Yercaud – Kolli Hills Offbeat Escape 🌄🌿
A Journey into Tamil Nadu’s Whispering Wilderness 🏞️✨
Some places don’t scream for your attention—they softly call out to your soul. That’s exactly how my Yercaud – Kolli Hills Offbeat Escape began—a whisper of mist, a curve of winding roads, a glimpse of hidden waterfalls. Far from the bustling crowds of popular hill stations, Yercaud and Kolli Hills offer a kind of raw, untouched charm that stays with you long after the trip ends.
Organized by Sonakshi Travels, this tour was a seamless blend of peaceful trails, traditional hospitality, tribal tales, and a soothing silence broken only by birdsong and temple bells. These lesser-explored gems in the Eastern Ghats are perfect for the nature-loving explorer who seeks authenticity over luxury, tranquility over noise.
Getting There: Scenic Routes and Rolling Hills 🚗🛣️
My journey started from Salem, a bustling city in Tamil Nadu, well connected by road and rail. Yercaud lies about 30 km from Salem, while Kolli Hills is around 85 km away. The road from Yercaud to Kolli Hills is dotted with hairpin bends, spice plantations, and quaint tea stalls—a drive that feels more like therapy than travel.
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Chennai to Yercaud: 360 km (~7 hours by road)
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Yercaud to Kolli Hills: 85 km (~2.5 hours)
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Nearest airport: Salem (domestic), Tiruchirappalli (international)
Yercaud – Jewel of the Shevaroy Hills 💚🏡
Yercaud, perched at 4,970 ft above sea level, welcomed me with a soft drizzle and the scent of wet earth. It’s less commercialized than Ooty or Kodaikanal, but that’s what makes it magical.
🌟 Top Places to Visit in Yercaud:
1. Yercaud Lake 🛶
A serene boating spot ringed by trees and flower gardens. I paddled gently across its calm waters while clouds lazily drifted above.
2. Lady’s Seat Viewpoint 🌄
A cliff-top viewpoint offering a panoramic view of Salem and the plains. The telescopes here revealed the tiniest houses in the valley below.
3. Shevaroy Temple ⛩️
A cave temple dedicated to Lord Shevaroyan, the local deity of tribal farmers. Locals believe it guards the hills and ensures good rains.
4. Botanical Garden & Rose Garden 🌹
Rare orchid species, medicinal herbs, and multi-colored roses blooming in harmony.
5. Kiliyur Falls 💦
A 300-foot fall nestled deep in the forest, reached after a thrilling 500-step descent. The gush of the water and echoing chirps made it worth the climb back.
Local Experiences and Culture in Yercaud 🎭
I visited a nearby tribal settlement, where the Malayali tribes live in harmony with nature. Their homes are made of mud and bamboo, their crafts speak stories of the hills, and their smiles—oh, they’re pure sunshine. A spontaneous thappattam (folk dance) performance under a banyan tree remains one of my fondest memories.
Flavors of the Hills: What I Ate in Yercaud 🍛
Yercaud’s cuisine is a blend of Tamil staples and hill-grown produce. I was treated to:
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Ragi puttu with jaggery and coconut
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Pepper rasam with steamed red rice
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Jackfruit chips freshly fried
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Filter coffee brewed with homegrown beans
🍽️ Don’t miss “egg curry with kari dosai” at a small eatery near the lake—it’s rustic perfection.
Accommodation Types in Yercaud 🛏️
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Homestays – Traditional Tamil homes turned into budget-friendly options
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Estate Stays – Coffee and orange plantations offering rustic luxury
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Eco-cottages – Built with bamboo, clay, and overlooking valleys
Kolli Hills – Land of Legends and Hairpin Bends 🌿🌀
After two days in Yercaud, I headed toward Kolli Malai—a place that literally means “Mountains of Death” but offers the most rejuvenating experience imaginable. With 70 sharp hairpin bends, this drive is not for the faint-hearted but is one of the most exhilarating in Tamil Nadu.
Kolli Hills is famed in Sangam literature, guarded by the goddess Kollipavai, and wrapped in forests that seem to hum with ancient secrets.
🌟 Must-See Attractions in Kolli Hills:
1. Arapaleeswarar Temple 🛕
A 12th-century Shiva temple where faith and forest merge. It’s said the temple was discovered by a farmer who followed his plough into the earth!
