[chandras]

Good Decision, Shevaroy's is a good hotel and I had stayed with them.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserRe...amil_Nadu.html

Think again unless you're on a budget!

[Car-go-man]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

http://www.tripadvisor.in/ShowUserRe...amil_Nadu.html

Think again unless you're on a budget!

Yes, I did see lot of mixed reviews about Shevaroys on many websites, but somehow missed this link you posted.

I am not strictly on a budget since I was considering GRT but couldn't get bookings for the dates I've planned for. Could you please suggest alternatives? I still have time to cancel the booking for a very nominal fee.

I was considering Grand Palace as well as Lake Forest. Grand Palace too has mixed ratings and Lake Forest seems to have 2 facilities- one amidst the coffee estate and one in the annex building (like an apartment block) and I am not sure which one I would get the day I land. I definitely do not want to pay for a Bungalow and stay in a service apartment.

Any other options?

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by Car-go-man

Yes, I did see lot of mixed reviews about Shevaroys on many websites, but somehow missed this link you posted.

I have stayed couple of times in Shevaroys and we didn't have any complaints. Food is average.

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by Car-go-man

Yes, I did see lot of mixed reviews about Shevaroys on many websites, but somehow missed this link you posted.

I am not strictly on a budget since I was considering GRT but couldn't get bookings for the dates I've planned for. Could you please suggest alternatives? I still have time to cancel the booking for a very nominal fee.

I was considering Grand Palace as well as Lake Forest. Grand Palace too has mixed ratings and Lake Forest seems to have 2 facilities- one amidst the coffee estate and one in the annex building (like an apartment block) and I am not sure which one I would get the day I land. I definitely do not want to pay for a Bungalow and stay in a service apartment.

Any other options?

Lake forest felt nice to us - we saw the ones amidst the coffee estate. it was 1k more (3400 vs 4500). but LF is generally a nice property - you don't get the apartment feel anywhere. Can you check whether they can give you the estate rooms?

YMMV ofc.

[hillsnrains]

Folks,

I am planning a Bangalore-Yercaud trip during 25-26 January. I see many hotels are full and the prices seems quite unreasonable as well.

Here are my questions
1. How about staying in Salem and visit Yercaud during day time?
2. How long is the drive from Salem to Yercaud lake, given the current road conditions?
3. If at all I need to stay on top, which is the recommended budget Hotel ~2K

Thanks in advance

[ampere]

Originally Posted by hillsnrains

1. How about staying in Salem and visit Yercaud during day time?
2. How long is the drive from Salem to Yercaud lake, given the current road conditions?
3. If at all I need to stay on top, which is the recommended budget Hotel ~2K

The idea to go to Yercaud is to stay in Yercaud. Because you will be greeted by the tourist locations in there. What you actually have come for is to stay there have a quaint hilly weekend. From that point of view, staying in Salem does not make sense. Its about 40 minutes from Salem to Yercaud.

[condor]

+1 to Ampere's comments to stay at Yercaud itself.

Originally Posted by hillsnrains

3. If at all I need to stay on top, which is the recommended budget Hotel ~2K

Also check Hotel Tamil Nadu / the hotel by Tamil Nadu Tourism Dev Corpn (TTDC).

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by hillsnrains

Folks,

I am planning a Bangalore-Yercaud trip during 25-26 January. I see many hotels are full and the prices seems quite unreasonable as well.

Here are my questions
1. How about staying in Salem and visit Yercaud during day time?
2. How long is the drive from Salem to Yercaud lake, given the current road conditions?
3. If at all I need to stay on top, which is the recommended budget Hotel ~2K

Thanks in advance

Salem to Yercaud is about 30 kms and you have to negotiate 20 hair pend bends while driving. I stayed in Shevaroys hotel in Yercaud. From Bangalore NH7 all the way till Salem

[DragonHawk]

I am planning for a weekend ride to Yercaud. Plan is to leave by 5am and return same day. As it is going to be a bike ride, I hate to take the usual Salem route. So I decided to try Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Kuppanur-Yercaud route.

I am looking at below information, suggestions are appreciated.
* How is the present condition of the above route.? I haven`t done this route and I am relying on GPS to drive me through this route.
* Any decent Veg hotels in and around Yercaud.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

* Any decent Veg hotels in and around Yercaud.

Can't help much on the route/road related query, sorry. Look up previous posts on this thread for updates on the route, you may find recent ones.
Veg food - some options are:
- GRT Nature trails which on the ghat road leading to Yercaud, entry from near one of the hair pin bends.
- Shevaroys - they have 2 or more restaurants inside their campus

Came across one more "saravana bhavan" - in this earlier post Here

[ampere]

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

I am planning for a weekend ride to Yercaud. Plan is to leave by 5am and return same day. As it is going to be a bike ride, I hate to take the usual Salem route. So I decided to try Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Kuppanur-Yercaud route.

I am looking at below information, suggestions are appreciated.
* How is the present condition of the above route.? I haven`t done this route and I am relying on GPS to drive me through this route.
* Any decent Veg hotels in and around Yercaud.

- Drive till Harur is good.
- Beyond Harur, as per Suresh, who took it recently is not good.

