Yercaud Tourism

Placed amidst the splendid Shevaroys Hills of the Eastern Ghats, Yercaud is a very peaceful and beauteous hill station of Tamil Nadu. Also known as the ‘Jewel of the South’, Yercaud is recognized as ‘Poor Man’s Ooty’. ‘Yercaud’ is a Tamil word meaning ‘beautiful forest’ or ‘lake forest’. Perched at the altitude of 4970 ft, Yercaud is blessed with natural elegance in profusion.

Servaroyan temple is the highest point of Yercaud which is situated at the altitude of 5326 feet. The Shevaroys range is named after the Servaroyan temple. Climbing the Shevaroys Hills from Salem and traveling some 30 km via the spectacular road that passes through coffee plantations, spices plantation and orange groves will reach you to the heaven on the earth: Yercaud

Be it 2:00 pm in the day or 3:00 am in the morning, in Yercaud you will continuously come across the clouds passing by you. And when you are standing near the Servaroyan temple hills, you will even see clouds passing below you. Being in cloud nine can be literally true about Yercaud. Sipping Yercaud coffee and enjoying the pleasant breeze is a divine experience.

History of Yercaud

Evidence of human existence in Yercaud is dated back to the stone ages. Remnants and relics of the stone man are found near the ancient Servaroyan temple. But that history is not so well explored and we don’t have authentic records.

According to the available credible archives, the first human inhabitation here came from Kanchi or Kanchipuram. Tamil refuges from the prisons of the Telugu Kings escaped to these hills and settled there.

The first European domicile was established in Yercaud in 1840 and Sir Thomas Muroe, the then Governor of Madras discovered this place in 1842. But the credit of the development of Yercaud goes to David CockBurn, the then collector of Salem district.

Rightly called the ‘Father of Yercaud’, David CockBurn introduced the cultivation of coffee, apple and pear here. Dr.Wallich introduced tea plantation and Mr. Richardson, cinnamon. Later Christian Missionaries established schools and churches at Yercaud.

From October 15th, 1997, Yercaud was made a full fledged Taluk place of Salem district.