Shevaroy hills

This quiet little hill station on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern ghats is the only one of its kind in northern Tamil Nadu. While the rest of this region is generally dry, including the predominantly short and rocky hills of the Eastern ghats, Yercaud presents a welcome contrast with its cool climate

where temperature never rises above 30ºC and dip below 13ºC . It is also a less expensive place than either Udhagamandalam or Kodaikkanal.

Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges, are grown in abundance apart from bananas, pears and jack. Scenically, Yercaud is as enchanting and picturesque as the hill stations on the Western ghats and trekking here can be one of the most pleasurable ways to pass time.

Places for sight-seeing include the Lake, Lady's Seat, Killiyur Falls, Pagoda Point, Arthur's Seat, Kaveri Peak and the Shevaroyan temple.


Yercaud Lake The first thing that attracts a visitor is the lake. It is a picturesque pool surrounded by gardens and well wooded trees. Boating in the cold water of the lake is enchanting as well as refreshing.

The Anna Park : Near the Lake. It is a lovely garden.


Killiyur Falls : This 3000 feet high water falls is situated amidst picturesque surroundings.

The Servaroyan Temple : It is situated atop Servaroyan hill. The tribals here celebrate their annual festival in May every year.

The Montfort School : The Montfort School and the Sacred Heart Convent are the two famous educational institutions at Yercaud imparting education to boys and girls respectively.

The Retreat : Started in 1945 by the brothers of Don Bosco. This institution serves as a Novitiate House where students of the religious order stay and study.

ANAMALAI HILLS

ANAMALAI HILLS, a range of mountains in southern India, in the Coimbatore district of Madras, lying between 10° 13' and 10° 31' N. lat., and between 76° 52' and 77° 23' E. long., forming a portion of the Western Ghats, after this range has been broken by the Palghat Pass, south of the Nilgiris. They really consist of a forest-clad and grassy tableland, with summits rising about 8000 ft.; the Anaimudi mountain, which is the highest in southern India, having an altitude of 8850 ft. Their geological formation is metamorphic gneiss, veined with felspar and quartz, and interspersed with reddish porphyrite. The lower slopes yield valuable teak and other timber; and some land has been taken up for coffee planting. The only inhabitants are a few wild tribes who live by hunting and collecting jungle produce. Attractions: Some of the places to be visited: Monkey Falls, Aliyar, the Crocodile Breeding Centre at Amaravati, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Attakatti, Mirar, Kullipatti, Manompally, Chinnar, Varagaliar, Manjampatty, etc. ANNAMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY : Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (also called Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary) is a full-fledged visitor's centre at Top slip, This sanctuary is situated at an altitude of 1,400 metres in the western ghats near Pollachi. The area of the sanctuary is 958 Sq. Kms. It has various kinds of exotic fauna like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth bear, pangolin, black headed oriole, green pigeon and civet cat. The Amaravathy reservoir in the Anamalais has a large number of crocodiles. There are also many places of scenic beauty such as Karain Shola, Anaikunthi shola, Grass hills, waterfalls,groves ,teak forests,estates,dams and reservoirs. Arrangements are available at Topslip to take tourists around the Sanctuary on elephant back or by van. HOW TO REACH THERE Air : The nearest airport is at Coimbatore. Rail : The nearest railway station is at Pollachi from where there are trains to Coimbatore and Dindigul. Road : There are regular buses from Coimbatore and Palani to Pollachi, which is the nearest big town. To reach Topslip by road tourists can catch a bus or hire a taxi from Pollachi. Divide the text into air, rail and road.

TANJAVORE (TANJORE)