2. Agaya Gangai Falls 💧
An awe-inspiring 300-ft waterfall hidden in the jungle. Reached by descending over 1000 stone steps, this spot is both a physical and spiritual challenge.
3. Botanical Garden and Herbal Forest 🌱
A sanctuary of native herbs and healing plants used in Siddha medicine.
4. Seekuparai & Selur View Points 📸
They offer uninterrupted views of the lower plains, perfect during sunrise or misty evenings.
5. Tampcol Medicinal Farm 🌾
Run by Tamil Nadu Government, this place grows indigenous medicinal herbs like thuthuvalai, adathoda, and amukkara.
Tribal Heritage and Nature Walks in Kolli Hills 🚶♂️🍃
On a guided walk organized by locals, I explored the dense forest trails while learning about ancient hunter-gatherer practices, wild honey collection, and native bird calls. The tribes here, primarily Malayali and Kuravar, still live sustainably and consider the forest sacred.
Local Cuisine: Simple, Spicy, and Soulful 🌶️
Every meal in Kolli Hills was a revelation of traditional flavors:
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Millet pongal with freshly ground chutney
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Karuppu kavuni rice payasam (black rice pudding)
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Tapioca with chutney
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Steamed plantains with jaggery ghee sauce
I even tried ragi mudde (finger millet balls) for the first time—dense, healthy, and surprisingly tasty!
Travel Tips for Yercaud – Kolli Hills Offbeat Escape 🧭
🧳 What to Carry:
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Lightweight woolens (especially for nights)
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Trekking shoes with grip
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Rain jacket or umbrella (frequent drizzles)
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Refillable water bottle
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Basic first-aid and insect repellent
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Local guide contact if planning deeper forest hikes
🗺️ Distance and Travel Info:
| From | To | Distance | Approx Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | Yercaud | 30 km | 1 hour |
| Yercaud | Kolli Hills | 85 km | 2.5–3 hours |
| Kolli Hills | Namakkal | 45 km | 1.5 hours |
| Kolli Hills | Trichy Airport | 120 km | 3.5 hours |
Events and Seasonal Highlights 🎉
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Summer Festival in Yercaud (May) – Flower shows, cultural parades, and lake-front celebrations
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Kollipavai Pongal Festival (January) – A tribal celebration thanking the forest goddess
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Post-monsoon Trekking Season (Sep–Nov) – Best for waterfall hikes and misty views
🎶 Catch local tribal music sessions at Kolli’s weekend markets—drums, flutes, and folklore combine into magical rhythm.
Best Time to Visit 🌤️
| Season | Experience |
|---|---|
| October – March | Cool, misty, and best for treks and sightseeing |
| April – June | Slightly warm, ideal for summer festivals |
| July – September | Greenest time, heavy rain but waterfalls at their best |
Nearby Destinations to Consider 🗺️
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Namakkal Fort (50 km) – A 17th-century hill fort with stunning views
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Tiruchengode Temple (70 km) – Scenic hilltop shrine with ancient carvings
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Tiruvannamalai (150 km) – Spiritual hub with Arunachaleswarar Temple
Emotional Takeaway: Rediscovering Stillness in the Hills 🧘♀️❤️
As I watched the morning fog lift off Kolli Hills and listened to the calls of unseen birds, a sense of calm settled over me. Unlike more commercialized hill stations, Yercaud and Kolli Hills don’t distract—they heal. They teach you to sit still, observe, and feel the rhythm of a simpler world.
Every moment—from sipping herbal tea at a tribal homestay to trekking to the edge of a roaring waterfall—felt raw, real, and rewarding. If you’re someone who believes that travel should transform, this Yercaud – Kolli Hills Offbeat Escape is your soul’s calling.
Why Book With Sonakshi Travels? 🧳🌍
✨ Local expert guides and storytellers
✨ Handpicked eco-lodges, tribal homestays & plantation stays
✨ Clean AC vehicles with drivers familiar with mountain roads
✨ Personalized itinerary based on your pace and preference
✨ Round-the-clock WhatsApp assistance
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📞 Plan Your Offbeat Tamil Nadu Journey Today!
Sonakshi Travels — Because the Best Stories Come from Unusual Roads
📱 WhatsApp: +91 7980469744
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