Yercaud + Hogenakkal

Travel date: 5 and 6 Mar 2011

I wanted to visit Yercaud from a long time for the reason that the route is very good to yercaud . Check team-bhp to for the route details.

We planned to visit yercaud on Saturday and come back via hogenakkal the next day.

Started early by 6.30am on Saturday – Courtesy – Eva. She got up by 5.45am. So we had no option but to get ready and leave :). 

We followed this route - 

Challaghatta - Electronic City - Hosur - Krishnagiri - Dharmpuri - Salem - Yercaud - Salem - Dharmpuri - Hogenakkal - Dharmpuri - Krishnagiri - Electronic city - Challaghatta

I must say the flyover going through the Electronic city is awesome – all worth the toll they take.

By 7.30 or so we were in Hosur. We didn’t take a break at A2B (Anand Bhavan) since Eva was sleeping and we had just started. So we continued towards our journey.

Reached Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and then Salem. We were in Salem by 10.30am. The route is so scenic – you feel like going for this drive once again J

Reached Yercaud by 12.30. There are not much places to see in yercaud. A small hill station – a smaller version of Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra. The places there reminded me of Mahabaleshwar. However no match with Mahabaleshwar when it comes to hotels, restaurants and market. Hardly anything.

Hotel Shevaroys is good. We had both of our meals in Shevaroys.

Stayed at Yercaud international on Lady’s seat road.

Points of interest –

1.       Lady’s seat – MUST – much like the arthur’s seat

2.       Pagoda point – MUST  - much like the elephant needle point in mahabaleshwar

3.       Kelliyur waterfall – cud not trek down with my kid.

4.       Shevaroy hills – cave temple there – table land in panchgani

5.       Lake – boating – average

6.       Parks around the lake

Next morning, we got up early around 5.30am and started by 6am. We had planned to go to Hogenakkal which is a little off-route from Dharmpuri. We reached A2B near Dharmpuri at around 8am. Had a nice breakfast. I will highly recommend this place. Then Eva played there on the swing, slide and merry-go-round. Then started our way to Hogenakkal. Reached by 10.30 am. Then parked our car and started walking towards the waterfall. It was a bright sunny day – the heat was similar to a hot summer day. The people there don’t direct you correctly. One of them said that you cannot see the waterfall from here. You have to take the coracle boat ride to go to the main viewing point. We didn’t listen to that guy and kept walking. We reached the cine point where many pictures/movies were shot.  And then kept walking for the main point. Lot of entry fees at every point for just crossing the falls. The falls is huge and a little scary. But overall a nice place to go. Only thing is go there very early in the morning or evening to avoid the sun. We were done by 11.30am. Enjoyed the cool cucumber and sprite while returning.

Another halt at MacD in Hosur at around 12.30pm and then reached home by 3pm.

It was a nice trip. I liked the scenic route to Yercaud, the lady’s seat and the pagoda point and the hogenakkal falls. Given a chance, I would go once more for the scenic route and A2B. Otherwise I prefer Mahabaleshwar anytime;)