Recently I had been to Yercaud and it was a great experience. The main attraction ofcourse was the lake - though not as big as Kodaikanal or Ooty lake, still it is a good one. A pleasure ride in the lake is a must.
There are several view points - Lady’s seat, Gent’s seat, Children’s Seat and Pagoda point. I would suggest to visit only the children’s seat. You would get a grand view of the plains below including salem city. On the final bend in the road towards children’s seat, just take some time and enjoy the breeze which continuously flows through. Cool and unpolluted breeze.
A visit to Servarayan’s temple is also suggested. Its a cave temple. Though there is nothing grand in the temple perse, you could feel the chillness beneath your feet inside the cave. The legend goes, that there is continous water flow below the cave and hence the chillness. On the way to Servarayan temple, there is a temple for Raja Rajeswari Amman. A small temple but the idol of the amman is really good.
There are various parks - Botanical Garden, Rose Garden, Anna Park, Deer Park and Lake view park. Anna, Deer and Lake View can be good timepass for the kids. The maintenance of these parks needs to be upgraded. All these three parks are by the lake side. Botanical Garden is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Though I could see it, I heard its a good one especially for those with some botanical interest. Rose garden is not so grand as the name suggests, but can be visited.
One can purchase natural oils like panther oil, eucalyptus oil, aloe vera gel, herbal shampoo , coffee seeds and a local fruit called butter fruit. Do not forget to bargain.
Yercaud is well connected to Salem but for travelling inside Yercaud, one depends on local autos or taxis.
Though Yercaud pales in comparison to ooty or even Kodaikanal when it comes to number of places of interest to see, it still has its own charm for people who want a quiet and peaceful break from the monotony of city life.