Yelagiri
Encyclopedia
Yelagiri is a hill station / village in Vellore district
of Tamil Nadu
, India
, situated off the Vaniyambadi
-Tirupattur road. Located at an altitude of 1,410 metres above Mean Sea Level and spread across 30 km2, the Yelagiri village (also spelt Elagiri at times) is surrounded by orchards, rose-gardens, and green valleys.
Exact Location: Yelagiri is located around 19 km from Jolarpettai(near), a small town in the district of Vellore.
Nearest City: Vellore (வேலூர்)
Nearest Town: Athnavur town
Distance from Vellore: 91+ km
Distance from Chennai: 240+ km
like Ooty
or Kodaikanal
. However, the district administration has now taken up the task of developing Yelagiri Hills into a tourist destination by promoting the adventure sports such as paragliding
and rock climbing
.
The roadway to Yelagiri is finely constructed and well punctuated with the milestones and signboards all way through. Petrol pumps are sufficient enough which makes traveling convenient and easy.
Yelagiri is one of the famous places for trekkers in India. The hill station is located at a height of 1048 meters above sea level. Yelagiri comprises 14 hamlets and a number of temples spread over a couple of hills.
The highest point in Yelgiri is the Swamimalai Hill, standing tall at 4,338 ft; Swamimalai is a popular destination for trekkers. The view from the summit is spectacular. The hill provides a good number of trekking trails through thick reserved forests. Mangalam, a small village, is at the base of this hill. There are other trekking options that include smaller peaks like Javadi Hills, Palamathi Hills.
you will have to get down at Jolarpettai Junction which is the nearest railhead to Yelagiri.
From Bangalore
, get on to Hosur Road, national highway 7 and head towards Krishnagiri. The 4-lane National Highway is excellent and you should make it in less than 2 hours. At Krishnagiri, there's a toll-gate manned by the National Highways Authority. Pay your toll and at the second flyover (don't go over the flyover), take the service road towards the left. This road goes to Chennai
. Take the left and for the next hour or so, drive on NH46. You'll come to another toll-station. Pay and drive for a few minutes till you see Vanni Matriculation Higher Secondary School. Further up you'll see a sign 'Elagiri' (36 km) indicated by a 'U' turn arrow and that you need to keep left, take the 'U' turn, go under the bridge and on to the road towards Thirupathur. That's the road you need to get on to. Drive for about 7 kilometers. On the left, you'll see a big sign board 'Tamil Nadu Tourism Department Welcomes You'. Turn left at this junction, there's a sign board pointing towards yelagiri
From Coimbatore
, get on to NH 47 till Salem, from there take a left Krishnagiri. From there follow the same route from Bangalore as mentioned above.
. It’s an hour, 5 km, walk from Yelagiri downhill. Though there is a direct route from Yelagiri to the falls, it is often closed. One has to go all the way down the hill, take the plains, and then climb the hill on the other side. It's an hour's journey.
Swami Malai Hills: Swami malai hills are the hills in the form of cake with a strong base at the bottom and high peak of the hills just tend to touch the sky. Trekking is an attarction at Swami Malai (3 km to and 3 km fro). This trek leads one to a small peak from where the entire valley is visible
Telescope observatory: A telescope observatory near Yelagiri hill is also of attraction of visitors.
YMCA Camp Centre http://www.ymcayelagiri.com: A non-profit organisation that offers accommodation, dormitory accommodation, trekking and other camp activities.
Vellore District
Vellore district is one of the 32 districts in the Tamil Nadu state of India. Vellore City is the headquarters of this district. It had a population of 3,477,317 as of 2001. It is 37.62% urbanised...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, situated off the Vaniyambadi
Vaniyambadi
Vaniyambadi is a town and a municipality, part of the Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The major population comprises people following Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Jainism population...
-Tirupattur road. Located at an altitude of 1,410 metres above Mean Sea Level and spread across 30 km2, the Yelagiri village (also spelt Elagiri at times) is surrounded by orchards, rose-gardens, and green valleys.
