Quick answer
Yercaud is a small hill station in the Shevaroy Hills of Salem district, about 1,500 m high and only 30 km from Salem via a ghat road with 20 hairpin bends. The main sights are Yercaud Lake, Lady’s Seat, Gent’s Seat, Pagoda Point, Killiyur Falls, the Shevaroy Temple and the coffee estates. It is a perfect one or two day trip, best from October to June.
Why Yercaud
Yercaud is the most budget-friendly hill station in Tamil Nadu and the quickest to reach from Salem, Bangalore and Chennai. It has coffee and orange estates, cool weather and far fewer crowds than Ooty or Kodaikanal.
Places to visit in Yercaud
- Yercaud Lake (Emerald Lake) — boating in the middle of town.
- Lady’s Seat and Gent’s Seat — rock viewpoints over the Salem plains and the ghat road; beautiful at sunset.
- Pagoda Point — named after stone pyramids built by local tribes; views of the Kolli Hills on clear days.
- Shevaroy Temple — a cave temple at the highest point of the hills.
- Killiyur Falls — a seasonal waterfall, best from August to November after the rains.
- Anna Park and the Rose Garden — gardens near the lake; the summer festival is held in May.
- Bear’s Cave and coffee estates — walk through shaded coffee plantations.
Salem to Yercaud taxi fare
One way · ~32 km · driver bata included
Sedan 4+1₹2,350
SUV 6+1₹3,000
MUV 7+1₹3,130
Innova Crysta 7+1₹3,390
How to reach Yercaud
| From | Approx. distance | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Salem | 30 km | 1 hr |
| Bangalore | 230 km | 5 hrs |
| Coimbatore | 195 km | 4 hrs |
| Chennai | 360 km | 7 hrs |
One-day Yercaud plan
- Leave Salem by 7 am and climb the ghat while it is cool.
- Lady’s Seat and Gent’s Seat, then Pagoda Point and Shevaroy Temple.
- Lunch near the lake, boating, Anna Park and the Rose Garden.
- Sunset at Lady’s Seat, then drive down before it gets fully dark.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Yercaud from Salem?
About 30 km, roughly one hour up the ghat road.
Is one day enough for Yercaud?
Yes, the main sights fit in one day. Stay a night if you want a relaxed trip.
Best time to visit Yercaud?
October to June. The Yercaud Summer Festival is held in May.