Major city · India
Yercaudயேர்காடு
Go for one night, two at most: the lake, three viewpoints and the falls fill a day, and the 22 km ghat road from Salem is the only way in.Go for one night, two at most: the lake, three viewpoints and the falls fill a day, and the 14 mi ghat road from Salem is the only way in.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- avoid Apr–Jun (hot before the monsoon), heavy rain days in Jul–Sep
- Airports
- SXV · BLR · CJB
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
Yercaud is a small hill station on the Shevaroy Hills at 1,515 m, reached by a 22 km climb from Salem. The town is compact — lake, parks and viewpoints sit within a few kilometres — so one full day covers the core and a second day adds the falls trek or a plantation walk. It is a weekend break from Salem, Bengaluru or Coimbatore, not a multi-day destination.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Yercaud, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyYercaud is a small, calm hill town and feels safe by day and early evening.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) · 1363 (≈ US$16) Tourist helpline (24 h, multilingual) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckSXV Salem Airport (About 35 km; very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.).SXV Salem Airport (About 22 mi; very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.).
- Getting aroundThe town centre is walkable: the lake, Anna Park and Deer Park are next to each other.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee powder or natural oils, 250 g₹150–400 (≈ US$2–5)
- Museum or sight ticketPark and garden entry (Anna Park, Rose Garden)₹2 (≈ under US$1) adult, ₹10 (≈ under US$1) camera
- Budget bedDormitory or hostel bed, a night, per person₹350 (≈ US$4)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, budget lodge or guesthouse, a night, per room₹1,500 (≈ US$18)
- High-end bedDouble room, budget lodge or guesthouse, a night, per room₹3,000 (≈ US$35)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,800 (≈ US$25) · Mid ₹4,000 (≈ US$50) · High ₹8,000 (≈ US$95)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SXV Salem Airport (About 35 km; very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.) · BLR Kempegowda International, Bengaluru (About 230 km, roughly 5 h by road via Hosur and Salem.) · CJB Coimbatore International (About 190 km via Avinashi.)SXV Salem Airport (About 22 mi; very few scheduled flights — check before relying on it.) · BLR Kempegowda International, Bengaluru (About 143 mi, roughly 5 h by road via Hosur and Salem.) · CJB Coimbatore International (About 118 mi via Avinashi.)
Weather and climate
Yercaud: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
26°C79°F
14°C57°F
2 rd
Feb
28°C82°F
15°C59°F
2 rd
Mar
30°C86°F
18°C64°F
3 rd
Apr
32°C90°F
20°C68°F
4 rd
May
31°C88°F
21°C70°F
6 rd
Jun
28°C82°F
20°C68°F
12 rd
Jul
26°C79°F
19°C66°F
14 rd
Aug
26°C79°F
19°C66°F
13 rd
Sep
27°C81°F
19°C66°F
10 rd
Oct
27°C81°F
18°C64°F
8 rd
Nov
26°C79°F
16°C61°F
6 rd
Dec
25°C77°F
14°C57°F
3 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The town centre is walkable: the lake, Anna Park and Deer Park are next to each other. For Lady's Seat, Pagoda Point, the falls and the plantations, hire an auto-rickshaw or a car for the day — agree the total and the stops before you set off.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Salem
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus or car down the ghat road, about 22 kmBus or car down the ghat road, about 14 mi
Use it for the railhead at Salem Junction and city sights; see things to do in Salem, India.
Aragalur
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Road via Salem and Attur
A long half-day; go only if you have your own vehicle.
Mettur Dam
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Road via Toppur, about 80 kmRoad via Toppur, about 50 mi
Best in the monsoon and post-monsoon months when the dam is full.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around the lake
Hotels, restaurants and the boat jetty within walking distance; best for a first visit without a car.
Near the bus stand
Cheapest lodges and easy arrivals; a short walk or auto ride to the lake.
Pagoda Point and Lady's Seat road
Resorts and estate stays with valley views; you need an auto or car for everything.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,500–3,000 (≈ US$18–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹3,000–6,000 (≈ US$35–70) excl. bed
- High
- ₹6,000 (≈ US$70)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, budget lodge or guesthouse1 × 1 night × ₹1,500 | ₹1,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹4,000 | ₹8,000 |
| Auto-rickshaw, full-day local circuit1 × ₹350 · February rate; more in peak season | ₹350 |
| Car with driver, full-day local circuit1 × ₹450 | ₹450 |
| Salem → Yercaud bus, one way2 × ₹20 | ₹40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹500 | ₹1,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹1,130 |
| Trip total≈ ₹6,240 per person per day, bed included | ₹12,470≈ US$150 |
2026 estimate in rupees; travel to Yercaud excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Bus Salem → Yercaud | ₹22 (≈ under US$1) |
| Boat on the lake (2-seat / 4-seat)Caution deposit equal to the fare | ₹75 (≈ under US$1) / ₹95 (≈ US$2) |
| Park and garden entry (Anna Park, Rose Garden) | ₹2 (≈ under US$1) adult, ₹10 (≈ under US$1) camera |
| Chappathi at a Chettinad mess | ₹18 (≈ under US$1) each |
| Auto-rickshaw, full-day circuitFebruary rate; more in peak season | ₹350 (≈ US$4) |
| Coffee powder or natural oils, 250 g | ₹150–400 (≈ US$2–5) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The ghat road has sharp bends; if you get carsick, sit forward and take the bus from the starting stop, not the lake stop, on the way down.
- Kiliyur Falls is dry outside the monsoon months — ask locally before trekking down.
- Bears Cave is private property; entry only with permission.
- Auto and taxi rates rise in peak season and on long weekends — fix the price first.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Tourist helpline (24 h, multilingual)
- 1363
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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Yercaudயேர்காடு
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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—
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இந்த முகவரிக்கு, தயவுசெய்துTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
- Tourist helpline1363
Embassy
No embassies in Yercaud; consulates-general are in Chennai and Bengaluru. US citizens: Chennai consulate. UK, Canada and Australia: high commissions in New Delhi, with deputy missions in Chennai.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Salem → Yercaud bus: about ₹22 (≈ under US$1), about 1 h
- Auto-rickshaw, full-day local circuit: about ₹350 (≈ US$4), more in peak season
- Car with driver, full-day local circuit: about ₹450 (≈ US$6)
Say or show
- வணக்கம் — Hello / Namaste (vanakkam)
- நன்றி — Thank you (nandri)
- எவ்வளவு? — How much is it? (evvalavu)
- ஏரி எங்கே? — Where is the lake? (eri enge)
- இங்கே நிறுத்துங்கள் — Stop here, please (inge niruthungal)
- வேண்டாம் — I don't want it (vendam)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Yercaud. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Feb · avoid Apr–Jun (hot before the monsoon), heavy rain days in Jul–Sep · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contracts for Salem, Bengaluru and Coimbatore arrivals, with last-bus and taxi fallbacks.
- Walking clusters around the lake, the bus stand and the Pagoda Point road, each with a rescue anchor.
- Place pages with verified timings (lake boating, Deer Park, Orchidarium, Horticulture Farm) and eat pages with last orders.
- Monsoon and dry-season fixtures so the falls and viewpoint pages can go green or red.