View source for Yelagiri

{{Short description|Hill station in Tamil Nadu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Yelagiri
| other_name             =
| settlement_type        = Hill Station
| image_skyline          = {{Photomontage
| photo1a      = Yelagiri 2.jpg
| photo2a      = 01Yelagiri Hills.jpg
| photo2b      = Siva temple-mangalam-vellore-India.jpg
| photo3a      = House-yelagiri village-vellore-India.jpg
| photo3b      = Mangalam Trek, Yelagiri.jpg
| photo4a      = Yelagiri Temple.jpg
| spacing      = 1
| size         = 250
| position     = center
| border       = 1
| color        = #000000
| foot_montage = '''Clockwise from top''': Yelagiri lake; Siva-Parvati temple; An unpaved mud road; Velavan temple; A traditional hut; and Paddy fields
}}
| image_alt              =
| image_caption          =
| 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]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Region]]
| subdivision_name3      = [[Vellore]]
| established_title      = <!-- Established -->
| 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            = 1410
| population_total       = 4,409
| population_as_of       = 2011
| population_rank        =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym     =
| 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}}), also spelled '''Elagiri''', is a [[hill station]] located in [[Tirupathur district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], India. Located at an altitude of {{cvt|1410|m}}, it forms a part of the [[Eastern Ghats]] mountain range. The hills consist of 14 hamlets spread across an area of {{cvt|72|km2}}.
== Etymology ==
As per folklore, when [[Hindu god]] [[Vishnu]] visited the earth, he planted his feet on the hills. As the people could not stand his weight, they yelled ‘yelo’ in fear (‘kili’ in [[Tamil language|Tamil]]), which later became Yelagiri.<ref name="DH"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://agarathi.com/word/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF|title=Kili word in Tamil|work=Agarathi|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135721/https://agarathi.com/word/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BF|url-status=live}}</ref> As per [[Hindu]] beliefs, Vishnu came to the hills later to marry goddess [[Lakshmi]], who is known by the name "Yelagiri Thayar" and the region came to be known as Yeloshwaram.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/A-sacred-grove-up-the-hill/article14488651.ece|title=A sacred grove up the hill|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=14 July 2016|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=23 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623025225/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/history-and-culture/A-sacred-grove-up-the-hill/article14488651.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>
==History==
While the region was probably ruled by tribal chieftains during the early [[Sangam period]], it was under the rule of the [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]], [[Pandyas]] and [[Cholas]] over different periods of history.<ref>{{cite book|title=Kerala History and its Makers|last=Menon|first=A. Sreedhara|publisher=D C Books|year=2011|isbn=978-8-126-43782-5|pages=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Ancient India|first=Vidya Dhar|last=Mahajan|year=1968|isbn=978-9-352-53132-5|publisher=S. Chand|page=570}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ali|first=Daud|date=2007|title=The Service Retinues of the Chola Court|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40378936|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London|volume=70|issue=3|pages=487–509|doi=10.1017/S0041977X0700081X|jstor=40378936|s2cid=162530217|issn=0041-977X|access-date=27 January 2024|archive-date=9 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509181151/https://www.jstor.org/stable/40378936|url-status=live}}</ref> The hills are mentioned in [[Tamil literature]] by [[Ottakoothar]] in 12th century CE.<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|first=Vijaya|last=Ramaswamy|year=2017|isbn=978-1-538-10686-0|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|page=256}}</ref> It was under the control of [[Vijayanagara empire]] in the late [[middle age]], who established sway over the region.<ref>{{cite book|title=A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar|isbn=978-0-1956-0686-7|publisher=Oxford University Press|first=Nilakanta|last=Sastri|year=1976|pages=7,69,179,199,214,239}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://tirupathur.nic.in/history/|title=Tirupathur history|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=2 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202160536/https://tirupathur.nic.in/history/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the latter part of the 18th century, the region came under the [[Kingdom of Mysore]] and after the [[Anglo-Mysore Wars]] and the [[Polygar Wars]], the [[British East India Company]] annexed the region to the [[Madras Presidency]] the early 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rise and Fall of the Poligars of Tamilnadu|first=K.|last=Rajayyan|year=1974|publisher=University of Madras|page=2}}</ref>
In the 19th century, [[Malai Vellalar]] (Malayali) hill tribes, populated the region.<ref name="Hut">{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/yelagiris-lone-hut-houses-200-years-of-a-hill-tribes-history/article67190774.ece|title=Yelagiri hut shelters 200 years of hill tribe history|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=13 August 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=14 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814230418/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/yelagiris-lone-hut-houses-200-years-of-a-hill-tribes-history/article67190774.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Later, the [[British Empire]] took control of the region from the British East India Company in 1857.<ref>{{cite book|title=Great Mutiny: India 1857|first=Christopher|last=Hibbert|date=1 March 2000|publisher=Penguin|page=221|isbn=978-0-1400-4752-3}}</ref> The hills were organized as private properties of the [[Zamindar]]s of Yelagiri.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://mkuniversity.ac.in/new/centre/thm/journal/Dr.%20R.