Yelagiri: A Beautiful Hill Resort in Tamil Nadu

Yelagiri is a hill station in South India located close to Chennai and Bengaluru. It is about four hours’ drive from either of these two city airports.

Why should a visitor to India include Yelagiri in his or her travel plan? Yelagiri is well connected by road to the two major cities of South India.

Sightseeing in Yelagiri

Yelagiri has all the standard features of a typical hill station in India. It has a lake with boating facility, a park and even waterfalls. One can access the waterfalls by a short trek. The less adventurous can drive down to the waterfalls by road. Musical fountain shows are organised during the weekends in the park located next to the lake. The park also offers a serene atmosphere to one seeking peace and solace.

The lake is situated in the middle of the small town. The street outside the lake is lined by fruit vendors and small eatery joints. I would say that the boating facility in Yelagiri is very basic in nature and it does not compare well with other hill stations in South India. However, it is scenic and offers a pleasant ambiance.

There is a small lotus pond possibly around 15 minutes’ drive from the lake area. One can stop the cars on the road side to have a look at the blooming lotus flowers. This is a narrow road and one has to be careful not to let their parked cars affect the free movement of vehicles.

There are a couple of nurseries selling plants as you drive up the hills. Even if you have no intention to buy plants, one can still stop at the nurseries to buy fresh fruits plucked fresh from the trees. The gardeners there are very warm and friendly.

But we should not go to Yelagiri with the intention of only sightseeing. It is about taking a break from the hot weather conditions in the plains. Yelagiri has mild and pleasant weather throughout the year. There are times the summer could become too hot to make one wonder if it is really a hill station. So one should avoid the months of April and May for a visit to Yelagiri.

Accommodation and stay Arrangements

Yelagiri does not figure in the list of top hill resorts of South India, leave alone India. The biggest challenge we would face in Yelagiri is in finding the right accommodation. We do not have five star rated hotels or resorts in Yelagiri. It is better to book in advance if one is planning to travel in the weekends. On weekdays, nearly all the resorts and hotels would be empty as the working population in Chennai and Bengaluru visit only during weekends.

I find hotel Landmark as one of the best in this hill station. Hotel Landmark is located right next to the lake offering a pleasant view. Food is really good here and one can visit the restaurant at Sterling resorts for a meal or two. I would not recommend a stay in Sterling resorts in Yelagiri though this group has better resorts in other hill stations. You can book accommodation through any of the leading travel portals of India.

Yelagiri is a very safe place like any other town in Tamilnadu state. One can travel freely but newcomers are well advised to travel in groups in the night time. We get everything from fuel to mobile service without interruption in the hills.

Yelagiri also boasts one of the clearer night skies thanks to less pollution and high altitude. So it is a favorite destination for the few astronomy buffs who keep searching for the elusive dark skies in India. But if the clouds play spoilsport, the night sky viewing has to be abandoned.

We get some good fresh fruits form the fruit vendors operating outside the park. Star fruit is a local delicacy there. But we do not have much of a shopping list for a traveler in Yelagiri. Those who love morning walks, outdoor activities and trekking would love Yelagiri. But if you travel more for sightseeing, there are better hill stations in Tamilnadu.