VELLORE & YERCAUD WITH HOGENAKKAL (FROM CHENNAI)

At a distance of 17 km from Vellore, Ratnagiri Balamurugan Temple is an ancient temple located on top of a hillock in Ratnagiri on Vellore - Chennai National Highway. It is one of the important places of pilgrimage in Tamilnadu, and among the must-visit places as part of Vellore tour.

The Ratnagiri Temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan. This temple was built in the 14th century by Arunagiri Nathar. It was renovated in the year 1980 by Bala Muruganadimai Swamy. The temple boasts a huge tower at the entrance. One of the special features of this temple is that the poojas are conducted in Tamil instead of common Sanskrit. The 14th Century poet Arunagirinathar has sung about this temple as Murugan, the God of Devas resides in Ratnagiri.

According to the locals, the divine power in the temple manifests its blessings in three forms. First is in the form of the Lord Murugan idol .....

At a distance of 1.5 km from Vellore Town Railway Station, the Vellore Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in heart of the Vellore city in Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the famous heritage sites near Chennai, and among the must include places in Vellore holiday packages.

Vellore Fort was built in the 16th century CE by Channa Bommi Nayaka and Thimma Reddy Nayaka, the Chieftains under the Vijayanagara ruler Sadashiva Raya. This granite fort happens to be one of the best examples of military architecture in South India and among the unique forts in India. The fort was captured in the 17th century by the Adil Shahis, the Muslim rulers from Bijapur. It was then taken by the Marathas, and later by Daud Khan of Delhi in the early 18th century. The British took control of this fort in 1768 and controlled it .....

At a distance of 10 km from Vellore, 70 km from Kanchipuram, 120 km from Tirupati, 146 km from Chennai, and 212 km from Bangalore, Sripuram Golden Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated in Tirumalaikodi at Southern Vellore, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the popular pilgrimage sites near Bangalore, and among the must visit places during Vellore trip.

Sripuram Golden Temple is dedicated to the goddess Mahalakshmi. Constructed in the year 2007, The temple is built in 100 acres area of land and constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peetham, headed by spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma. The Vimana and Ardha Mandapa have been coated with gold both in the interior and exterior. Sripuram is the biggest structure made out of gold as one and a half tonnes of gold has been used for the construction of the temple with a cost of 600 crores. This is one of the prominent Vellore places to visit.

The .....

At a distance of 47 km from Dharmapuri, 85 km from Salem, 114 km from Yercaud, 146 km from Bangalore, 180 km from Mysore, 217 km from Coimbatore, and 345 km from Chennai, Hogenakkal Falls is a stunning waterfall located in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. Formed over Kaveri River, it is one of the top places to visit in Tamilnadu, and among the best waterfalls in India.

Often referred to as the 'Niagara of India', Hogenakkal is also one of the wonderful tourist places to visit near Bangalore & Chennai. When the River Kaveri enters the Tamil Nadu border after winding its way through the state of Karnataka, it descends down the lofty landscape forming the Hogenakkal Waterfalls. The Carbonatite rocks found near the waterfall are one of the oldest in the world. The two Kannada words 'Hoge' means 'Smoke' and 'Kal' means 'Rocks' .....

At a distance of 1 km from Yercaud Bus Stand, Big Lake or Yercaud Lake is a natural lake situated in the town of Yercaud in Tamilnadu state. Popularly known as Emerald Lake, this lake is the only natural lake among all the hill station lakes in South India and also one of the top Yercaud places to visit.

Flanked by lofty hills and natural shoals, the Emerald Lake is a wonderful site and looks stunning with a beautiful garden along its banks. There is a floating fountain in the lake which increases the appeal of the garden. Tourists can also enjoy boating facilities at the lake as part of Yercaud packages. Tamil Nadu Tourism Department manages the boathouse. Visitors have to pay a caution deposit for boats. The 20 minutes boat ride in the cool waters is a memorable experience.

The Deer Park and Leisure Park located on the banks of the Big Lake also .....

At a distance of 1 km from Yercaud Bus Stand, Anna Park is located adjacent to the Big Lake in Yercaud. Maintained by the Horticulture department, Anna Park is one of the major Yercaud tourist places.

Anna Park is a well preserved garden and is a combination of four small parks known as Lake Park, Deer Park, Gandhi Park and Children's Park. The park houses a wide collection of natural plants and trees around Shevaroy hills. Inside the Anna Park, there is also one Japanese park, in which plants are grown in Japanese style. The park also has a wonderful Horticulture Farm with a Rose Garden. The Rose Garden has various varieties of roses that include button rose to very big rose. One part of the park is seen decorated with red grass which looks like a spectacular red colored carpet. The fountain in the park center splashes nicely enabling visitors to enjoy the thrill of sprinkling water.

The park is .....

