Serens Solitude

A cute little hill station, you either love Yercaud or hate it. It is even smaller than a one horse town. Just the sort of rustic spot that makes a perfect getaway for a honeymoon couple escaping from the busy world. A short drive away from Salem at the foothills, (barely 45 minutes to one hour), perched right on top of twenty hairpin bends, you will find this tiny little hill town. Some schools of thought believe that the hills were a part of the ancient megalith builders domain that stretched from Cornwall through Liberia and then into India. Farfetched though it may seem on the one hand, it could have been possible. Not at all Commercialized, the weather in Yercaud is perfect at all times, an ideal getaway for couples who cannot stay away too long from their commitments. Yercaud is 363 kms away from Chennai. Even a long week end away can be a refreshing change.(One can always opt for a another honeymoon, now and then!) The tiny Yercaud Lake is little more than a pond, really and the boathouse has but a few boats parked there, ready and waiting. Surrounded by a road, the lake has huge rocks on one side and is quite a picturesque little water body, especially when the mist descends on the rocky side, and a slight drizzle dampens the skin.

Most of the Shevaroyan Hills are used for cultivating coffee. The first coffee was cultivated here in 1820 and was brought to Yercaud from Africa by its collector, Mr.Cock burn. The first coffee estate was called Grange Estate.

Mr. Cockburn was a keen gardener and helped develop a lot of other fruits and spices during his time, between 1820 and 1829. He was instrumental in planting orchards of apples, jack fruit, oranges, guava, and spices like pepper and cardamom. Sandal and silver oak trees dot the greenery of coffee and add to the beauty of the mountainside.

The Shevaroyan Temple, on the highest peak of the hills is at an altitude of 5326 feet. The temple festival is normally celebrated during the month of May. At other times, a visit to the temple would be quite peaceful and uncrowded.

For the nature lover, the Anna Botanical Garden would be a place of interest. Both the lake and the garden are close by and can be done in one afternoon's stroll.

Amusing names mark the points around Yercaud. One is called Ladies seat and another Gent's seat. Yet another, the Pyramid point, has cairns of stone, and was once a cave shrine. Now to get down to the nitty gritty of places to stay. Honeymooning couples craving solitude simply must take up residence at the Thiruvensum Cottage. It is one of those typically British houses and has been maintained just as it was all those years ago before the British sold it. The house itself has four bedrooms and two living rooms, with an annex that has three bedrooms. A live-in caretaker couple handle the housekeeping and the food. They can serve up typical south Indian fare as well as any other cuisine you may desire at an extra cost.

Added advantages are television and the small cocktail fridge. The attached balcony is lovely in the evenings, a perfect place to sit, be one with nature and watch the sun light up the peaks like dying embers a fitting end to a delightful property, where each of the rooms has a view. It is carved out of giant rocks and has a million stairs going up, down and around the property. One of the best views of the valley below is from here.

Something about the mist and the mountains always strikes a romantic chord. Especially when you see it settle on the plains below from above and with someone special beside you.