Note:
- Exit at Kuppanur for Yercaud is not marked.
- You will need to slow down and ask.
- Kuppanur-Yercaud road is quite narrow.
- Use the Harur bypass.

[arulpeem]

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

* How is the present condition of the above route.? I haven`t done this route and I am relying on GPS to drive me through this route.
* Any decent Veg hotels in and around Yercaud.

Harur to Kuppanur is bad. They have done patch work. You have to be weary of heavy truck traffic and speeding buses. Kuppanur to Yercaud road is in very good condition. Just watch out for the steep shoulders. They have been laying the roads every year without taking care of the shoulders that are becoming higher every year.

There is a Saravana Bhavan near the lake. Waterfront Restaurant of the Shevaroys group facing the lake is another choice. Malar Restaurant in the Shevaroys is okay.
The big ones(expensive0 are GRT, Grand palace.

[suresh_gs]

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

I am planning for a weekend ride to Yercaud. Plan is to leave by 5am and return same day. As it is going to be a bike ride, I hate to take the usual Salem route. So I decided to try Karimangalam-Morappur-Harur-Kuppanur-Yercaud route.

I am looking at below information, suggestions are appreciated.
* How is the present condition of the above route.? I haven`t done this route and I am relying on GPS to drive me through this route.
* Any decent Veg hotels in and around Yercaud.

Mate,

I drove on the Harur-Kuppanur-Ayyodhiapattinam stretch in December 2014. The road is in tatters especially the ghat section. I suppose the road would not have been patched up / relaid so soon.
So better stick to NH7.

In Yercaud, you can stay in Shevaroys.

[DragonHawk]

Originally Posted by NPV

Can't help much on the route/road related query, sorry. Look up previous posts on this thread for updates on the route, you may find recent ones.
Veg food - some options are:

- Shevaroys - they have 2 or more restaurants inside their campus

Came across one more "saravana bhavan" - in this earlier post Here

Originally Posted by ampere

- Drive till Harur is good.
- Beyond Harur, as per Suresh, who took it recently is not good.

Originally Posted by arulpeem

Harur to Kuppanur is bad. They have done patch work. You have to be weary of heavy truck traffic and speeding buses. Kuppanur to Yercaud road is in very good condition. Just watch out for the steep shoulders. They have been laying the roads every year without taking care of the shoulders that are becoming higher every year.

There is a Saravana Bhavan near the lake. Waterfront Restaurant of the Shevaroys group facing the lake is another choice. Malar Restaurant in the Shevaroys is okay.
The big ones(expensive0 are GRT, Grand palace.

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

Mate,

I drove on the Harur-Kuppanur-Ayyodhiapattinam stretch in December 2014. The road is in tatters especially the ghat section. I suppose the road would not have been patched up / relaid so soon.
So better stick to NH7.

In Yercaud, you can stay in Shevaroys.

Thanks everyone for your valuable advice. Good to see everyone coming up with value added suggestions.

Yesterday I just finished my ride to Yercaud and you know what I ended up taking Harur route for my onward journey. Initially by seeing some of the posts, I was bit reluctant to take this route but my biker mind pushed me in exploring the country side. As many of you had mentioned road till Harur is in good condition. Once you cross Harur, roads are patched up with loads of uneven stretches and to make it worse heavy truck traffic. Since I was riding this time, without much hasle I was able to reach Kuppanur in a quick time.

Once you enter Kuppanur-Yercaud stretch you feel like you have entered different part of the world altogether. Roads are well layed out all the way till Yercaud and there is a toll of Rs 30 being for charged for the bikes. I must this is more scenic than Yercaud-Salem route which I took for my return Journey. All in all it took around 6 hours to reach Yercaud with mutliple stops for Tea, breakfast and Photosessions. Our return journey was bit quick took us 4.30 hrs to my home as I wanted to reach as early as possible before the setting of dawn.

Here is my summary report of the trip and once again thanks everyone for your help.

* Left Bangalore at 5.30am, stopped for breakfast at Saravana Bhavan near Krishnagiri. Food was awesome, I would recommend this hotel to anyone traveling in this stretch.
* Took Bangalore-Krishinagiri-Karimangalam-Morapur-Harur-Kuppanur-Yercaud route, reached destination at around 12. Visited Gents seat, Ladies seat, rose garden and Yercaud lake.
* We had lunch at Malar Restaurant as Saravan Bhavan was fully crowded. Food was average and has ample parking space and Ok rest rooms.
* Took Salem route for return journey. Left Yercaud at 2.30 and reached my bilekahalli home at 7 with few pit stops to avoid our butts from heating up.

Finally a funny but a good of piece of advice.

[arulpeem]

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

Once you enter Kuppanur-Yercaud stretch you feel like you have entered different part of the world altogether.
Finally a funny but a good of piece of advice.

Hi DragonHawk, I envy you.
I go to Yercaud pretty often, almost once a quarter. My last bike trip was way back in 1992 in my RD350. The roads those days were not as good as today, but the traffic too was much less. But for the last 20 years the trips have always been in a car with the family. l take either of the routes depending upon whether I get into Salem town or not. But now that I have my Continental GT I am planning to make a trip before the climate becomes warm. On the Kuppanur road, when one drives in evenings there are good chances of seeing wild Gaurs. I have seen bang in the middle of the road once.