Situated at an altitude of 4,920 ft above sea level,
Yercaud is not as popular as Ooty and Kodaikanal. Nestled amongst the
Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats, the extraordinarily beautiful hill
resort is blessed with natural beauty and a salubrious climate. Also
known as the 'Ooty of the Poor', it is much quieter and cheaper than its
more popular hill mate. The aromatic coffee plantations and orange
groves make it even more desirable to those who are looking for the
places where they can get rid of the din of the daily lives and want a
break from the strenuous city lifestyle. The highest point in Yercaud is
Shevaroy temple, situated at a height of 5,326 ft above sea level.
Yercaud is an amalgamation of two Tamil words 'yeri' and 'kaadu' meaning
lake and forest respectively. Yercaud was discovered by the British in
the early 19th century. It is famous for its educational institutions
such as the Sacred Heart Convent for girls, Montfort School for boys and
the Holy Cross Novitiate House.Yercaud Lake is one of the prime attractions of the hill station, surrounded by well-groomed lush green gardens and well-wooded trees. The Summer festival held in May is not to be missed. One can opt for paddling or rowing boats for a trip around the lake. There are a number of beautiful parks surrounding the lake such as Anna Park, Lake Park, Gandhi Park and Children's Park. Lady's seat offers breath-taking views of the Ghats, especially at night. Towards the extreme right, one can see Mettur Dam from here. More than 100 years old, Holy Trinity Church is well maintained. The other popular churches include the Sacred Heart Church, Lutheran Church, St Joseph's Church and The Retreat Church. National Orchidarium with India's third largest orchid house, 300 ft high Killiyur waterfalls, the Servaroyan temple atop the Servaroyan hill and the Small Lake famous for being fed by seven wells are some other highlights of the city.
