10 Nov 07 Yercaud is a quiet hill station with picturesque surroundings and nice climate. Compared to other hill stations, it is small, best suited for weekend picnics. Being less expensive, it is also called as the poor man’s Ooty.
There are many places to see around Yercaud : view points , temples, parks , a big natural lake, and also a waterfalls. If sufficient time is there, one can explore all the places by walk and enjoy the nature at the best.
Last week , when I came across one article , http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/11/stories/2006021102780300.htm
I decided to visit that place immediately .
I decided to visit that place immediately .
From Chennai on 9th Nov night, I boarded a train Yercaud express. After getting down at Salem junction early morning, took a bus to Yercaud. It was one hour journey from Salem to Yercaud by crossing many hairpin bends on the ghat road. While entering Yercaud, I saw a big lake . Near the lake, there is a sign board ‘way to Kiliyur falls’ showing 3 Kms distance After getting down there, checked into a hotel ‘Aishwaryam Inn’.
After refreshing & taking breakfast, decided to trek to the waterfalls. By walking some distance, saw few children requesting the tourists to buy some fruits from them. Reached another signboard pointing that Kiliyur falls is 0.5 km away. Those who come by bikes and other vehicles need to abandon them there only. I saw many people stopped there and returned back.
Further way to the falls is very tedious. The path is very narrow and steep. One side deep valley and other side is boulders & trees. At some points , I had to slide down. Finally I reached the waterfalls. The water is falling down from a height of 300ft over a cascade of rocks. They say excess water from the lake and streams from higher mountain points falls in Kiliyur valley. As there were rains few days back, plenty of water everywhere. I forgot all tiredness after taking bath there. After spending an hour & taking photos, I returned from the waterfalls.
By the time I returned to the lake, many people were there. Some were boating, some in the adjacent parks. As the peddling boats were already occupied at that time, I hired a rowing boat. Being in demand, the charges are a bit high, for 15 minutes it is Rs. 75 /- . The 15 minutes time was sufficient to make around the lake. By 6.30 PM , it was dark all over and for me there was no option except to return to the hotel room.
Next day, the reception person arranged an auto rickshaw for local site seeing for Rs. 300 /-. We visited different locations: Pagoda point, Rajeswari Temple, Shevrayan temple, view points ( Lady seat, Gent’s seat, Children’s seat) etc. By afternoon, the site seeing was over & I took a bus to return to Salem, from there took a train to Chennai.
Photos:
1. On the way to Kiliyur falls. End of the road for vehicles. The stream from the lake that leads to the waterfalls is in the background.
2. Children selling fruits
3. Steep way down to waterfalls
4. at last..., reached the falls.
5. Water falling from a height of 300ft.
6. The big lake
7. Boating in the lake
8. View at pagoda Point
9. Near temple at Pagoda point
10. Shri Rajarajeswari Temple. Herbal medicines also available here.
11. The path that laeds to Bear caves.
12. Sevaryan temple at heighest point of Yercaud. Also called as cave temple.
13. View from Sevarayan Temple
14. Telescope house at Lady's seat
15. View from lady's seat.
16. Gent's seat view point
17. View from Gent's seat
18. Children's seat view point
19. The hotel where I stayed
