Weather information
Yelagiri is blessed not just with the best vegetation, but also amazing weather the year round that can be described in one word – pleasant. The temperature varies from the early thirties in summer (that’s from April to June) to around 10-11 C during winter (November – February).

Even during summers, it cools down considerably during the evening as the cool breeze sets in. This breeze can however bring the temperature down during the monsoons! But you can certainly expect a nip in the air when you come here during the winters. In all, a calm consistently pleasant weather awaits you when you travel to Yelagiri.

So you could make a trip here at just about any time. Normal clothes would suffice except during winter when you might need some light woolens. But do avoid the monsoons – the place experiences around 900 mm of rain annually and you may not be able to embark on your trek or early morning walk.

Getting to Yelagiri
How do you wish to get to Yelagiri? By train, by air or by road? Take your pick.
 

By Train
The Railway Station nearest to Yelagiri is the Jolarpet Railway Station, approximately 19 kms from the hill station. It is a centrally located station to most trains that are south bound, so you could embark at Jolarpet and travel to Yelagiri by road. Cabs and buses are available in plentiful to help you complete the rest of the journey.

Most trains from Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore too stop at Jolarpet Junction, like Kovai Express, Brindavan Express and Intercity. The journey takes roughly 4 hours from Chennai and less than that from Bangalore.

 

By Air
The two airports nearest to Yelagiri are at Chennai (260 kms) and Bangalore (180 kms). Both airports have international stature and are connected to various parts of the world, besides being linked to the rest of the country.

 

By Road
Because of its proximity to both Chennai and Bangalore, Yelagiri is well connected by road. It is close to the NH 46 & SH roads that link it to several key cities. If you happen to alight at Jolarpet, there are several buses from the railway station and from Tirupattur that take you to Yelagiri. These buses ply from Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Salem, Hosur, Tiruppattur, Vaniyambadi and Vellore.

While public transport adds to your convenience, what is recommended by most tourists is that you make it to Yelagiri by your own transport, be it a 2-wheeler or a 4-wheeler. You can also take a private cab or auto from Jolarpet.

Distance to Yelagiri (by road)

City/Town	Distance in Kms
BANGALORE	165 Kms
CHENNAI	240 Kms

Places to see
Besides peace and quiet, Yelagiri has a lot more to offer, like a pristine lake, the gardens around it, children’s park, temples, waterfalls and so much more. The nice thing about visiting places in Yelagiri is that most of them can be covered over a weekend. So put on your walking shoes, pick up your camera and set out in search of the joys of nature.

 

| Yelagiri Lake | Jalagamparai Waterfalls | Murugan Temple | Velavan Temple |

| Sericulture farm | Punganur Lake | Children’s Park | Government Fruit Farm |

| Government Herbal Farm | Telescope House | Shandy | Vainu Poppu Solar Observatory | | Swamimalai |

 

Yelagiri Lake This is a small lake that not only looks good from the banks, but also lets you indulge in some boating. Both pedal and row boats are available for your use.

Jalagamparai Waterfalls
A picture-perfect waterfall, it is located at the foot of the Yelagiri hills, roughly 30 kms from the main town. This is an offshoot of the Attaaru River that passes through the Yelagiri hills. An enjoyable trek from the hills takes you to the falls. This is an ideal spot for a day-long excursion where you can combine a trek and a picnic, not to mention the breath-taking views that hold you spellbound all day long.

Murugan Temple
Located near the Yelagiri Lake, this temple has wonderful view of the hills.

Velavan Temple
This is another temple for Lord Murugan and is located on a hillock from where the view is unforgettable. Stand on top of the hillock and take in the beauty of the greenery and the dense woods of the hills. You can also see a massive statue of Godothgajan, a Hindu God from the Mahabharata, in front of this temple. Local festivals are organized here during the months of July and August.

Sericulture farm
Ever been to a silk worm farm? Well, this is your chance. Head straight for the sericulture farm located close to the main market.

Punganur Lake
Yet another lake that is enchanting and peaceful. Punganur Lake is an artificial lake that invites you to spend a leisurely hour or two boating. The other option is just to walk around in the gardens nearby. You can also climb a small watch tower that is constructed next to a tree or walk along a bridge connecting the pathway that goes around the lake. Kids have another option – a park nearby where they can play. And as you lose yourself to the magic of the lake, you will stumble upon yet another treasure right in the center of it – an artificial fountain that will make the scene seem even more ethereal. Now you know why this is the most popular landmark in Yelagiri.

Children’s Park
Children visiting Yelagiri are sure to have a great time, thanks to the well-equipped children’s park that is spread across a 6-acre stretch of land near the lake.

Government Fruit Farm
The yummiest fruits of varying colours, shapes, smells and tastes can be found at the botanical gardens at Athanavur and Nilavur.

Government Herbal Farm
This is a source of some powerful herbs and shrubs that become the key ingredients of Ayurveda and Siddha medicines. The herbal farm is maintained by the forest department is in close proximity to the Punganur Lake.

Telescope House
Want a better view of the scenery around, of the ghat sections, the mysterious slopes and the undulating terrain? Welcome to Telescope House, a spot on the Ghat road that has a telescope from where you can get the best views at Yelagiri.

Shandy
Reach out for your shopping bags and fruit baskets before you visit the Shandy – this is where the produce from the hills, like jackfruit, guavas and mangoes are sold.

Vainu Poppu Solar Observatory
Located in Kavalur, 25 kms from Yelagiri, this is one of the biggest solar observatories in the area. Normally, permission is required to visit the Observatory, but if you are here between 4 and 6 pm on a Saturday, you are in luck because entry is allowed for all without permission.

Swamimalai
If you like trekking, you will definitely want to include Swamimalai in your list of places to be seen – more so because it is the highest peak in Yelagiri Hills, measuring close to 4400 feet. The trek covers a 3 kms stretch along a muddy track and offers splendid views around. Climb right to the top and have a great view of the valley and other places below.

Things to do
When there’s silence and serenity all around, you don’t have to do much to ensure peace of mind as you unwind at Yelagiri. Yet, for the adventure seeker, for the thinker, for the romantic, for the holidayer, for the honeymooning couple and for the parent, there’s so much to do. Take a look!

Trekking
A hilly terrain offers ample scope for this activity. Besides the deep, dark woods wait to be explored, the trails await a new pair of feet to walk past and Mother Nature looks forward to display her picture-perfect self to new visitors day after day. One of the popular trekking routes is the one from the hills to the Jalagamparai waterfall. The trek to Swamimalai and back is also quite famous.

Boating
Be it rowing or paddle boating, the lake at Yelagiri offers ample scope for setting off into the tranquil waters and having the time of your life.

Children’s activities
The Children’s Park at Yelagiri ensures that children are never left out of the action, even if their parents choose more passive forms of unwinding or de-stressing. The cool weather and the greenery around, the play equipment and the presence of other kids from a similar age group – children need no further invitation to have fun.

The Summer Festival
Once every year during May and June, Yelagiri breaks into a palette of colours as cultures, customs, traditions, art and people come together to celebrate the Summer Festival. If you are at Yelagiri in summer, make sure you don’t miss out on this. The festival is organized by the Department of Tourism, the Yelagiri Hills Development and Tourism Promotion Society and the Vellore District Administration.

Adventure Activities
Besides trekking, you can also launch into other adventure activities like mountaineering, rock-climbing and hang gilding on the hill slopes.