Yercaud is a hill station town in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It lies in the Shevaroy Hills, known for their orange groves, and coffee, fruit and spice plantations. Yercaud Lake has a boathouse, and is surrounded by gardens and woods. On the lake’s eastern shore, Anna Park has local plants and a Japanese garden with bonsai. To the southwest, Lady’s Seat vantage point has a watchtower with a telescope.
It offers views of the Mettur Dam, on the Kaveri River, to the west. Nearby, Gents Seat is another hilltop vantage point. East of Yercaud, Pagoda Point is a viewpoint featuring 4 mounds of rocks, built by local tribes, which form the shape of a pyramid. Northwest are the cascading Kiliyur Falls, with trekking routes around their base. Atop Servarayan Hill is Servarayan Temple, a narrow cave temple dedicated to Hindu deities. Farther north is the huge, white marble Sri Chakra Maha Meru Temple, with ornate carvings and statues of Hindu gods inside.
When to visit: Popular times to visit include Apr–Jun and Dec–Jan. Yercaud has a tropical climate, with warm temperatures year-round, peaking Mar–May. There is significant rainfall Jul–Oct. Winters (Dec–Feb) are mild and relatively dry. The Shevaroy Hill coffee plantations blossom in Apr. The festival of Lord Servarayan, which honors the Hindu deity, is held at the hilltop Servarayan Temple (May). Anna Park hosts several flower shows (May). Kiliyur Falls are at their fullest and most dramatic towards the end of the rainy season (Oct–Nov).