At a distance of 4.5 km from Yercaud Bus Stand, Pagoda Point is a viewpoint located on the eastern part of Yercaud Hills.

Also known as Pyramid Point, the place has got its name due to the presence of four piles of stones that have been arranged in the shape of a pyramid which resembles the temple towers and is said to be built by the local tribes. Away from the bustling life of Yercaud, the Pagoda Point is the perfect getaway to embrace the mind with solace and tranquility.

There is a Sri Rama Temple situated near the Pagodas which is an important pilgrimage site for local people and tribes. Apart from attracting the devotees, Pagoda Point is also known for the heavenly beauty and wonderful surroundings, where one can relax and enjoy the beauty of the nature. The Pagoda Point offers amazing sunrise and sunset views. Tourists can enjoy beautiful views of the town of Salem along with Kakambadi village. It is advised to visit .....

At a distance of 7 km from Yercaud Bus Stand, Shevaroyan Temple is a hill temple situated atop Shevaroyan hill in Yercaud town of Tamil Nadu. Situated at an altitude of 5326 feet, this is the highest point in Yercaud Hills, and among the must-visit places during Yercaud trip.

The Shevaroyan temple is a cave temple. The main deity of Shevaroy temple is Lord Shevaroyan, worshiped by tribal people of the region. This temple can be best described as narrow and dark caves which are adorned by idols of Goddess Kaveri and Lord Shevaroyan. The male deity is believed to be the god of Servaroyan hills while the female deity is considered as the goddess of River Cauvery. It is a common belief among people residing in the area that Goddess Kaveri is believed to be the guardian deity of the 67 villages located around Yercaud.

This cave temple is believed to be 2000 years old as per the locals. The cave extends beyond the temple and the .....

At a distance of 4 km from Yercaud Bus Stand and 3 km from Yercaud Lake, Kiliyur Falls is a spectacular waterfall situated in the Servaroyan hill range of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu, India. This is one of the beautiful waterfalls near Bangalore, and among the must include places in Yercaud holiday packages.

Kiliyur Falls is formed by the overflowing waters of Yercaud Lake, one of the most prominent Yercaud tourist places. The waterfalls drop into the Kiliyur Valley from a height of 300 feet (91 m). The view of the falls is breathtaking, especially in monsoon season. This is a seasonal waterfall and the best time to visit this place is immediately after the monsoons. It is an ideal place to spend a weekend away from the busy life.

The 2 km trek to the falls is a bit tough and may .....

At a distance of 2 km from Yercaud Bus Stand and 3 km from Yercaud Lake, the Rose Garden is situated on Lady's Seat road in Yercaud. Maintained by southern circle of Botanical Survey of India, Rose Garden is one of the top attractions in Yercaud.

Housing various exotic species of flowers and plants, the Garden is a major places to visit in Yercaud. The Rose Garden is divided in to different sections like foliage garden, topiary garden, bonsai garden, butterfly garden, herbal garden, rock garden, water garden and sensory garden. It is a must visit place for all nature lovers as one can come across the most beautiful, colorful and rare variety of plants.

The garden houses the Orchidarium and the green house. Spread across 18.4 hectares, the National Orchidarium is established in the year 1963. There are 3000 trees and 1800 shrubs grown in Orchidarium. .....

At a distance of 2 km from Yercaud Bus Stand, Lady's Seat is a cluster of rocks in the form of a seat on the South West of Shevaroy hills in Yercaud town of Tamil Nadu state. The Lady's Seat is one of the prime attractions of Yercaud.

The Lady' Seat has derived its name from a set of rocks made naturally. The natives believe that a white English lady used to spend the evenings watching the panoramic view from this rock. The viewpoint offers panoramic views of Salem town and Ghat Road. It is a nice place to watch the sunset.

There is a watch tower equipped with telescope so as to enjoy the beautiful view of Mettur Dam and Salem town. This viewing tower is open for visitors only during the day time. On the right of Lady's Seat are Sterling Resorts, Gent's Seat and Children's Seat. There is a mini park and it is a breath taking spot for a picnic. The view from Lady's Seat is more spectacular at night with thousands of light twinkling in Salem town.

It is a very pleasant .....

At a distance of 2.5 km from Yercaud Bus Stand & 500m from Lady's Seat, Gent's Seat is a wonderful viewpoint in Yercaud town close to Lady's Seat. The Gent's Seat is one of the prime attractions of Yercaud visited along with Lady' Seat.

The viewpoint offers panoramic views of Salem town and Ghat Road. It is a nice place to watch the sunset.

There is a small watch tower near the point offering breathtaking view of the plains below. The view from Gent's Seat is more spectacular at night with thousands of light twinkling in Salem town.

It is a very pleasant place and visitors can either travel by a private vehicle or just walk from Lady's Seat. It is a must visit place for nature lovers.

Timings: 7 AM - 7 PM