Yercaud - 'Poor man's Ooty'

Yercaud got its name from the Tamil words, yeri and kaadu, meaning lake and forest respectively. The British discovered it in the early 19th century. There are accounts of coffee plantations being introduced by a British officer in the area in the second decade of the 19th century. Though first house was built in 1840, the first metalled roads were laid only in the early 20th century. The cool climate attracted Christian missionaries and they established the Sacred Heart Convent for girls and Montfort School for boys. Schools like the Holy Cross Novitiate House, started by the Brothers of Don Bosco, followed these.

Yercaud got its name from the Tamil words, yeri and kaadu, meaning lake and forest respectively. The British discovered it in the early 19th century. There are accounts of coffee plantations being introduced by a British officer in the area in the second decade of the 19th century. Though first house was built in 1840, the first metalled roads were laid only in the early 20th century. The cool climate attracted Christian missionaries and they established the Sacred Heart Convent for girls and Montfort School for boys. Schools like the Holy Cross Novitiate House, started by the Brothers of Don Bosco, followed these.

Yercaud is known for Coffee Plantations and Orange Groves. The lofty hills of extraordinary scenic beauty is endowed with a salubrious climate. Yercaud was a Sun Taluk upto 14.10.1997. It became a full fledged Taluk with effect from 15.10.1997.

Yercaud got its name from the Tamil words, yeri and kaadu, meaning lake and forest respectively. The British discovered it in the early 19th century. There are accounts of coffee plantations being introduced by a British officer in the area in the second decade of the 19th century. Though first house was built in 1840, the first metalled roads were laid only in the early 20th century. The cool climate attracted Christian missionaries and they established the Sacred Heart Convent for girls and Montfort School for boys. Schools like the Holy Cross Novitiate House, started by the Brothers of Don Bosco, followed these.

There are 67 Revenue villages which have been grouped into 9 Tariff for the sake of administration and each Tariff has one Village Administrative officer. Yercaud Taluk is divided into 3 Firkas viz., Yercaud, Vellakkadai and Puthur.

Yercaud is yet another example of how the British appreciated our natural resources better than us. Yercaud is famous for coffee and pepper in much the same way Ooty and Kodai are famous for tea. The English used Yercaud as a summer retreat and their legacy is all over the place. Rows and rows of houses, much like ants moving in files, dot the entire hills. The number of places to be seen in Yercaud may not be many, but each one of them is really worth the visit.

The British legacy continues in the form of a boys' higher secondary school Montfort. This school is for the elite the tuition is about a lakh of rupees per annum. The student who comes out of this school is an all rounder. The boys are trained in sports, politics, music, in addition to the curriculum. Some of the celebrity alumni of the school are exspeaker of TN Assembly PTR Palanivel Rajan and the present hero Vikram.

Social System Yercaud was a Sun Taluk upto 14.10.1997. It became a full fledged Taluk with effect from 15.10.1997. There are 67 Revenue villages which have been grouped into 9 Taraff for the sake of administration and each Taraff has one Village administrative officer. Yercaud Taluk is divided into 3 Firkas viz., Yercaud, Vellakkadai and Puthur.

About 32 km from Salem, this hill station was established by the British who introduced the coffee plant here. The Yerikadu Lake and the Killiyur Falls are very scenic spots.