We had been planning a reunion of school friends for a very long time- some married, some still enjoying their bachelorhood! We planned and planned and planned for close to 3 months and finally what started as a plan with 8 of us ended up with just 3 of us bachelors. The 3 of us were determined that we will somehow make this happen and thus we went ahead with the plan zeroing in on a place that was sort of equi distant from both Kochi and Bangalore.
That is when I heard about Yercaud through a couple of friends- a hill station just 45 minutes drive away from Salem and I thought- that sounds like the perfect place. We sprung into action and on a cool Saturday morning found ourselves packed into a car to Yercaud from Salem Railway Station where we met. The fact that we had a 4th member in the team (a friend's friend- of the opposite sex ;-)) added to the pleasure though none of us had any ulterior motives. We had reservations at Grange Resorts and the car drove us right to the resort which thankfully was located away from the bustling small town of Yercaud.
The resort was just right for us and we checked into the rooms. The rooms were large and comfortable and the complimentary breakfast was delicious(Idli, Bread Omlette and Uppma). We checked in at around 6 AM on a Saturday morning and it was foggy all around. By around 11 AM, we decided to start our sight seeing. There are 4 view points on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats and they are curiously named Lady's Seat, Gents' Seat, Kids' Seat and Pagoda Point! The view from all four points are equally magnificent and you can see the entire city of Salem below and the winding mountain road you take to reach Yercaud.
The Shevaroy cave temple is another attraction and the beautiful Yercaud lake offers ample opportunity for boating. You can cycle around the lake or take a ride on the horse. The Anna Park on the lakeside has a mini zoo and we saw a beautiful peacock with its feathers fully hoisted shaking its booty and taking pride in its appearance. The mini aquarium is another attraction around the lake and a bumpy ride on the All Terrain Vehicle promises a wee bit of adventure for those who love it!
The weather was cool and pleasant throughout though we were right in the peak of summer and it offered a good getaway for us from the sveltering heat of Kochi. Yercaud is aptly referred to as the "poor man's Ootty" and a trip to Yercaud is not very heavy on your purse. We spent the entire weekend for a little over 2 grands and the resort as well as the restaurants in the town offered high quality food and services at affordable cost. More than anything else, it is the serenity and purity of Yercaud that attracts you the most. It is not fully exploited commercially yet and that is the biggest plus of Yercaud.
Yercaud is also considered a great place for honey mooning- thanks to the resorts that are located over vast expanse of land and a variety of spots that are empty throughout the day. The weather also adds to its charm.
If you are looking for a quick getaway at an affordable price, you know where to head to. Even if you do not opt for Grange Resorts, make sure you check into the boutique inside the resort that offers a variety of attractive stuff at reasonable prices. Your wife/ GF will love it for sure ;-)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment