Tourism Place in Yercaud

Yercaud, a hill station in Salem District of Tamil Nadu, is located in the Shevaroy range of hills in the Eastern Ghats. It is perched at an altitude of 1,515 metres above sea level and encompasses an area of 382.67 square kilometres, including the Reserve Forest.

The name of the town is derived from the Yercaud Lake located at its centre. In Tamil, Yeri means lake and Kaadu means forest. The entire county is administered as a township and has a village council.

The destination exhibits artefacts from the Stone Age that were found in the ancient shrine located near Pagoda Point. This point is around 5 km from the Yercaud Lake. The ancient history of the town is relatively unknown and has never been explored. However, the first human settlement in Yercaud is believed to have come from Kanchipuram. The settlement existed during the Telugu Kings, who captured the Tamil Thondai country.

Yercaud was discovered in the 19th century by the British and attracted many Christian missionaries. The city was discovered by the governor of the Madras Presidency, Sir Thomas Muroe in 1842 and David Cockburn, the Scottish collector of Salem District. Salem District was purchased by Mr. G.F. Fisher, the only European Zamindar, in 1836.

This city is popular for oranges and coffee plantations. Coffee was first cultivated on the Grange Estate in 1820, which was initially brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr. M.D. Cockburn. Many other fruits and spices were cultivated on the coffee estate in Yercaud such as jackfruit, oranges and guava and black pepper and cardamom.

Teak, sandalwood and silver oaks are present in abundance in the forest areas of Yercaud. Besides, the place is also popular for its wildlife which comprises animals like bison, deer, fox, snakes and birds like bulbuls, kites and sparrows.

The temperature of Yercaud ranges from 15o Celsius to 30o Celsius throughout the year. Though it is a year round destination, the ideal time to visit Yercaud is from October to June.