Yelagiri

2021-12-30T18:18:17Z

2402:3A80:408:B95E:0:D:3D78:A901:

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=May 2012}}
{{Travel guide|date=May 2013}}
}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Yelagiri
| other_name = Yelagiri Malai

| settlement_type = Hill Station
| image_skyline = Yelagiri Lake2.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Lake at Yelagiri
| pushpin_map = India Tamil Nadu
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{coord|12.578104|N|78.640737|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Tirupattur district|VELLORE]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 29.2
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1111
| population_total = 4,409
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Yelagirians
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 635853
| registration_plate = TN-83Z
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Yelagiri''' ({{IPA-ta|jeːlaɡiɾi|lang}}) is a hill station located in the newly formed [[Tirupattur district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], situated off the [[Vaniyambadi]]-[[Tiruppattur, Tirupattur district|Tirupattur]] road.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper = The Hindu|title = Miles to go for Yelagiri Hills as a tourist spot |url = https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Miles-to-go-for-Yelagiri-Hills-as-a-tourist-spot/article15229314.ece | date = 25 May 2008 |access-date = 19 January 2019 }}</ref> Located at an altitude of 1,110.6 metres above Mean Sea Level and spread across 30 km<sup>2</sup>, the Yelagiri Hill (also spelled Elagiri Hill at times) is surrounded by orchards, rose-gardens, and green valleys.<ref>{{cite book | title = Flora of Eastern Ghats: Hill Ranges of South East India| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=pSXidQZupHYC |author1=T. Pullaiah |author2=Rao Muralidhara |author3=D. Muralidhara Rao |author4=K. Sri Ramamurthy | publisher = Daya Books | year = 2002 | isbn = 9788187498490}}</ref>

==History==

Yelagiri or Elagiri is a small hill station located in between the towns of Vaniyambadi and Jolarpettai (Tamil Nadu, India). The hill station dates back to the British colonial days.

"The Whole of Yelagiri was once the private property of the Yelagiri Zamindar Family. It was taken over by the government of India during the Early 1950s. The house of the Yelagiri Zamindars still exists in [[Reddiyur]]."<ref>http://zamindar.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=16</ref>

===Location And Overview===
The Yelagiri hill station is not as developed as other hill stations in [[Tamil Nadu]] like [[Ootacamund|Ooty]] or [[Kodaikanal]]. However, the district administration has now taken up the task of developing Yelagiri Hills into a tourist destination by promoting adventure sports such as [[paragliding]] and [[rock climbing]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper = The Hindu|title = Yelagiri hills, for paragliding |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Yelagiri-Hills-for-paragliding/article15285382.ece |date = 20 August 2008 |access-date = 19 January 2019 }}</ref>

Yelagiri is one of the famous places for trekkers in India. The hill station is located at a height of 1410.6 meters above sea level. Yelagiri comprises 14 hamlets and a number of temples spread over several hills.

The highest point in Yelagiri is the Swamimalai Hill, standing tall at 4,338 ft; Swamimalai is a destination and viewpoint for trekkers. The hill provides a number of trekking trails through thick reserved forests. Mangalam, a small village, is at the base of this hill. There are other trekking options that include smaller peaks like Javadi Hills and Palamathi Hills.

Yelagiri Hills is home to hundreds of snakes.

==Climate==
Yelagiri's climate is cool in the monsoon season. The daily weather is generally pleasant. In winter, there is much less rainfall than in summer. This climate is considered to be [[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]] according to the [[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system|Köppen-Geiger climate classification]].

{{Weather box
|location = Yelagiri
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = Yes
|Jan high C = 25.2
|Feb high C = 28.0
|Mar high C = 30.2
|Apr high C = 31.1
|May high C = 32.6
|Jun high C = 30.8
|Jul high C = 28.4
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 28.3
|Oct high C = 27.0
|Nov high C = 25.5
|Dec high C = 24.4
|year high C =
|Jan low C = 14.0
|Feb low C = 15.0
|Mar low C = 17.1
|Apr low C = 19.9
|May low C = 20.6
|Jun low C = 20.9
|Jul low C = 19.7
|Aug low C = 19.5
|Sep low C = 19.0
|Oct low C = 18.4
|Nov low C = 16.4
|Dec low C = 14.6
|year low C =
|precipitation colour =
|Jan precipitation mm = 8
|Feb precipitation mm = 7
|Mar precipitation mm = 11
|Apr precipitation mm = 38
|May precipitation mm = 79
|Jun precipitation mm = 61
|Jul precipitation mm = 106
|Aug precipitation mm = 132
|Sep precipitation mm = 150
|Oct precipitation mm = 193
|Nov precipitation mm = 104
|Dec precipitation mm = 66
|year precipitation mm =

|source =<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/968045/|title=Climate: Yelagiri|work=climate-data.org}}</ref>

}}

==People==
Human settlement started 200 to 400 years ago. Most of the native people are [[Vellalar|Vellala Gounder]] or 'Malai Yali' (not to be confused with [[Malayali|Malayalees]]). Malayali denotes people who live in mountains. Malayali people also called as "Karalar" which means 'one who rules the clouds'. Malayali people claim to come from plains, they are from the Kancheepuram district. Another native tribal groups are the Irular.

