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Tamil Nadu

Yercaud

Salem's 20-hairpin coffee hill, the Nilgiris without the traffic

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Best time to visit Yercaud

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: December to March
  • Shoulder: April to June and November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: July to October

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryMarchDecember

Yercaud season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb is the dry, clear stretch at 12-26 C, when the Shevaroys actually give you the drop onto the Salem plain at dawn.

Summer March to May Prime time

March stays dry and clear; Apr-May is 28 C up here against 40 C in Salem below, with thundershowers and the May flower show.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

June is showery but workable; Jul-Sep turns properly wet at 190-250 mm a month, with the viewpoints inside cloud most days.

Autumn October to November Shoulder

October is the wettest month of the year at 250 mm; November dries back to 160 mm and the plain comes into view again.

What Yercaud is actually like

Coffee estates, an orange-seller lake and Tamil families at weekends; midweek the loop road is more or less yours.

Things to do in Yercaud

The local places worth your time in and around Yercaud, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Yercaud Lake

    Lake · in town

    The town's boat lake ringed by stalls selling estate coffee and honey; pedal boats until 6 pm, mornings are calmest

  • Pagoda Point

    Viewpoint · 3 km out

    East facing ridge stacked with stone cairns, the sunrise lookout over the plains; be there by 6 am, it clouds by nine

  • Killiyur Falls

    Waterfall · 3 km out

    Fall below the lake down 300 odd steep steps; water only from July to December and the climb back is the hard part

  • Servarayan Temple

    Temple · 5 km out

    Cave shrine at the range's highest point, 1620 m, entered bent double; huge crowds at the May festival, still by 8 am

  • Lady's Seat

    Viewpoint · 2 km out

    Rock ledge above the 20 hairpins with a telescope house looking down on Salem; come at dusk for the town lights

  • Anna Park

    Garden · in town

    Municipal garden by the lake with an orchidarium and old shade trees; small ticket, five minutes from the boat house

Getting to Yercaud

Salem Jn 30 km, then a bus up 20 hairpins in an hour; Coimbatore and Trichy airports are both about 3 h away.

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
1347 m
State
Tamil Nadu
Coordinates
11.7852, 78.2075

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Yercaud?

December to March is peak season in Yercaud. April to June and November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid July to October. Dec-Feb is the dry, clear stretch at 12-26 C, when the Shevaroys actually give you the drop onto the Salem plain at dawn.

How many days do you need in Yercaud?

2 days is the usual stay. Coffee estates, an orange-seller lake and Tamil families at weekends; midweek the loop road is more or less yours.

How do you get to Yercaud?

Salem Jn 30 km, then a bus up 20 hairpins in an hour; Coimbatore and Trichy airports are both about 3 h away. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Yercaud expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Yercaud?

May: Yercaud Summer Festival. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Yercaud?

Yercaud Lake, Pagoda Point, Killiyur Falls, Servarayan Temple, Lady's Seat and Anna Park. The town's boat lake ringed by stalls selling estate coffee and honey; pedal boats until 6 pm, mornings are calmest.

Nearby, and where to go next

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