ERODE

Yercaud is a hill station situated on the Shevaroy Hills of the Eastern Ghats in the northern part of Indian state of Tamil Nadu and experiences very pleasant climate. Yercaud hill area is called the Shevaroy Hills. Yercaud is famous for oranges and coffee plantations. The main crop grown in Yercaud is coffee, but fruits like guava and jackfruit and spices like black pepper, cardamom are also grown as plantation crops. The wildlife in Yercaud comprises of bison, deer, foxes, mongooses, squirrels, snakes and birds like kites, swallows, bulbuls and sparrows. The greatest attraction in Yercaud is the big natural lake or the Emerald Lake. The lake with its wonderful hilly surroundings and a well maintained garden on its banks is a feast for the eyes of any traveller.
 

This electrifying and spectacular cascade is in the neighbourhood of Yercaud Lake and is at its finest when sojourned to after the monsoon months. The plentiful of water of the Yercaud Lake as well as the water from the Shevaroy Hills fall endlessly into the Killiyur valley from a mounting height of 300 ft and the breathtaking view from the top to the bottom is awe striking and a pleasure to the eye and soul alike. A trekker by heart, can on his will, trek through the thickly arboraceous forests from the lake to the bottom of the falls which takes a total of around one hour.
 

Kurumbapatti Zoological Park is located at about 6 kms away from Salem city. The park spread across an area of 11.5 hectares at the base of the Shevaroyan Hills. The area is a reserved forest and developing it into a park had cost about Rs 10 crore. The park is inhabited by spotted deer, white peacocks, bonnet macaque, sambar deer, grey pelican, little egret, turtles, grey herons, marsh crocodile, plum headed parakeet, star tortoise, rose ringed parakeet, yellow footed green pigeons and an 58 year old elephant. There is also a children’s park in the vicinity. The place is a wonderful site to spend time amidst the bed of nature.
 

Kolli Hills, a mountain range, is situated in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. The mountains encompass a total area of approximately 280 sq kms and are about 1000 to 1300 mts in height. A part of the Eastern Ghats, the Kolli Hills range, is comparatively untouched by human activity and commercial exploitation, thereby retaining much of its natural splendor. The mountains are regarded as a pilgrim destination, due to the Arapaleeswarar Temple that is supposed to contain a secret pathway to the Lord Shiva temple located in Rasipuram. The temple is a popular attraction for tourists the year round. Kolli Hills got their name from the Goddess Ettukai Amman. It is considered that the hills have been guarded by the Goddess from time immemorial and her divine protection continues to this day.
 

Agaya Gangai refers to a multi waterfall of the river Aiyaru that cascades down from a height of 300 feet. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the Agaya Ganga waterfall is located nearby the Arapaleeswarar Temple. A set of steps that are more than a thousand in number exist from the temple to the bottom of the waterfall. The steep nature of these steps makes both the descent and ascent quite tiring, and people who get winded easily or those who have health problems are advised to take an extremely slow approach. A couple of viewpoints are present on the way and offer a spot to relax for tourists. Agaya Gangai literally translates to Ganges of the sky and the view from the top is breathtaking. Tourists are advised to be on the watch out for slippery rocks close to the waterfall while witnessing its grandeur from up close.
 

Hogenakkal Waterfalls is on the river Cauvery in the Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu about 135 kms off of Bangalore. Often called the Niagara Falls of India, the Hogenakkal falls is known for the medicinal property of the water and the special boat rides. The carobonitite rocks found here are supposed to be some of the oldest in South Asia and in the world. It is about 18 kms from the town of Dharmapuri. During the dry season when the water from the falls does not have strong currents, special coracles take passengers out for rides. One can buy freshly caught fish which are sold by the gorge and also in the coracles. Hawkers selling various other items including packaged water and snacks are common here. Once out of the water the fresh fish can be given to one of the many kitchens around the fall to be cooked.