==Religion==
Most of the Tamil people are Hindus. They commonly worship Shiva in the name of 'Nachiappan' and Parvati in the name of 'Nachiamma'. A temple for Murugan (son of Shiva and Parvati) was built in the 1960s. Recently more Churches were also established by the Christian missionary. Mosques are also available in the area.

==Education==
Earlier only a few Christian missionary schools were available for primary school education, but now more Residential schools have come up in this region.

'''Educational Institutions''': There are schools in the various hamlets around Elagiri including the Government School and St. Charles School which are primarily for day scholars. There are also three residential schools – [http://www.peace-garden.org Peace Garden Matriculation School],[http://www.ebenezer.ac.in Ebenezer Matriculation and Higher Secondary School (Residential)], and [[Samaritan Residential Schools]]. The Don Bosco has recently started an Arts and Science College for the benefit of local community.

Fr. Francis Guezou started a boarding for boys. Don Bosco Boarding House with 170 students. This is the
first institution of Fr. Guezou on the hills. He wanted to gather the children around him and give them good education. Boys from I std to XII std, are staying here and attending school at St. Charles School.

BICS InfoTech, with 350 students and trainees. This work makes real Geuzou's dream of providing higher education with employment for the underprivileged young people. Mr.Maria Leo Francis,Fr.Maria Arockia Raj, Fr. Thaddeus with a similar thought met Fr. Guezou and then this great dream of BICS became real.

In 2013, BICS has got approval of running a regular college, and Don Bosco College is providing good education on hills.

==The Yelagiri Summer Festival==
The famous Yelagiri Summer festival celebrated in May end is organised by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Board. Stalls from different departments, Flowers show, Boat house various cultural programs and Dog Show with a variety of dog breeds are conducted every year. People from all over the State and other parts of the country participate in this annual festival.

==Places of interest==
[[File:Yelagiri Trekking.jpg|thumb|right|Trekking at Yelagiri]]
'''Nature Park''': A Park was established in the year 2008. It consists of an aquarium, rose garden, an artificial water fall, and a musical fountain.

'''Punganoor Lake Park ''': It is one of the most popular landmark in Yelagiri Hills.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} It is an artificial lake 25 feet deep with an adjoining park.

'''Jalagamparai Waterfalls''': A short distance away, on the other side of the hill, is Jalagamparai falls,Situated at a distance of 14 km from [[Tiruppattur, Tirupattur district|Tirupattur]]. The murmuring Attaru river flows through the Yelagiri Hills, and plummets down to form a highly captivating [[waterfall]]. It's an hour, 5 km, walk from Yelagiri downhill. Though there is a direct route from Yelagiri to the falls, it is often closed. One has to go all the way down the hill, take the plains, and then climb the hill on the other side. It's an hour's journey.

'''Swami Malai Hills:''' Swami malai hills are the hills in the shape of cake with a strong base at the bottom and a high peak. [[Trekking]] is an attraction at Swami Malai hills. This trek leads one to a small peak from where the entire valley is visible.

'''Telescope observatory''': A telescope observatory near Yelagiri hill was also of attraction to visitors. It has now been shut down.

'''Sri Sathya Ashram'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mahashakthi.org/|title=Yelagiri Mahashakti|website=www.mahashakthi.org|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> '''- THE KEY FOR YOU''' : Open only on Pournami and Amavasya days...Only the destined can set their foot into this Ashram...In the Nilavoor Road.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}

===Gallery===

{{gallery
|lines=8
|Image:View from Yelagiri Hills.jpg|View of [[Vaniyambadi]] town from Yelagiri Hill station
|Image:Yelagiri Lake 56.jpg|Yelagiri Lake View
|Image:Paragliding yelagiri.jpg|Paragliding at Yelagiri
|Image:View from Yelagiri Telescope Tower.jpg|View from Yelagiri Telescope Tower
|Image:View from Yelagiri Telescope Tower.jpg|View from Yelagiri Telescope Tower
}}

==References==
{{commons category}}
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{wikivoyage|Yelagiri}}

[[Category:Hill stations in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Paragliding in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Vellore]]
[[Category:Ashrams]]
[[Category:Spiritual organizations]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

Yelagiri