Tired as we were after Hogennakal, it was a long drive to Salem city. This was the first time in the steel city made famous by SAIL. It looks like a pretty big city and all around we encountered Tamil men with macho moustaches dressed in white shirts on two wheelers. It seems like a dress code there :). But, we proceeded on course to Yercaud, which is 20 kms. of narrow and steep hair-pin bends. Luckily, the roads are beautifully maintained in Tamil Nadu and the views are awesome on the mountains. We reached around 5.30ish to our resort. This was Sterling Resort and the rooms are perched right on the mountain. You open your door, and the views are stunning! We really did not need to venture out anywhere for the scenic spots. It was right there in our room. We caught the sunset when we reached. This room had a microwave and a tea kettle and some dishes compared to the spartan one at Yelagiri. The restaurant starts at 7.30 in the evening, and their service is damn slow! We were hungry, and again no stores where one could even buy beer. So, we went out bought maggi, eggs, and milk. And ate a dinner of maggi cooked in the microwave. It tasted so delicious! The dampener — no mobile network or internet connectivity.
The view next morning was extraordinary from our room. We did not go trekking because we were satisfied gazing at the beautifully misty mountains. We took a sightseeing tour arranged by the resort, which took us to the usual temples, boat club, Montfort school routine. I loved the tour of the perfumery they took us to, and we ended up buying quite a few perfumes too! We came back real hungry and cursed the slow restaurant service, but the Goan fish curry and parathas were yummy or, maybe we were too hungry :).
Evening, we enjoyed some more of the view. We also visited some horticulture nursery and bought some plants for our garden back home. Hope that most of them thrive. Gautam had found a bunch of rabbits and was satisfied for hours by gazing at them or feeding them leaves. We also played TT with Sid and each other. And again had a dinner of maggi :-). Our breakfast of boiled eggs with nutella bread and coffee was also rustled with the help of our microwave.
The next morning, we start back for Bangalore. At 6 in the morning, the fog was so dense, it felt like we were in an airplane and were looking at the clouds below. We saw the fog float around, hit the mountains, retreat and move forward. It was kind of hypnotic to watch these natural patterns. At 9, we leave this place and head back home.
Most beautiful place down south.Their services are quite good, we have been there at least 3 / 4 rimes. You should have taken the trek trip with Prince (I don’t know whether he is still there).He is a very good guide, and would have taken you up the hill, and shown you some beautiful water falls and you could have got wet to your heart’s content. I am sure there would be another visit for you, when you can be more relaxed and do other things. Like my husband you must always carry your own bottle/ bottles of drinks to drink in such hill stations, though you do have wine shops there also. Well great to know you enjoyed your trip and the pictures are really good.
woooow, now I understand why so many Old Gurus likes to live on the mountains around India. Isn’t a ascetic exercise as I thought, at least in the first month 🙂 I think mountain hotel’s are a crazy beautiful. And with that mist surrounding, ohhh splendid. We have no many here because our mountains are few. But beach hotel’s, don’t let me begin tell about it… Our moutain hotel’s, with beautiful landscapes, are in Chile, a very near country ( you don’t even need passport to go there). But there isn’t Yogins ’cause is very cold up there. Maybe some Bigfoot. I hope some day find one and take a picture of him. ^-^
@rama I guess we can do the trek the next time we are there. That’s a great tip. I know, we have to start doing that! I guess with all the packing, we forget certain basics :).
@David hehe. Well, I haven’t seen any gurus or godmen either. You would find most of those folks in the temple towns of North India, which are in the Himalayas. To tell you frankly, I don’t believe in this guru nonsense. I can only imagine about the beach hotels. We have some wonderful ones in Goa and many other beaches of India, even Kerala! I think living in close proximity to nature is so amazing in these days of concrete jungles that our cities have become.
India is so vast and has such amazing topography. It would take a lifetime to explore the entire width of it, which ranges from lush forests, deserts, beaches to mountains. You must visit India sometime.
Most beautiful place down south.Their services are quite good, we have been there at
least 3 / 4 rimes. You should have taken the trek trip with Prince (I don’t know whether he is still there).He is a very good guide, and would have taken you up the hill, and shown you some beautiful water falls and you could have got wet to your heart’s content.
I am sure there would be another visit for you, when you can be more relaxed and do other things.
Like my husband you must always carry your own bottle/ bottles of drinks to drink in such hill stations, though you do have wine shops there also.
Well great to know you enjoyed your trip and the pictures are really good.
woooow, now I understand why so many Old Gurus likes to live on the mountains around India. Isn’t a ascetic exercise as I thought, at least in the first month 🙂
I think mountain hotel’s are a crazy beautiful. And with that mist surrounding, ohhh splendid.
We have no many here because our mountains are few. But beach hotel’s, don’t let me begin tell about it…
Our moutain hotel’s, with beautiful landscapes, are in Chile, a very near country ( you don’t even need passport to go there). But there isn’t Yogins ’cause is very cold up there. Maybe some Bigfoot. I hope some day find one and take a picture of him. ^-^
Oh Rachna, I am speechless!!!
@rama I guess we can do the trek the next time we are there. That’s a great tip. I know, we have to start doing that! I guess with all the packing, we forget certain basics :).
@David hehe. Well, I haven’t seen any gurus or godmen either. You would find most of those folks in the temple towns of North India, which are in the Himalayas. To tell you frankly, I don’t believe in this guru nonsense. I can only imagine about the beach hotels. We have some wonderful ones in Goa and many other beaches of India, even Kerala! I think living in close proximity to nature is so amazing in these days of concrete jungles that our cities have become.
India is so vast and has such amazing topography. It would take a lifetime to explore the entire width of it, which ranges from lush forests, deserts, beaches to mountains. You must visit India sometime.
@Agnes That is what we felt when we found such beautiful views from our room :).
Amazing pics and good account.HAd a wonderful time reading this pic
Mesmerizing shots.
@bbsearchingself and Holy Lama Thanks!
Such beautiful pictures…Have lovelier days ahead.
simply awesome pictures…hope u had a nice time there
It must be a special feeling to be above the clouds.
Awesome place!
Your post makes me want to go on a holiday…
@dr antony and Tomz Thank you!
@Haddock Very true!
@destiny’s child Yes, you must plan one :).
wow beautiful pictures of the misty mountains.I wasn’t aware of the place yercaud though i was in bangalore.
@raji ok, really? Well, I guess internet, blogger friends and friends otherwise help in deciding holiday locations 🙂