Location
State: Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
Exact Location: Yelagiri is located around 19 km from Jolarpettai(near), a small town in the district of Vellore.
Nearest City: Vellore (வேலூர்)
Nearest Town: Athnavur town
Distance from Vellore: 91+ km
Distance from Chennai: 240+ km
Overview
The Yelagiri hill station is not as developed as the other hill stations in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
like Ooty
Ootacamund
Ootacamund , is a town, a municipality and the district capital of the Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Ootacamund is a popular hill station located in the Nilgiri Hills...
or Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal
-Climate:Kodaikanal has a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate . The temperatures are cool throughout the year due to the high elevation of the city.-Economy:...
. However, the district administration has now taken up the task of developing Yelagiri Hills into a tourist destination by promoting the adventure sports such as paragliding
Paragliding
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure...
and rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
.
The roadway to Yelagiri is finely constructed and well punctuated with the milestones and signboards all way through. Petrol pumps are sufficient enough which makes traveling convenient and easy.
Yelagiri is one of the famous places for trekkers in India. The hill station is located at a height of 1048 meters above sea level. Yelagiri comprises 14 hamlets and a number of temples spread over a couple of hills.
The highest point in Yelgiri is the Swamimalai Hill, standing tall at 4,338 ft; Swamimalai is a popular destination for trekkers. The view from the summit is spectacular. The hill provides a good number of trekking trails through thick reserved forests. Mangalam, a small village, is at the base of this hill. There are other trekking options that include smaller peaks like Javadi Hills, Palamathi Hills.
How to Reach
The nearest airport to Yelagiri is the Bangalore International Airport which handles both domestic and international flights. Reaching here, one can hire a taxi to reach Yelagiri. If you are coming by train from Bangalore, Chennai or CoimbatoreCoimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
you will have to get down at Jolarpettai Junction which is the nearest railhead to Yelagiri.
From Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, get on to Hosur Road, national highway 7 and head towards Krishnagiri. The 4-lane National Highway is excellent and you should make it in less than 2 hours. At Krishnagiri, there's a toll-gate manned by the National Highways Authority. Pay your toll and at the second flyover (don't go over the flyover), take the service road towards the left. This road goes to Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. Take the left and for the next hour or so, drive on NH46. You'll come to another toll-station. Pay and drive for a few minutes till you see Vanni Matriculation Higher Secondary School. Further up you'll see a sign 'Elagiri' (36 km) indicated by a 'U' turn arrow and that you need to keep left, take the 'U' turn, go under the bridge and on to the road towards Thirupathur. That's the road you need to get on to. Drive for about 7 kilometers. On the left, you'll see a big sign board 'Tamil Nadu Tourism Department Welcomes You'. Turn left at this junction, there's a sign board pointing towards yelagiri
From Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, get on to NH 47 till Salem, from there take a left Krishnagiri. From there follow the same route from Bangalore as mentioned above.
Places of interest
Jalagamparai Waterfalls: A short distance away, on the other side of the hill, is Jalagambarai falls,Situated at a distance of 14 km from Tirupattur. The murmuring Attaru Rives flows through the Yelagiri Hills, and plummets down to form a highly captivating waterfallWaterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
. It’s an hour, 5 km, walk from Yelagiri downhill. Though there is a direct route from Yelagiri to the falls, it is often closed. One has to go all the way down the hill, take the plains, and then climb the hill on the other side. It's an hour's journey.
Swami Malai Hills: Swami malai hills are the hills in the form of cake with a strong base at the bottom and high peak of the hills just tend to touch the sky. Trekking is an attarction at Swami Malai (3 km to and 3 km fro). This trek leads one to a small peak from where the entire valley is visible
Telescope observatory: A telescope observatory near Yelagiri hill is also of attraction of visitors.
YMCA Camp Centre http://www.ymcayelagiri.com: A non-profit organisation that offers accommodation, dormitory accommodation, trekking and other camp activities.
Further reading
- Pictures of trekking at Swami Malai http://www.vishfulthinking.com/2008/04/yelagiri-trip-photos.html
- More information http://wikitravel.org/en/Yelagiri