*The Route
*NH7 Bangalore -> Hosur -> Krishnagiri, and then NH 46 towards Chennai. Need to take the State HIghway towards Tirupathur, after about 50 Kms on NH 46. About 7 Kms on you will see the sign board towards Yelagiri. If you want to ask the locals, ask for Elagiri or Ponneri. There are 2 toll booths on the way, one each on NH 7 and NH 46.
*The Drive
A dream for any car loving, long-distance-drive loving driver. Roads are very well maintained, with thick greenery on both sides. Reminds you of motorways that you see in Europe. I could cruise at 125 km/h in my Palio 1.2 Sport. I even touched 145 km/h in one stretch. But, be careful, one can easily get carried away.
The Elagiri Experience
If you want to get out of the hustle and bustle of city life and spend a quiet and relaxing weekend, Yelagiri is the right place for you. There is nothing to do and therein lies the beauty of the place. There is no’must see’ places, and hence no temptation to drive around. Check in to any of the hotels or resorts(there are quite a number of them) for a lazy weekend.
*The Stay
*We had booked at a place called Yelagiri Hills Country Club. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anybody going there with family. Not very professionally managed. They have a nice location and good scope, if only they will try. We were not satisfied with the current facilities. And I felt cheated because I was charged 1600/- per day for that. There was no backup power, and no security. So, we didn’t stay the night there. Again, if I was going with my bachelor friends, I might have enjoyed the place. Let me re-iterate. This is no place for families.
Families can get good accomodation in Hotel Hills or Sterling Resorts or Le Auroville, all of which we visited, and at last settled in Hotel Hills to spend the night. It is not The Taj, but is decent, neat and secure.
*Places? What Places?
*The only sight worth seeing is the Lake. This properrty is also very well maintained. There is boating available in the lake. You can go for a good walk around the lake. There is a neat walkway around. There are couple of street vendors who can provide you with hot vada or bhajjis, at Re 1/- per piece.:)
I was told that there are places around where you could go trekking. Well, I did not want that during my lazy weekend.:)
-Nishad Paul
Bangalore