Location: Vellore district, close to 150 KMs from Bangalore, India
We were: 6 adults and 14 yr old Ashwin
We went to Yelairi or Elagiri, on this scorching Ugadi day – April 8,2016. We just had leisure on our mind, and this hill station offered us exactly that. It’s cooler than other places in summer, but do not yet pack those sweaters. Just a small hill – enjoy the hairpins, drive through out, eat some fruits from the country-side and return rejuvenated. That is Yelagiri.
The drive
Most important part of the trip is the drive. The roads are smooth, though we had to pay tolls at a couple of places. We started from Bangalore after breakfast, and took the route: Bangalore-Hosur-Krishnagiri-Yelagiri. There are not much confusions or detours, and online maps are pretty accurate. The ghat road up the hill is also well maintained and scenic, plenty of photo opportunities! Those who doze off on the drive would miss the most beautiful part of the trip.
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- Well protected ghat roads
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- Ghat road, Yelagiri – Anish captured this excellent view
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- Summer had browned the grass and leaves
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- More than 1000 meters altitude, mild weather, fragrant breeze
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- Paddy fields on the way. I got some unpolished rice and millets for home
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- Sanjeev playing with zebra lines on the mirror and white car
Stay
As usual, ours was the last minute planning and booking. We got the last 3 rooms available in Landmark Hotel, through MakeMyTrip. Not bad, it is a good, spacious hotel with a mixture of Roman statues and Chinese vases with a lot many paintings as decor. The hotel does have a tele support from Chennai, but they do not book rooms. I found out later a tip: call up the hotel reception. General Manager Thiyagarajan is very friendly and hospitable, he will get the best fare by choosing the right travel website. The phone number was 09444 990 325, I do not know if that changed later. And by the way, mobile phones work fine over here; we’re not so far up from technology.
The hotel food is okay, and very economical. It would be wise to chose South Indian dishes. We had lunch and dinner here, and ate other meals outside.
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- Most of our adventures were in here. It’s a small pool, but manageable
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- Big courtyard to show movies, start a camp fire and to run around for children
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- We could get only a family room, which was way too spacious for us couples. there is lots of space everywhere
Things to do
Weekend trips are for relaxation, for me. So our happiest entertainment was food and swimming pool! There were adventure sports, trek to Jalagamparai falls etc. available; we were lazy. Trekking to an almost-vanishing water falls in 34 degree Celsius was out of question, and adventure sports is not my cup of tea. So we enjoyed the mild weather, drove through the villages, visited parks and ate along all through the way. There are not too many restaurants everywhere in the hills; however the roadside shops and street vendors have plenty to offer, such as: tasty omlettes and summer fruits like Jackfruit, sliced mangoes, rose-apples, litchis and many more that I have not seen before
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- Velavan temple – A small, peaceful, and clean temple, with easy steps to climb up. You can climb up, for the view from the hill-top; if not for praying at the temple.
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- Lots of “vel” (spear) at many places for the Velavan deity.
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- Velavan temple has these striking patterns drawn all around. Peacocks, snakes, and all intriguing shapes
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- Nature park or Govt. Herb farm. A small garden in the city to spend some time under the shade of trees. Children also find their amusement. Do not expect a Lal Bagh or Brindavan
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- Summer brings colors everywhere. Velavan hills boasts purple. In fact this purple trees were bloomed at many places. Hmm, and the cows
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- Road to Punganur lake. It’s just a normal park around a lake. We didnt go boating
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- Summer sky, and intentions of a shower
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- Driving through the village roads
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- Jack fruits and what not – on the way to Punganur lake
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- Fresh summer fruits to savor on the way to Punganur lake. I saw some of them first time in my life
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- Musical Fountain at Nature park is avoidable. Out-of-synch music and chairs not cleaned after rains
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- Nilgrees restaurant – You wont get a better restaurant in that area. Ambiance can be deceptive, but you get nice food served with warmth, on pots and plates almost like we do at home.