[Bakash4u]

Prologue :

When God created heaven and hell HE had to make the people on the earth aware of what heaven and hell would look like. Now, arranging an exploratory visit to Heaven and Hell for everyone was not a good idea , so HE put little trailers of heaven and hell all over the earth. Mountains are one such trailers to heaven. Beaches are another.

The trip Day 1 :-

The long weekend was to be spent on personal work. But what was supposed to take days was done in hours and it was time to drive back. Now the question was where do we stop on the way back. Yercaud was on the way back... It took some time to convince the "best half " that instead of stopping over on the highway it would be better to drive up to Yercaud this time.

Naturally, with a toddler, she had apprehensions [rightly] on safety and hygiene in these times. Particularly with a toddler with us it was a careful decision to be made.

Finally, after seeing the videos put up the the resorts and some phone calls we were convinced enough . Yercaud it was going to be!! Elder one was happy, it was his first vacation since new year.

The drive up was mostly in dark and it started drizzling half way up. So we did not have much opportunity for photos or stoppages. But the road condition and even the "hairpin bends" are in top condition and easily drivable - from salem side.

We arrived to find that Yercaud town was a was charming, small, but very pleasant hill station. It was still remarkably less commercialised though just one hour from Salem. Driving was very slow due to heavy fog which made the drive all the more beautiful.

Trip day 2

We woke up to intermittent drizzle, foggy air and chirping of the various birds. We finished the breakfast and decided that the weather was perfect for a hilly drive. So we decided to start with loop road.

Munnar has GAP road, entire Thekkady Road, top station road etc etc. Ooty has Ketti valley drive, Kodanad view point drive etc. Yercaud has just one loop road but it covers everything in diversity.

Loop road is a 32KM round trip which starts and ends near Yearcaud lake. It takes one through beautiful heritage plantations, mesmerizing views, picturesque roads, pleasant curves and above all it allows us the explore heritage Yercaud in all its preserved beauty. All in all one drive on the loop road will make it worthwhile to visit Yercaud.

Following the loop road is not so easy but neither is it so difficult. For reference I have put up the way i followed



I felt it was better to follow the loop from "left side" - Nagaloor, Sengalathu, Manjukuttai. That way the family would on the left and in a better position to enjoy the views. You can stop where you feel like and just look at the views, click the photos, enter the many small rivulets.

For stretches at a time ours was the only vehicle on the road and we were the only ones disturbing the ticks of the insects, the chirps of the birds and the tickling sounds of the various small waterfalls. At times it was lonely and eerie but at the end this was the best part of the trip. Still I do not recommend this drive after dark. The road is narrow and it is renowned for heavy fog in evenings. But without a doubt this was the best part of Yearcaud.

Below are some snaps from the loop road drive. Sorry, the long shots didnt come up nicely due to fog and visibility issues.











There are also various commercialised view points in this road where we can stop for chats and tea. Pretty soon we realised it was well into afternoon and time for rest for my little one. On a recommendation of a local we took some parcel for lunch from the famous "Kuska bai".

While the little one slept the place provided enough of entertainment for the elder one.











Dinner was in this tasty place near the Yearcaud lake junction. But the famous Biryani is sure shot only for lunch. Luckily we were able to grab the last two plates they had for dinner.

Trip Day 3 : Yercaud sight seeing and Return

Day three started with sumptuous breakfast. The plan was to visit the various view points, gardens and lake and then return. Ladies Seat and Pagoda point are more famous of the various view points in Yercaud. Due to lockdown the places have been neglected and one should be doubly careful while visiting these due to hygiene. We can view Salem and surrounding areas from these view points. As for me, I felt the visibility and view was better from the resort than these places.









There is a silk farm near Ladies seat. It provides nice history and information about various types of silk and how they are made.









While driving around the town we found the renowned Montfort School. I wanted to see the place where Shashi Tharoor started learning his famous English but could not enter due to it being a holiday...


It seems that this school, apart from Tharoor, has been schooling alumnis like Nagesh Kukanoor, Roger Binny and Tamil Film star Vikram!!

