Yercaud

Yercaud ஏற்காடு
Hill Station
Yercaud Lake
Nickname(s): Poors' Ooty-ஏழைகளின் ஊட்டி
Yercaud
Coordinates: 11°46′46″N 78°12′12″E / 11.7794°N 78.2034°E / 11.7794; 78.2034Coordinates: 11°46′46″N 78°12′12″E / 11.7794°N 78.2034°E / 11.7794; 78.2034
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Salem
Area
• Total	383 km2 (148 sq mi)
Elevation	1,623 m (5,325 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	36,863
• Density	96/km2 (250/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Vehicle registration	TN 30 & TN 54
Tamil and English spoken

Yercaud is a hill station in Salem District, in Tamil Nadu, India. It is located in the Shevaroys range of hills in the Eastern Ghats. It is situated at an altitude of 1515 metres (4970 ft) above sea level, and the highest point in Yercaud is the Servarayan temple, at 5,326 feet (1,623 m). The hill station is named owing to the abundance of forest near the lake, the name signifying Lake Forest.^[1] As a popular tourist destination, Yercaud ^[2] is also called as Jewel of the South.^[3] Yercaud is connected to the city of Salem, Tamil Nadu through a Highway of 28 km. Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance, as well as bananas, pears and jackfruit. Scenically, Yercaud is as enchanting and picturesque as the hill stations on the Eastern Ghats and trekking will be an experience.

The total extent of Yercaud Taluk is 382.67 km², including reserve forest. The entire county is administered as a township. Yercaud also has a village council.

Etymology

The town's name is derived from the lake located at its center – in Tamil Yeri means lake and Kaadu means forest. It is also explained as Seven Forest.

History

Church, Yercaud

Stone-age implements have been found from the ancient shrine located near Shevaroy Hills ( also known as Shevarayan Hills ), which is about 5 km from the Yercaud lake.^[4]

Sir Thomas Munroe, erstwhile governor of Madras Presidency in 1822 found this place. David Cockburn, the Scottish collector of Salem district, between 1820 and 1829, was called the 'Father of Yercaud' because he helped in the development of the resources of the Shevaroy and for introducing the cultivation of coffee, pears and apple. The first survey of the Shevaroy hills was undertaken in 1827. Though the first European house was built in 1840. The attention of planters on the Shevaroys has been confined solely to coffee plantations. Tea plantation has been introduced in 1840s by Dr.Wallich on the property of G.F.Fischer. Trees of cinnamon has been introduced in Yercaud by Mr.Richardson during the same period.^[5] The cool climate attracted Christian missionaries, who established the Sacred Heart Convent for girls, the Nazareth Girls' Hr. Sec. School for Girls, and the Montfort School for boys. Schools such as the Holy Cross Novitiate House, started by the Brothers of Don Bosco, followed these.

Mr. G.F. Fischer, a European of German origin, purchased the Salem Zamindar in 1836. He was the only European Zamindar in the Presidency. The area of his zamin was 125,000 acres (510 km²).

The first Indian coffee planter to settle in these hills was Mr. MSP Rajes whose father started off by trading with the European planters. He eventually bought them out and settled in Cauvery Peak. His descendants continue to manage the plantations under the names MSP Plantations and MSP Coffee.

Geography

Climate

The climate of Yercaud is moderate humid subtropical (koppen:Cwa). Winters are fairly mild, starting in December and ending in February. During winter, the hills are covered in mist. Winters range from 12 °C to 24 °C, and summers from 16 °C to 30 °C. Rainfall is 1500–2000 mm. The coffee bushes blossom in April and offer a spectacular view. The climate is also particularly pleasant.

Flora and fauna

The National Orchidarium and Botanical garden is situated in Yercaud, it is maintained by southern circle of Botanical Survey of India. The National Orchidarium established in the year 1963. The total area of orchidarium is 18.4 hectares. There are 3000 trees and 1800 shrubs grown in Orchidarium. Insectivorous pitcher plant is among the interesting plants grown in the Botanical garden. Some of the original forests still exist in the Yercaud hills and contain several endemic species of plants and fauna. The Yercaud hills have many faunal and floral similarities to the Western Ghats. Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance, as well as bananas, pears and jackfruit.

Yercaud is rich in endemic and charismatic species of wildlife including bison, sambar deer, spotted deer, ant-eater, jackals, hares, foxes, mongoose, civets, giant squirrels, and many reptiles including endemic ones such Hemiphyllodactylus aurantiacus, Calotes calotes, Calotes rouxii, Mabuya beddomii and shield tail snake like Uropeltis ellioti and Uropeltis shorttii (which is endemic to the hill range), the endangered Python molurus, Macropisthodon plumbicolor, Calliophis beddomei and Trimeresurus gramineus; endemic amphibians such as Hylarana, Raorchestes, Fejervarya and scores of birds like the whistling thrush, racket-tailed drongo, peacock, shama, leafbird and Indian grey hornbill.

Economy

Tourism

Yercaud Lake Panorama

The major industry is tourism, eco tourism with resorts amid high trees and plantations.

• Yercaud Lake: a pool surrounded by gardens and well-wooded trees.
• Lady's Seat: Tourists can have a panoramic view of the plains below through the telescope mounted at the Lady's seat.
• Killiyur Falls: a 90-foot (27 m)-high waterfall.
• The Servaroyan Temple: Situated atop Servaroyan hill, the annual festival of Lord Servaroyan is celebrated in May every year. The temple is a narrow and dark cave having the God Servarayan and the Goddess Kaveri inside, which are believed as the deities of the Shevaroy Hills and Cauvery River.
• Bear’s Cave: Situated near the Norton’s Bungalow, Bear’s Cave is considered as one of the abodes of Lord Murugan.
• Green House: The greenhouse cultivates many varieties of flowers and spices.
• Tipperary Colonial Bungalow: One of the finest buildings built by Charles Dickins (1787 - 1859, no relation), a former Troop Sargeant Major, where he and his family settled and expanded the Tipperary Estate plantation over a period of 150 years until after the 1950's and independance. Still the building and part of the estate are preserved and maintained for providing Homestay for tourists who visits Yercaud often.
• Off road adventure in Toyota Hilux ( toughest vehicle built by Toyota according to BBC TOP GEAR)in Tipperary estate Yercaud has to be experienced to be believed.The dramatic views and the scenic backdrop with the thrilling adventure is a must do in yercaud .

