Yercaud, popularly known as Poor Man's Ooty, is 30 km north-east of
Salem. Situated at an altitude of 4920 ft on the Shevaroy hills of the
Eastern Ghats, the beauty of Yercaud is enhanced by coffee plantations and orange groves.
Yercaud takes its name from ‘yeri’ and ‘kaadu’ in Tamil - meaning lake and forest. It was discovered by the British during the dawn of 19th century. Missionaries soon followed and founded several educational institutions of repute, such as the Sacred Heart Convent for girls and Montfort School for boys.
Yercaud is spread over an area of 38.3 sq km and has a population of around 36000. The common languages spoken by the people are Tamil and English. Bananas, pears, and jack fruit are grown here. The temperature varies between 13°C and 30°C. The best time to visit is from February to October.
The major attractions are Yercaud Lake, Killiyur Falls, Pagoda Point, Arthur's Seat, Kaveri Peak, Lady's Seat, and Shevaroy temple. The nearby places of interests are Namakkal, Tiruchengodu,
Sankagiri and Mettur. There is a summer special festival conducted every year.
The nearest airport is at Tiruchirapalli. Nearest major railhead is Salem Junction Railway Station. Yercaud is connected by road to Trichy, Salem, Madurai, Bangalore, and
Coimbatore.
