Visiting Weekend Getaways from Chennai and Bangalore – Hill Station

Travel to a Popular Hill Stations in South India Yelagiri Hills

If you are looking to get away from rampant commercialisation a-la-ooty style then Yelagiri hills is the place to be.
You can sit back and relax in the comforting surroundings of lush green hillsin cooler and quieter surroundings.
Yelagiri Hills is in Tamil Nadu the is all set to emerge as the Para-gliding hotspot in India.
Yelagiri, at a height of 920 meters above sea level, stands majestically amidst fourmountains. This is a hill station
with a salubrious climate prevailing throughout the year so that winters do not keep visitors away. The main inhabitants
of the area are the tribals who live in the 14 small villages which comprise Yelagiri.
Yelagiri is about 150 km from Bangalore and 250 km from Chennai (Madras), good for a four hour bike ride with breaks along
the way. Take the NH7 out of Bangalore towards Hosur, turn towards Chennai (onto NH46) at Krishnagiri and continue until you get just before Vaniyambadi. You can see the Hills from quite a distance (on your right). The routes are all marked with signboards in English. It takes about and hour to drive to the peak of the hill, the weather in Yelagiri is pleasant during summer and winter though its not
as ciold as Ooty or Kodaikanal especially in winters.
Please note there are no petrol stations in Yelagiri, thus you have to fillup the tank at the last available petrol station in the plains . Except for a few tyre-changers there are no vehicle repair shops in the hills.Therefore it would be wise to
carry a repair tool-kit in the car or bike with necessary tools in case of on-road repairs.

Also, please take your first-aid kit along with your regular medicines, if any, with you. There is a government primary health centre, and a private clinic (in which the doctor is from CMC vellore). The nearest health centre is in Tirupattur.
Boating on Punganur Lake — This is an artificial lake, excavated in an area of 57 sq meters. The Elagiri Hills Development and Tourism Promotion Society runs the Boat Club, with pedaling and rowing boats. There is a newly laid flori cultural garden with a pathway along the bund with a panoramic view of the lake on one side and the garden on the other. A connecting bridge leads the pathway around the lake. The pathway around the lake is particularly good for birding. There is also a small watch tower constructed next to a tree which can be climbed. Home made honey and jack fruit (on season) are available in Yellagiri Hills. Even the Home made Honey can be get from YMCA with Good Quality and taste, You can believe that it is original. Otherwise you have to check whether its original.
There is a small house near YMCA, where you can get pure malai thein (mountain honey). The weekly market (Sandhai) assembles in Athanavoor on fridays.

There are no ATMs in Yelagiri. So, make sure you have enough cash in hand before your journey up hill.

Travel tips