Trekking in Yelagiri

1. Swamimalai Hills

Swamimalai Hills is nestled amid the forests of Yelagiri. The trek here is easy to moderate and is a great place for beginners to embark their trekking journey. The trek here is easy to moderate, and is a great place for beginners to embark their trekking journey.

Most people avoid trekking to these hills during monsoon because the path gets slippery and dangerous. Other than that, these hills offer a delightful view from atop. There is a Shiva Temple built at the top, attracting devotees. So lose yourself to the natural beauty spread over here as you begin your expedition to Swamimalai hills.

Location:Swamimalai Trekking RTE, Yelagiri, India

Price:Free entry

Timings:4 – 5 hours

2. Yelagiri Forest Hill

At Yelagiri Forest Hill, if you are booking a packaged trek, then you will be provided with all the basic amenities required to spend your most memorable two days here. Usually, people come here to spend 2D/1N on New Year’s to embark a pleasant beginning of the year. The packages have in their itinerary activities like zorbing, paintball, zipline, and shooting. This is a quiet place to spend some solitary time either with yourself or your family. 

Location:Yelagiri Forest Hill, Outskirts of Chennai, India

Price:INR 3,500

Timing:2 days

3. Yelagiri Nature Park 

Yelagiri Nature Park offers one of the best Yelagiri Trekking scenes. The park is acquainted with several trees, gardens, and a musical fountain. It has an artificial waterfall that runs throughout the year. Locals and tourists alike, visit this park to escape the chaos of city life and spend some quality time with their family. The trek to this park is easy, so children can also have a splendid day out at this park. You can even visit the aquarium built inside the park.

Location:Yelagiri, Tamil Nadu, India

Price:Free entry

Timings:6:00 AM – 7:00 PM

During winters (November – February)

Winters are hands down, the best time for treks in Yelagiri. The temperature varies between 12 – 25 degrees Celsius and the climate is salubrious.

During summers (March – June)

The temperature during summers ranges from 22 – 32 degrees Celsius, making it a little difficult to trek. However, if you are going, then carry sunscreen, water bottle, and sunglasses to avoid the glare of the sun.

During the monsoon (July – September)

Monsoon in Yelagiri is accompanied by constant rainfall. Being a hill station, it receives comparatively more rains, making it dangerous and difficult to trek on the steep, slippery slopes.

Yelagiri is a hill station located in Tirupur district of Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India. 

By train: The nearest railway station to Yelagiri Hills is Jolarpettai, about 21 km away. One can take a taxi from this station to Yelagiri.

By bus: There are several buses that commute between Yelagiri and Jolarpet, Hosur, Salem, and Tirupattur.

By flight: Yelagiri does not have its own airport, and the nearest airport to the hill station is located in Bangalore or Chennai. One can then commute either via buses, trains, or hire a taxi to arrive for trekking in Yelagiri.

Apart from Yelagiri trekking, there are several other things to enjoy on this hill station. 

Fundera Park- Fundera Park is a haven for birders. It contains over 300 exotic species of birds that are uncaged. They have a 7-D cinema on their premises too.

Velvan Temple- Velvan Temple is dedicated to Lord Muruga. One has to climb a few steps before they reach the temple.

Nilavoor Lake- Nilavoor Lake is a quiet place in the hill station, famous for morning and evening walks. There is a boating excursion available too, which costs INR 50 per head for 10 minutes of boating.

For treks in Yelagiri, one should resort to comfortable and hassle-free clothing. Wear full-length comfortable pants with t-shirts and trekking shoes. You might have to carry a backpack with water bottles and snacks, so keep your clothing light. For trekking during winters, you can wear full-sleeves clothes and carry a sweater with you if need be. It is advisable not to wear shorts because you might encounter various insects and bugs on the way.

Both camping and trekking tours in Yelagiri are safe to carry out. The trek levels vary in their difficulty, from easy to moderate, making it a great place for beginners to adjust to trekking. The camps include various activities like paintball and zorbing, the equipment for which is provided to you which are safe to handle.

When it comes to activities like zip-lining, you should not worry because the operators understand your concern and do not want you to undergo any sort of harm. If you are not comfortable with either of the activities, you are free to say no.

Trekking in Yelagiri is all the more fun with the right kind of things packed along the way. Some of them include:

Sunscreen- Sunscreen during summers protects you from getting sunburnt. 

Sunglasses and hats- Be it summers or winters, carry sunglasses and hats to protect you from the glare of the sun, making it easier to trek uphill.

Warm Clothes- If you are certain you will not reach downhill by afternoon, then do carry warm clothes like sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, and coats as it gets chilly in the evenings.

Yes, trekking tours in Yelagiri also have nighttime packages. They mostly include both your trekking and camping expenses lie between INR 3,500 – INR 5,000. You can spend the night around a bonfire and spend some quality time with your friends, spouses, or yourself.

Since it is difficult to make food at higher altitudes, moreover carry the equipment from downstairs, the food available is mostly packed. There are instantly cooked foods like cup noodles and tea and coffee packets. You can also carry your own snacks.