myself through the Chennai traffic, the ride was pretty smooth on the highway. However, The road was narrow towards the last stretch before the ghat section, and most parts of it were under construction, so I had my fair bit of bumpy ride as well.

I passed many toll booths on the way and had a couple of breaks in between to satisfy my belly and to give rest to my back.

The ghat section before Yelagiri town was a well-maintained road and was very much enjoyable with the lush greeneries and laid-out trees on both sides of the road. I also stopped at the last hairpin bend and adored the view of the hills covered in a lush green blanket of grass, bushes and trees.

My list of places

My main rationale behind visiting Yelagiri was to be with nature, away from all the hustles of the city and to engage with the local community to understand the local culture. So I didn’t include all the popular places in my list and instead took some time to visit the local villages nearby and interact with the locals. Here are the few places and suggestions I have.

1. Punganoor Lake Park

Punganoor lake is a man-made lake at the center of the town and is probably the most crowded place than the others listed here. One could opt for boating, relaxing in the park, or stuff your belly with different food from the shops nearby.

The last in the above list is exactly what I did! I stuffed my belly with different snacks and had a cup of tea, then spent some time walking around the lake.

I didn’t want to stay there for a long time as I desired more tranquil surroundings. The lake was packed with a lot of people and noise which wasn’t something I was seeking. So before the sunset, I left the lake and continued my onward journey.

2. Nilavoor Lake and viewpoint

Nilavoor lake was much less crowded when compared to Punganoor lake. There was also a garden where I saw a few people relaxing. The lake is not as big as Punganoor lake. It’s more like a big pond but way less crowded.

I didn’t care to go inside as I was on my way back from Punganoor lake. So I asked a resident if there was any place nearby to watch the sunset and he pointed towards a narrow road beside the lake.

I followed the path and found myself in a deserted place. There was a small land extending above the surrounding terrain that acted as a higher point. I started climbing, hoping to find a better vantage point to watch the sunset. When I reached the top, I was welcomed with the stunning view of the sunset along with a huge amount of dark clouds on the other side.

It was such a great place to grasp the full 360-degree view of the hills and the best part was, it’s easily accessible. Just a 5-minute ride from the main road. However, since the place is void of people most of the time, it’s not safe once it’s dark.

3. Swamimalai Hill

Swamimalai Hill is the highest point in Yelgiri and, to reach the top, one has to trek, which is a fairly easy one. There is a forest check post where you have to pay around Rs.350 for trekking. Even though there are a few spots on the way selling drinking water, I would suggest you to carry water bottles to be on the safer side.

It took me around 30 mins to reach the top of the hill. The place seemed to be well suited for nature lovers. I was able to embrace the serenity of nature all the way and my climbing was rewarded with scenic vistas and fantastic surroundings. Hilltop had the most dazzling view of the entire valley which made my whole journey worthwhile.

4. Visiting villages

I strongly believe that if you want a complete travel experience, you have to meet and interact with the residents and understand the culture and lifestyle of that place. This is the reason, I set aside some time to stop by a few villages in the Yelagiri region.

The people I met were all very friendly, warm and welcoming. Most of the people I met were farmers. Many led a simple life taking care of farms and cattle. It felt like, evening workplace for them was to hang around with their family and friends, telling all kinds of stories, cracking jokes and enjoying the time.

I found my time spent with the people as heartwarming as spending time in the nature.

5. Few other options

Other than these places, you can also check out Jalagamparai falls, Yelagiri nature park, telescope observatory and so on. Also if you’d like to have some adventure, you can plan to visit any adventure parks which offer zipline, ATV and other arial adventures as well.

Conclusion

Yelagiri might not be a conventional destination to head to, but it is certainly one that you ought to add to your list of places to visit if you like peace and quiet. Since the place is not commercially exploited, you’ll get hotels, homestays and tents at a very nominal rate as well.

So, what do you think? Would you add Yelagiri to your list of places to visit? Or are you someone who visited Yelagiri before? if yes, let me know your favorite places in the comments.

Video

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