Yelagiri

Date: 1-Jun-14
This trip was planned at the last minute. My brother Rajath was visiting us for the weekend, and we wanted to make the most of the opportunity by taking a short day trip together. After exploring a few options, we chose Yelagiri, a quaint hill station in Tamil Nadu that seemed ideal for a one-day getaway. A quick search online made the destination look promising, and the plan was set.

We started from home at 6:00 AM and took the Hosur Road route towards Yelagiri. Since it was a Sunday morning, the roads were pleasantly empty, making for a smooth and enjoyable drive.

Around 8:00 AM, we stopped at Kamath Upachar near Krishnagiri for breakfast. After enjoying a delicious meal, we resumed our journey. The highway was excellent, and all of us thoroughly enjoyed the drive. Using GPS navigation, Thilak navigated towards Jolarpet. However, we encountered an unexpected delay at a railway crossing where a long goods train was stationary. Locals informed us that it could take quite some time before the train moved.

We asked for an alternate route and were directed to a nearby road, but it was in very poor condition, with large potholes filled with water. Fortunately, GPS suggested another, slightly longer route. With no better option available, we followed it and continued our journey. Thankfully, the route turned out to be scenic and pleasant.

Exploring Yelagiri

As we approached Yelagiri, the hill station slowly revealed itself in the distance. Unlike many hill stations that rise dramatically in height, Yelagiri spreads gracefully across a broad landscape. The climb through the ghat section was enjoyable, with gentle curves and beautiful views unfolding at every turn. Near the top, we stopped at a viewpoint to admire the scenery and take a few photographs. The panoramic views were beautiful and made the drive worthwhile.

Once we reached Yelagiri, we realized that there were not many major attractions to explore. We visited a nearby park that had a lake and boating facilities. The park was quite crowded, and the queue for boating was long, so we decided to skip it. Instead, we explored the park at a relaxed pace, spent some time near the lake, clicked plenty of photographs, and enjoyed a leisurely conversation while soaking in the peaceful atmosphere.

At around 11:30 AM, we decided to leave. We drove around the town for a while, hoping to discover a few more interesting spots. The town was surprisingly quiet, with very few people around. There were several hotels and resorts, but many appeared closed. We weren’t sure whether this was because of the off-season or simply the town’s usual pace of life.

Finding a good place for lunch also proved difficult, so we decided to buy some fruits and have lunch later on our way back.

Return journey

At around 12:15 PM, we left Yelagiri and headed back. We assumed the goods train near Jolarpet would have departed by then and decided to try the same route again. Unfortunately, the train was still there. That left us with only one option—the waterlogged road we had avoided earlier. Just then, a tempo emerged successfully from the flooded stretch. When the driver approached us, he kindly explained which parts of the pothole were deeper and advised us on the safest path through it. Trusting his guidance, Thilak carefully navigated our Nano through the water, avoiding the deeper sections. To our relief, we crossed safely and rejoined the main road. All of us silently thanked the helpful tempo driver. The successful crossing also strengthened our admiration for our little Nano, which handled the challenge remarkably well.

We stopped for lunch at Saravana Bhavan around 2:30 PM. The food was excellent and exactly what we needed after the long drive. After lunch, we continued towards Bangalore. The roads were good, and traffic was light, allowing us to reach the city in a little over an hour.

Travel snapshot

Yelagiri may not have offered a long list of attractions, but the trip turned out to be a refreshing and enjoyable getaway. The scenic drive along Hosur Road, the pleasant ghat section, the peaceful atmosphere of the hill station, and the unexpected adventure on our return journey made the day memorable.

Sometimes, the joy of a trip lies not in the destination itself, but in the experiences gathered along the way.

• Route Travelled: BTM Layout > Silkboard > Electronic City > Hosur Road > Krishnagiri > Jolarpet > Yelagiri
• Total distance (To & Fro): 340 km
• Mileage (Car): 20 km/l
• Fuel expense: 1343 Rs
• Total expense: 1966 Rs

Route map