Trip to Kolli Hills Part - 3 (Yercaud)

Day Three Yercaud, Tamil Nadu 3rd September 2017

Yercaud is a small hill station located in Salem district of Tamil Naud, Its also called Jewel of the south. Through out the year cool weather attracts the tourist, if you compare it to Ooty or Kodaikanal, this small town does not gain such a popularity, many people does not heard about Yercaud so still it looks like a virgin nature.

Yercaud Lake View

We had plenty of time weather also cool, so wake up little late and ready to explore Yercaud by 0830hrs.First finished our breakfast near by hotel, hot Idlies served with three types of Chutney. One is prepared with roasted red chilies and coconut, second one green chilies with coconut and third one was prepared with red tomatoes red chilies and onion garlic and coconut. Its little bit hot in taste but very tasty.

After finishing breakfast went to Yecaud lake located near the town, entry gate was closed entry timing is 9A.M so spent few minutes over there by clicking some pictures and headed towards the Killiyur falls located in range of Sheveroy hills.

Panoramic view of Yercaud lake

Killiyur water falls located just 3km from the heart of Yecaud, winding narrow road goes through woods took us to the entry point of waterfalls. Around 0930hrs we reached the parking lot, When we reached over there two 3 cars and some two wheeler were parked in the parking lot. Some shops are also built over there, shopkeepers are preparing to start their routine business.

Way to Waterfalls

One lady shop keeper greeted us and asked whether we had finished our breakfast or not ? we told yes, then she told us that to reach  waterfall one has to walk half a kilometer on tarmacked road and from there has to descend 250 steps, and also told us that there were no shops near the wterfalls  water, tea, coffee, lemon soda, snacks etc. available in her shops if we need any.

View from the top

Steps towards Waterfalls

We purchased water and start to descending towards waterfalls, after walking down half a kilometer (It was so steep) reached the step. While waling on the road found one Ford car and some youngsters who were trying to push their clutch burnt car towards up words. 

Metal ladder 

Between the concrete steps Metal ladders also built there, it was too steep, after descending 250 steps reached the base of the waterfalls.

When we reached over there many peoples are enjoying there by taking bath in such a cold water, some peoples are climbed over the water stream it was so risky because the rocks are looks like very slippery, I don't know how they are manged to climb, may be they are expert in rock climbing.😄

 Killyur waterfalls

Enjoying cold water

After spending half an hour we return back to the parking lot, while climbing back a guy gave us glucose, at that moment we feel like Turbo charged.😎.

It was around 1000hrs after drinking a glass of lemon soda returned back to the Lake, now the entry gate was open, boating facilities are available in the lake. Self riding pedal boats, Rowing boats and motorised boats are available.

Safety First Avoid Selfie.....

Surroundings

Deer Park

Tourists enjoying boating

Horses at outside the Lake

Horse drinking water

After spending an hour inside the lake headed towards the next attraction i.e Pagoda View point located just 3km far from the Lake.The road goes between some large estates, either side of the road some resorts were built.

 Pagoda View Point

Pagoda View point built on the top of the hill, proper parking facilities are provided to the tourists, It just like a large compound built on top of the hill, some temporary shops are also built inside that compound which sells tea and refreshments. One can watch beautiful scenery and from here.

Changing moods

You can spot a temple from the top

Small temple built inside the View point

ATV at View point

When we reached Pagoda Viewpoint as usual the climate start to changes its mood, which is very common in Yercaud, pleasant sunny weather suddenly change into cloudy within a movement it changed into clear sky, while sky was clear we can spot the beautiful temple and hills located surroundings of the viewpoint.

From here we returned back to Anna Park which located at Yercaud Main road, here proper parking was not available, have to park the vehicle on main road. 

Anna Park

Its a small park built in the hart of Yecaud city, better place to spend your evening with family. We have spend half an hour inside the park, there is not much varieties of flower inside the park, but properly maintained.

Inside the Park

Flowers

Lady Statute between Roses

Some varieties of flower

It was around 1215hrs when we came outside the park, we have returned the lodge, actually we have vacated the lodge in morning but our luggage's were kept there, so took luggage's and fueled the motorcycle and headed towards Rasipuram which is just 70km. from Yercaud. Our plan was to stay at Rasipuram and next day visit to the Kolli Hills.

 Vegetable Market

Finally around 1230hrs left Yercaud, when we reached near the lake, weather was dramatically changed, suddenly dark clouds started to accumulate in the sky, it was too dark and feel that heavy rain may hit at any moment. While packing the luggage Sudheer has kept his rain gear inside. So we stopped on road side to take it out, at the same time Karthik couldn't find his Rain gear pant there was a chances of heavy rains so he went back to the town and purchased a new rain gear and joined us.

Yercaud Salem Road

Due to rain I have kept my camera's inside, I was praying with god to stop raining if it raining heavily I will unable to catch the picture of beautiful ghat section, on this route which consist 20 hairpin bend with butter smooth road. Traffic condition were moderate, after zigzag ride through the beautiful hairpin bend reached near Sri Salaiparayil Muniyamal Temple now the  rain also stopped. 

  Sri Salai Parayil Muniyammal Temple

Horse Statue in the temple

Beautiful Ghat Road Section

View from the Ghat section

After passing through beautiful ghat section reached the base of the ghat, It was around 1330hrs, we have decided to take lunch at Salem. Once crossed the ghat then the butter smooth plain road was ahead,  so easily reached Salem town, as soon as enter the town found a good rasturent on the roadside and decided to finish our lunch.

 Roti with Veg Kadai

Hotel Name was DELHI DHARBARR, in North India  generally used to write as a Delhi Darbar, here in Tamil Nadu they used one H to two R extra, any how its depend upon local language pronunciation.

 Only few were sit inside the hotel most of the people are taking parcels. The man behind the cash table took the order we have ordered for Chettinadu soup, Roti, Veg Kadai and Chicken items.  A cute well mannered  girl named  Salini supplied the foods.  After taking ultra hot Chettinad soup smoke start to come out from my ears😁😁, but enjoyed the real taste of hot. Roti's with Veg Kadai were served in banana leaves put over plastic plates. I have observed one thing in Tamil Nadu that almost all the hotels serves food on banana leafs.

Round shaped banana leaf on top of the plastic plate😁😁

Only few were sit inside the hotel most of the people are taking parcels. The man behind the cash table took the order we have ordered for Chettinadu soup, Roti, Veg Kadai and Chicken items.  A cute well mannered  girl named  Salini supplied the foods.  After taking ultra hot Chettinad soup smoke start to come out from my ears😁😁, but really very tasty. Roti's with Veg Kadai headed served in banana leaves put over plastic plates. I have observed one thing in Tamil Nadu that almost all the hotels serves food on banana leafs.

After the lunch we decided to move towards Rasipuram. Suddenly hot climate changed into cloudy, scotching Sun hide behind the dark clouds, thick drops of rain start to falling.  Sudheer was busy with wrapping his luggage on plastic sheet. we have plenty of time it was around 1430hrs.

In the meantime I was chatting with rasturent guy, while enquiring about availability of good lodges at Rasipuram he suggested that instead of staying at Rasipuram its better to go directly to Kolli Hills. But I have read somewhere in the web that it's difficult to get rooms at Kolli Hills better to book in advance, while asking my doubt he called Salini , She told that there is nothing like that earlier she was working at Kolli Hills, and suggested us to take room at Nallathambi Resort,  where she worked and also provided the contact number and location.

From there we took Tirichirappalli Main Road till By Pass and Joined NH44 the same highway in which we were traveled from Dharmapuri - Yecaud rotue. Once we hit the NH44 cruised studly around 60 to 70kmph. 

Kolli Hills

After traveling around 40km took diversion from NH44 towards Kolli Hill Road, once diverted the landscape was dramatically changed. The huge Kolli Hills is clearly visible from long distance. Super tarmacked road was goes between green vegetation was made me crazy. Landscape is fantastic. 

Beautiful road

Landscape

On the way we have stopped our motorcycle to take some water from the nearby shop, while confirm the road  with the shopkeeper he showed us a photograph of Kolli Hills Hairpin road and informed that there are 70 hairpin bends in 22km distance, while he was explaining thi,s a drunken man who has sitting on the bench kept at shop started to argue with the shopkeepe,r that were79 hairpin bends on this road and not 70. Its also true because 70 hairpin bend ends at Semmedu from there 9 more hairpin bend left to reach the Kolli Hills.

 Forest Check post

Around 1700hrs reached Uthiragadikaval and took diversion towards Kolli Hills Ghat road. The base of the Ghat is called Belukurichi Village. A forest check post is built on the Ghat Road.

As soon as crossed the check post the start to unveil the panoramic view of ghat section, while talking with shopkeeper he advised us to keep medium pace on ghat section because it was Sunday evening many tourist vehicles were returning from the Kolli Hills after enjoying the weekend.

View from the Ghat 

Beautiful Ghat section

Kolli Ghat  road goes between extremely rich  and diverse forest,these forest are home to several species endemic trees and plants and also home for Sloth bear, barking deer, Indian pangolin, Jackals, mongoose etc. On the way we can find the beautiful paintings on the wall of the ghat road.

Painting on the side wall of  Ghat Road

Panoramic view from the middle of Ghat section

Some more pictures of Ghat section

 Famous 34th Curve

Paintings from Shibi Chakravarti story

Around 1830 reached near Semmedu after crossing beautiful breathtaking 70 hairpin bends, some were in the top small temple built on the road side, a small water stream also flows by side.

Temple

Water stream

After crossing temple reached a small town called Solakkadu, just stopped for a tea break near PWD Guest house, from there only 3.5km distance to reach Nallathambi resort, around 1900hrs reached Nallathambi Resort, they charges Rs.2450 for 3 bed suite. It was one of the famous resort of Kolli Hills, all facilities are available, staff are also very friendly. Restaurant will close by 2030hrs so we ordered some Gobi tikka andVeg fried rice finished dinner and went to bed.

Nallathambi Resort

Total distance covered : 137Km
Riding Hours               : 10.5hrs