TANJORE big temple is an epoch-making, historically tremendous monument imposing the great exclusive art gallery dedicated to Lord Shiva. Rajaraja created an era of grandeur and glory for the dynasty of Chola. The emperor established the specimen of a splendid period of South Indian history as the most beautiful evidence of Tamil architecture at its best. The emperor Rajaraja established and named the historic monolithic notable deity as Rajarajesvaram Udaiya Paramasami. The remarkable inscriptions of this temple reveal the exclusiveness of royal touch in each breath taking sculptures, paintings and architecture. The Royal temple symbolizes the prominence of tanjore as the capital of Chola Empire. The main temple of the place is now called “Brihadisvaram” or “Big Temple”. The enormous archetypal excellence gained a paradigmatic style in art, religion and literature, which has never reached again in succeeding ages. The Chola king Rajaraja can legitimately claim to have laid the laid the real base for the glory and longevity for the empire. The historic tanjore city occupies its place within the big fort and the Brahadisvaram by moats. The present fortifications and the moats were formed by the Nayak rulers of tanjore during the 16th Century. Though the temple was named as Rajarajesvaram by Rajaraja, now it is called “Brahadisvaram” in Sanskrit and Peruvudaiyar Koil in Tamil. At the ruling period of Maratta’s during 17th to 19th centuries the name Brahadisvaram was popularized. The present fortification and mots were formed by the Nayak rulers of tanjore during the 16th century. The vast big temple occupies an area measuring 800’x 400’.The vast inner courtyard of the temple is 500’x 250’ and it is surrounded by a cloister. An aesthetic sense of conversant with a unique mode of architecture and epigraphical records are at once struck by the unique personality of the royal King Rajaraja.He followed the height of devotion, patronage of arts and catholicity of outlook as no one could make it ineradicable. Almost all the major inscriptions record the King’s personal participation in the affairs of the temple. The king Rajaraja had the royal control by directly issuing orders over the temple. The overall administration was in the hand of a very high officer or “Aditan Suriyan”alias Tenavan, Muvendavelan. The chief Saiva acharya (priest) of the temple was Bavana Pidaran. A point of great interest is the mention of the royal architect and his assistants, who obviously designed and built the temple. Their names recorded are Kuncharamallan alias Rajarajaperumta Niltavinota Perum Taccan and Gandaratita Perumtaccan. The function of Kuncharamallan is called Tacca Caryam- superintending Architect. The Rajarajesvaram thus was an out and out royal temple, built and controlled by the emperor and his army and officers. The sculptures, painters and designers had left their imprints in every aspect of the temple and made at the same time, all people imbibe a sense of belonging to the temple. At the entrance of the “Big Shiva Temple” there are two magnificent giant “Gopuras”, widely separated from each other. The first Gopura Keralaanthakan Tiruvayil has five tiers. The second Gopura Rajarajan Tiruvayil has three tiers. Apart from these two main gates, there are four more small gateways without Gopuras in the Thiruccurrumaalikai.In the courtyard, the tallest granite structure Srivimana stands gigantic near the mahamandapa.In the northern side of Srivimana is the original Chola structure of Chandikesvara shrine. During thirteenth century Pandiya ruler contributed the Devi shrine in front of the Mahamandapa Nayak kings added the latest addition of Nandimandapa and the Subramanya shrine, Serfoji a Maratta ruler contributed to his part by the Ganapati shrine in the southwest Prakara during 1801 A.D. The temple is famous for its innumerous Sivalingas.In the enclosure Mandapa of this temple there are 36 sub shrines (Parivaralayas) and icons made of bronze. In front of the Subramanya shrine there lays Nataraja mandapa or the Murti Ammal mandapa and the Mallappa Nayakar Mandapa are the contribution of Nayak period during the sixteenth century. The two gateways, Keralaanthakan Tiruvayil (First gateway) and Rajarajan Tiruvayil (Second gate) of this temple has massive tiered structure with Salas, rides and Karnakudus in each tier (Tala) perched in a high stone masonry foundation which has raised upapita element and an adhistana with many mouldings.The first gate measures about 90’x 55’ in the base and its entrance is about 15’ wide. The lower portion upto the middle of the second floor is of stone (Granite), the upper parts are of brick plaster and Stucco. There are two massive single stone door jambs of granite with 5’x5’ square and a height of 40’facing north and to the south there are two sub-shrines in the first floor which is dedicated to Dakshinamurti and Brahma.

If You want to know more details about Tanjore Temple Click here.

Darjeeling (Darjiling)

Whether you brave the tortuous railway or the quality nerve-wracking road that switchbacks up to Darjiling, you will be rewarded on arrival by the sight of a vast pine-clad valley, with the town tumbling steeply downhill from Chowrasta, the highest point, to the bus stand far below. Colonial bungalows and newer concrete edifices line alleys, steps and the main street ( for pedestrians only from halfway up). Nights can be extremely cold and damp, and you will have to get up early if you want to glimpse Kanchenjunga before clouds descend. The lively Nehru Road offers good retreats for tea, snacks and meals, with abundant handmade craft stories. This is one of loveliest and cool location in India. We must see once in our life span. It located 6700 ft approximately from the sea level. We can reach by 88 kms far from Darjeeling Himalayan Railway from New Jalpaiguri. For more details about Darjeeling tourism, visit

Shravanabelgola - Karnataka

Shravanabelgola is a city located in Hassan District in Karnataka state. Shravanabelgola is a extraordinary Jain Pilgrimage site spreads over two hills, several tanks and village. Its highlight is the main temple crowning Indragiri Hill. Inside its precincts stands a 57-foot monolithic statue of Gommata. With long arms and legs entwined with creepers, he is wonderfully serene and oblivious to the crowds of prostrate pilgrims below. Sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras (prophets) and Yaksas (demigods), as well as 9th to 19th century reliefs carved into boulders, continue on Ghandragiri, the samll hill to the north.

How to reach:

Shravanabelgola is 158 kms away from Bangalore, 89 kms away from Mysore and 364 kms from hubli. State buses are available from Bangalore and Mysore.

Hassan is the nearest railway station and Bangalore is the nearest Airport for Shravanbelgola