Yelagiri itinerary

Plan 01

1 day in Yelagiri

1. 01

   Day 1: Lake, park and temple

   Drive up the ghat road in the morning and stop at the viewpoint near the seventh bend. Start at Punganoor Lake for a short boat ride and a walk round the water, then cross the road to the Nature Park for shade and gardens. Have lunch at your hotel and rest. In the late afternoon, climb the steps to Velavan Temple, and end with a quiet walk near the lake as the light softens.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Punganoor Lake	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; November to February is the most comfortable season
   Velavan Temple	30 to 60 minutes	Moderate	Morning or late afternoon; Karthigai festival days are busiest

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Velavan Temple: A flight of steps leads up the hillock, so it needs some stamina and can tire older visitors. Take the climb slowly and rest at the landings; those who cannot manage steps can still enjoy the view from lower down.

Plan 02

2 days in Yelagiri

1. 01

   Day 1: Arrive and settle in

   Take the ghat road in daylight and check in near the lake. Spend the afternoon at Punganoor Lake and the Nature Park, then visit the Government Herbal Farm if it is open to visitors. Have dinner at your hotel.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Punganoor Lake	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; November to February is the most comfortable season
   Government Herbal Farm	30 to 45 minutes	Easy	Morning, on weekdays

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: A trek or a waterfall

   If fit, start at dawn for the Swamimalai trek from Mangalam with a local guide, and be back by late morning. Otherwise, after the monsoon, make the half-day trip to Jalagamparai by road. Finish with Velavan Temple before the drive down.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Velavan Temple	30 to 60 minutes	Moderate	Morning or late afternoon; Karthigai festival days are busiest

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Velavan Temple: A flight of steps leads up the hillock, so it needs some stamina and can tire older visitors. Take the climb slowly and rest at the landings; those who cannot manage steps can still enjoy the view from lower down.

Plan 03

3 days in Yelagiri

1. 01

   Day 1: Lakeside

   Arrive in daylight, visit Punganoor Lake and the Nature Park, and keep the evening free.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Punganoor Lake	1 to 2 hours	Easy	Morning or late afternoon; November to February is the most comfortable season

   Pace: All the stops today are easy on the legs.

2. 02

   Day 2: Swamimalai

   Make an early start for the trek from Mangalam with a guide, with a rest at the hotel in the afternoon and Velavan Temple at dusk.

   Stop	Time needed	Walking	Best time
   Velavan Temple	30 to 60 minutes	Moderate	Morning or late afternoon; Karthigai festival days are busiest

   Pace: Moderate walking today — plan a sit-down break between stops.

   With parents at Velavan Temple: A flight of steps leads up the hillock, so it needs some stamina and can tire older visitors. Take the climb slowly and rest at the landings; those who cannot manage steps can still enjoy the view from lower down.

3. 03

   Day 3: Jalagamparai or a slow morning

   After the rains, go to Jalagamparai by road for a half-day trip. In the dry months, spend the morning at the herbal farm and lake and leave before the weekend traffic builds.

Read before you go

Guides for the stops on these routes

Pacing

Pacing a Yelagiri trip for parents and children

• Take the ghat road in daylight with a steady driver, and sit in front if anyone gets car sick; the road has 14 hairpin bends.
• Punganoor Lake and the Nature Park are level and have seating, so they suit older visitors; Velavan Temple needs a climb of steps.
• Skip the Swamimalai climb unless you are fit and have a local guide; it is a sustained uphill on uneven forest trails.
• Avoid weekends and holidays if possible, since traffic and queues at the lake and on the hill road build up quickly.
• Choose a hotel with good road access and, if steps are an issue, a ground-floor room.
• Carry water, a hat and a light jacket; mornings and evenings can be cooler than on the plains.

Yelagiri with elderly parents: the full guide →