2 day bike trip to Yercaud, TN - Dec 2005

230 kms one way. NH7 all the way till Salem (200kms).
Bike: Bajaj Pulsar 150cc

The route
- Bangalore to Hosur: City stretch
- Hosur to Krishnagiri: Toll road, one of the best roads to ride on. Can test your bike’s top speed. Beware of pedestrians and rural vehicles criss-crossing
- Krishnagiri to Dharmapuri: One of the worst stretches to ever ride on. Crates that can consume a whole bike wheel. Speeds reduced to 20kmph.
- Dharmapuri to Salem: Scenic route. Good stretch of road interspersed with pot-holes and beaten patches. Be careful.
- Salem to Yercaud: 30 kms of scenic climb on Ghat roads. Keep an eye for the loose gravel on the curves.

Accomodation
All the places we explored for accommodation had good (spacious, well-equipped and clean) rooms, good service and were priced reasonably.

The language could be a bit of a hassle for non-Tamil speakers.

Hotel Shevaroys
- Good rooms
- Proximity to the town
- Does not offer any view of the mountains
- Tariff for double occupancy (excluding taxes): Rs. 550 and above

Grange Resorts
- Good rooms
- Individual cottages
- Very private/secluded
- Away from the town
- Tariff for double occupancy (excluding taxes): Rs. 900 and above

Hotel Pon Kailash
- Good rooms
- No exciting view
- Tariff for double occupancy (excluding taxes): Rs. 900 and above

Hotel Grand Palace
- Good rooms
- Awesome location: on a hill overlooking the entire city
- Good view
- Beware of private parties that might be held right behind your room
- The desk concierge seemed a bit of a salesman
- Tariff for double occupancy (excluding taxes): Rs. 1200 and above

Sterling Resorts
- Good rooms
- Best location – right next to Lady’s seat; on a hill overlooking the Salem city
- Awesome view
- A tad slow on the service
- Tariff for double occupancy (excluding taxes): Rs. 1500 and above

Sightseeing
Yercaud has some real nice sightseeing locations and nice views of the mountain scenary floating amidst mist and clouds. Take a ride around the town and climb a few hills around and its all good.

- Lady’s seat
- Gent’s seat
- Pagoda Point – a good 4.5 kms ride on the bike

Could have been done:
- Killiyur falls – have been told by the locals that it is a one day affair. Involves a trek.
- Shevaroy temple
- The Retreat

Refer this excellent site by Ryan:
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Docks/5021/