Chennai to Yelagiri Taxi

Chennai to Yelagiri Taxi — 230 km to the Quiet Hills above Jolarpettai

Yelagiri is the nearest proper hill station for most of Chennai: about 230 km and four to five hours away, a cluster of small villages on a plateau above Jolarpettai, reached by a ghat road of 14 hairpin bends. It is smaller and calmer than Ooty or Kodaikanal, which is exactly why weekend visitors like it.

Out of the city on NH48

The drive follows the Chennai–Bangalore highway (NH48) west past Poonamallee and Sriperumbudur, passes Kanchipuram, and runs through Walajapet, Ranipet and Vellore. After Ambur and Vaniyambadi the car leaves the highway for Jolarpettai, and the climb begins at the foot of the hills near Ponneri village. From western suburbs such as Porur or Poonamallee you save half an hour at the start; from the airport the car joins the highway by the bypass.

The 14 hairpin bends

The ghat road is short but steep, and its bends are signposted, many of them carrying the names of Tamil poets. Views over the Jolarpettai plains open up as you climb, and there are a few spots to pull over near the upper bends. Our drivers take the climb slowly; anyone prone to motion sickness should sit in front and eat lightly before the ghat.

What to do on the plateau

Punganoor Lake, with pedal and row boats and a park beside it, is the centre of most visits. Swamimalai Hill, the highest point, is a popular morning trek with wide views across the Eastern Ghats. Jalagamparai waterfall, reached from the Tirupattur side or on foot from the hills, flows best after the northeast monsoon and can be a trickle in summer. The Velavan temple, a Murugan shrine on a hilltop, is a short drive from the lake. Many people simply come for the quiet: they walk between villages, sit out in the cool evening and sleep early. Tamil Nadu Tourism usually holds a summer festival on the plateau around May or June.

When to go

The plateau sits at a little over 1,000 metres, so it is several degrees cooler than Chennai all year. November to February brings crisp mornings and clear views; March to May is warm at midday but pleasant at night; the monsoon months turn the slopes green. Weekends and school holidays bring visitors from Chennai and Bangalore alike, so resorts fill early on those dates.

Food and stops along NH48

Ambur and Vaniyambadi are famous for their biryani, cooked with short-grain seeraga samba rice, and a stop at one of the older shops is a tradition for many families. Vellore has the Jalakandeswarar temple inside its moated fort, and the golden Sripuram temple lies a short way south of the city if you want to break the trip with a visit. Walajapet and Ranipet have clean highway restaurants for an early breakfast.

Who books this route

Mostly families and groups of friends on a two-night break, couples, small company offsites at the resorts, and students from the Vellore colleges. Travellers who come by train usually get off at Jolarpettai junction, about 20 km from the top; by car you are driven straight to your resort door, luggage and all.

Choosing the car

A sedan handles the ghat easily with four people. An SUV is better for six, or for families packing for a long weekend. On a round trip the driver stays with you and can take you around the plateau and down to Jalagamparai.