Yercaud lake was closed for safety reasons but this tea shop nearby provided enough excitement. He had a unique way of making tea


Botanical garden and Rose garden are under maintenance. So the visit just wasted the time. But you can take the vehicle inside the botanical garden for safety reasons.

The resort people had warned not to take the google recommended KN pudur short cut when returning but to go down all the way to Salem and join the highway to Bangalore. The drive down/return was very beautiful with sights. As we could not see the sights when going up, we made ample stops to enjoy various views. The road condition was indeed top class.






Though the drive down was good, the feeling was forlorn. We were leaving the beautiful hills. We had to come back and come back soon. Probably when the covid situation improves.

Epilogue :

The pandemic is still on going. Venture safely. Stay safe. Sanitiser, distance and not touching anything until absolutely necessary should cover things up.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Benoit]

Wonderful write up. I am planning to visit Yercaud in two weeks. This is of great help. Especially the 32 km loop road. Doesn't travelling to Yercaud require an epass? How are the roads? (I will be taking my 1.5 month old, 3.5k km run Altroz and i would prefer not scraping at least for a few months). TIA.

[Bakash4u]

Originally Posted by Benoit

Doesn't travelling to Yercaud require an epass? How are the roads? (I will be taking my 1.5 month old, 3.5k km run Altroz and i would prefer not scraping at least for a few months). TIA.

Sorry, i forgot to mention.
Yes. E Pass is needed. It will be asked in Yeraud checkpost also.
You can get one online in few minutes.

Please take the Omalur-Salem-Yercaud road. It is top class. Avoid google recommended KN Pudur road from Dharmapuri.
I have seen the photos of this road from a hotel person. Its narrow and absolutely bad.

[ashwin_murali]

Lovely write up!

Would you mind sharing the resort details? The place looks good and from your travelogue, it looks like it was safe enough to take my family.

[Bakash4u]

Originally Posted by ashwin_murali

Lovely write up!

Would you mind sharing the resort details? The place looks good and from your travelogue, it looks like it was safe enough to take my family.

Have inboxed the details

[balenoed_]

Originally Posted by Bakash4u

Have inboxed the details

Please inbox to me too.

Also, in terms of sanitizing and ensuring safety practices, how good the resort is and what measures are they taking. Or no such thing?

[Bakash4u]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Please inbox to me too.

Also, in terms of sanitizing and ensuring safety practices, how good the resort is and what measures are they taking. Or no such thing?

Sure will inbox you. Also another place I just visited to check these things.
1. About sanitation I could clearly see that the room was fumingated.
2. Many sanitizer stations were available
3. Temperature checks, luggage fumingation was done during check in.
4. They insisted that we wear mask and keep using the sanitizers from the many places it was available.
5. All emoyees were with mask and gloves

But...
1. Cafeteria was a risk. People were somehow forgetting the risks and milling near the best breakfast stations. I just found the furthest table and told my family to stay put and I am the only one who will be bringing what they want to eat..
2. Pub/ bar was crowded.

Being from hospitality industry hotel people only give out gentle reminder now and then..

[jasjotbains]

It's a beautiful place! I visited it with my friends the day my son was born #NonHomeStateBanker

I took the road from Harur where I was posted. The roads were empty and this added to the beauty. The calmness of passing by estates on empty roads was a sight to behold.

If you love your life, don't visit the Kilyur falls. They are a short distance from Yercaud lake but unless you have fitness like Milind Soman, you're gonna have sore legs for days!

[bharathan]

Hi,

Can u share the hotel details please. Pics look very good and looks like a very good short break indeed.

Thanks

[Bakash4u]

Originally Posted by bharathan

Hi,

Can u share the hotel details please. Pics look very good and looks like a very good short break indeed.

Thanks

Private messge sent.. enjoy.

[professor.march]

Hi,

Can you please share the hotel details? I'm planning to visit in February. We will drive down from Chennai.

Thanks.

[Bakash4u]

Originally Posted by professor.march

Hi,

Can you please share the hotel details? I'm planning to visit in February. We will drive down from Chennai.

Thanks.

I have sent you message

[VigneshMC]

Can you share resort details with me as well?

[bharanidharang]

Can you share the resort details here in the group itself. It will help everyone