Holidays in Yelagiri
Yelagiri Hills is for easy-paced, relaxed weekends; an ideal getaway
from the hustle, bustle and madness of the city. No Internet, no mobile
phones and no deadlines. Just relax! Put your feet up; catch up on some
reading in this quiet environment, where the only sound you'll hear is
the chirping of birds. You are the master of all that you survey.
At Yelagiri, you can do just about anything you want. For
instance, you could trek up those rugged hillocks or go on long walks
through narrow roads, explore the green surroundings of this rural
retreat. Or perhaps you'd like to head towards the lake nearby for some
leisure boating or just squat on a bench in the adjoining children's
park and watch the kids play away to glory.
Yelagiri Hills encompasses a total area of just 30 sq kms and
an altitude of approximately 3500 feet. Therefore, the climate is
rather moderate, and an evening breeze that can get a bit chilly
(especially after a few showers), considering that the hills have a fair
amount of forest cover.
What makes Yelagiri Hills an ideal weekend getaway is it's proximity
from Bangalore or Chennai; just about 3-4 hours. So, an early morning
start can get you to Yelagiri by about 10 in the morning and if you
leave the next day just after lunch, your home by nightfall. 
There must be around 20-30 places offering accommodation. Many call
themselves 'resorts' but in actual fact, the accommodation and
facilities on offer are abysmal. Hygiene, cleanliness of lodgings and
food leave a lot to be desired.
Having said that, there are a few hotels and lodging houses who understand what hospitality means.
You may like to check out the following places:
Mid Valley Residence
Yelagiri Hills Country Club
Hotel Yelagiri (First Hotel in Yelagiri Hills)
VSK Boarding and Lodging
Hotel 'O' Nila
Ammu Anju Cottage and Hotel Archana
Ashok Lodge
Siddharth Holiday Resorts
Hotel Nigress Boarding and Lodging (Deluxe)
Taj Gardens - An Exclusive Resort
Fourteen hairpin bends and about half hour or so of driving uphill,
you are in Athanur town. Hotel Hills is on the right side of that same
main road (after the Yelagiri Hills police Station). You just can't miss
it.
Take extreme caution while driving on the 4-lane expressways.
It's not uncommon to see cyclists, two-wheelers or even cars and other
vehicles coming towards you on the wrong side of the road.
Yelagiri
Hills is also accessible by train. Many trains stop at Jolarpet and
from there, one could hire a cab to reach Yelagiri. Haggle like hell and
get the best deal. Frequent buses operate between Thirupathur and
Jolarpet to Yelagiri.
You can get buses from Chennai, Salem, Hosur, Bangalore but a bus journey will eat into a major part of your day. Driving or taking the train is advisable.
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