Botanical Survey of India: Botanical garden situated at the Nagalur main road 2 km from Yercaud town.

• The Grange: The Grange is one of the oldest buildings in Yercaud, built in 1820s by the then district, who first introduced coffee from Arabia and apples and other fruits from South Africa between 1820 and 1829. It is believed to have been the summer resort of Robert Clive, general of the East India Company in the late 19th century.
• Pagoda Point: Another view point; once adorned with stone built pagodas, it is now home to a large temple.
• Silk Farm and Rose Garden: Situated very close to Lady's Seat, silkworms are reared here. Located 2 km from Yercaud town, tourists can see the cultivation of mulberries, growing of silk worms, and methods of silk-spinning. The rose garden has a collection of varieties of roses. There is a nursery in this garden which sells plants.
• Trekking in Yercaud: Yercaud has developed into a major trekking destination in the region. Chennai Trekking Club and Yercaud Trekking Club, Prop. Mr.Rathish Solomon, AVR Complex, 5 Roads, Yercaud. Organizes treks in Yercaud
• Karadiyur Viewpoint : A wonderful sight seeing placed in yercaud about 12 km from the center of the town in a village Karadiyur.
• Sri Lalitha Thripura Sundari Amman Temple: Situated at Nagalur 7 km from yercaud town. It is very important temple.
• Asteroid White stone: Yercaud has two huge stones A & B. "A"white stone is called white elephant stone. It is located near Gundur and another one "B" did not have any specific name like elephant stone, but people call it commonly as "white stone." It's located near Theppakadu. Both look like asteroids and many significant factors resemble that they may be from an asteroid family. Many people believe that there was a meteor shower over Yercaud, as many of these rocks are visible for hundreds of kilometres

Agriculture

The other major source of income is agriculture, with coffee as the major crop. Coffee was first cultivated on the "Grange Estate" in 1820, when coffee plants were brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr. M.D. Cockburn. Jackfruit,star apple, fig, lacota, water apple, oranges, guava and spices such as black pepper and cardamom are other crops raised on the coffee estate. Sandalwood, teak and silver oak are abundant as well.

Demographies

Yercaud has population app. 40,000 people during the 2001 census period. Scheduled Tribal population of Yercaud is 24,449 people.^[7] The majority of the population is Tribal people in Yercadu. The indigenous inhabitants of Yercaud is known as Malayas (Hill men) or Vellalas.

The language spoken in Yercaud is Tamil and English.

The total density of the population is 102 people per km². The increase of population at the rate of 20% and Yercaud being a Rural township it lacks any urban population. The literacy rate in Yercaud is 62% out of the total population.^[7]

Festivals

^[8]

Summer Festival is held during the middle of May, when the annual festival of Lord Servarayan, presiding deity of the Shevaroy Hills, takes place. There is a 7-day exhibition of flower shows, dog shows, boating races and a village fair.

Transport

Yercaud is situated in Salem district, Tamil Nadu. The nearest city or town is Salem, 32 km away. The nearest airports are Salem Airport at a distance of 38 km. The nearest railway station is Salem – 38 km.

Administration and politics

Post office at Yercaud

The Shevaroys as per the local inhabitants consisted of Selanadu (Area south and east of the Shevaroyan Temple) Muttanadu (Land in and around the shevaroyan Temple) and Moganadu (area North of the Temple). In 1842, after the death of the Pattakarar (Tribal Chief) of the Shevaroys there was trouble between the various Malaiyalis. This struggle for succession finally resulted in the British bringing this area under their rule in 1842. The Grange Yercaud was built in the 1820s by M.D. Cockburn & after the Indian Mutiny in 1857, fearing trouble, The Grange, Yercaud was fortified & ramparts built to accommodate gun placements & canons were installed. An underground cellar to store food for over 6 months in the event of a siege was also built & stocked. All Europeans in the area were to assemble at the Grange in the event of an uprising.

Yercaud was a Sub-Taluk up to 14 October 1997. It became a Taluk on 15 October 1997. There are 67 Revenue villages which have been grouped into nine Tariffs for the sake of administration, and each Tariff has one village administrative officer. Yercaud Taluk is divided into three Firkas viz., Yercaud, Vellakkadai and Puthur.

Now, Yercaud has an assembly constituency (Scheduled Tribal Area) is part of Salem (Lok Sabha constituency).^[9]

Education

• Montfort Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School is a residential institution dating back to 1 June 1917.

Gallery

• 
  Kiliyur waterfall near Yercaud
• 
  Rainbow near Pagoda point
• 
  View of Salem city at night from Tipperary Colonial Bungalow
• 
  A quiet road in Yercaud
• 
  Yercaud Nature – Blue Sky,Yercaud
• 
  Yercaud Town view,Yercaud
• 
  Yercaud scenery
• 
  Yercaud Nature,Yercaud
• 
  Botanical Gardens, Yercaud
• 
  Sunset in, Yercaud
• 
  Yercaud View from Lady's Seat
• 
  Cloudy Yercaud, Yercaud

See also

Gokak

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yercaud.

• Yercaud
• Yercaud Winter's
• Yercaud travel guide from Wikivoyage