%20Kannan/20%20-%20Yelagiri%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Delightful%20Hill%20Station%20-%202018.pdf|title=Yelagiri, hill station|author1=R. Kannan|author2=S. Kumaran|author3=T. Milton|publisher=[[Madurai Kamaraj University]]|access-date=1 June 2023|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135720/https://mkuniversity.ac.in/new/centre/thm/journal/Dr.%20R.%20Kannan/20%20-%20Yelagiri%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Delightful%20Hill%20Station%20-%202018.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> After [[Indian Independence Act 1947|Indian Independence]] in 1947, the region was taken over by the [[Government of India]] and became part of the [[Madras State]], which later became Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite book|title=Constitution of India|chapter=Article 1|url=http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-indexenglish.htm|publisher=[[Government of India]]|access-date=31 December 2015|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402064301/http://lawmin.nic.in/olwing/coi/coi-english/coi-indexenglish.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Demographics ==
Though the region has been occupied during prehistoric times, recent settlement occurred in the 19th century, when about 200 [[Malai Vellalar|Malayali]] tribes populated the area and practiced [[agriculture]].<ref name="Hut"/> As per the [[2011 census of India|2011 census]], the hills had a population of 4,409 residing in 1,128 households including a population of 538 under the age of six. The population included 3,318 [[scheduled tribe]]s and 230 [[scheduled caste]]. The population included 2,170 males and 2,239 females with a [[sex ratio]] of 1,032. The [[literacy rate]] was 65.8%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census2011.co.in/data/village/631076-elagiri-hills-tamil-nadu.html|title=Elagiri hills|publisher=Census 2011|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022131741/https://www.census2011.co.in/data/village/631076-elagiri-hills-tamil-nadu.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Administration ==
The area is administered by a [[Panchayati raj in India|town panchayat]] as a part of the [[Jolarpet block|Jolapettai block]] of [[Tirupattur taluk]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/May/25/tamil-nadus-yelagiri-hills-panchayat-selected-as-model-village-under-sagy-2457937.html|title=Tamil Nadu's Yelagiri hills panchayat selected as model village under SAGY|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=26 May 2023|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135726/https://adgebra.co.in/afpf/TPHtmlTemplate?p1=181&p2=null&p3=1&p6=6729&p7=0&p8=0&refUrl=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2022/May/25/tamil-nadus-yelagiri-hills-panchayat-selected-as-model-village-under-sagy-2457937.html&p4=newindianexpress.com|url-status=live}}</ref> The panchayat is responsible for the basic infrastructure such as road, lighting, water supply and sanitation. There is one primary health center catering to healthcare needs of the population.<ref name="TN">{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Jan/29/tourists-and-residents-irked-over-poor-interior-roads-in-yelagiri|title=Tourists and residents irked over poor interior roads in Yelagiri|date=29 January 2024|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=10 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210115737/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Jan/29/tourists-and-residents-irked-over-poor-interior-roads-in-yelagiri|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Geography ==
Yelagiri is located in [[Tirupathur district]] of [[Tamil Nadu]].
<ref>{{cite news|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|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=25 May 2008|access-date=19 January 2019|archive-date=12 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112165012/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Miles-to-go-for-Yelagiri-Hills-as-a-tourist-spot/article15229314.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Located at an altitude of {{cvt|1410|m}}, it forms a part of the [[Eastern Ghats]] mountain range.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Eastern-Ghats-of-Tamil-Nadu-Legend-YG-Yelagiri-JV-Javvadu-GG-Gingee-Hills_fig1_298068914|title=Nocturnal birds in the Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu|date=February 2016|author1=Patrick J David|author2=Vinoth Balasubramanian|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135725/https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Eastern-Ghats-of-Tamil-Nadu-Legend-YG-Yelagiri-JV-Javvadu-GG-Gingee-Hills_fig1_298068914|url-status=live}}</ref> The hills consist of 14 hamlets spread across an area of {{cvt|72|km2}}.<ref name="Lake">{{cite web|url=https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/yelagiri-lake|title=Yelagiri lake|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135743/https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/yelagiri-lake|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="DH">{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/archives/hidden-hills-of-yelagiri-551735.html|title=Hidden hills of Yelagiri|date=9 February 2022|access-date=1 December 2023|newspaper=[[Deccan Herald]]|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135725/https://www.deccanherald.com/archives/hidden-hills-of-yelagiri-551735.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Punganoor lake is a man-made lake covering {{cvt|56.71|m2}} in the hills.<ref name="Govt">{{cite web|url=https://tirupathur.nic.in/tourist-place/yelagiri-hills/|title=Yelagiri Hills|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=26 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426170904/https://tirupathur.nic.in/tourist-place/yelagiri-hills/|url-status=live}}</ref> The highest point is the Swamimalai hills at an altitude of {{cvt|1410|m}}.<ref name="DH"/> The hills are rich in flora with 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=978-8-187-49849-0|access-date=10 November 2016|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135724/https://books.google.com/books?id=pSXidQZupHYC|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Climate ===
Yelagiri's has a warm climate in summer and is cooler in the winter. The climate is considered to be [[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]] according to the [[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system|Köppen-Geiger climate classification]].
[[File:Yelagiri Lake.jpg|thumb|Yelagiri lake is a man-made lake]]
{{Weather box
|location = Yelagiri
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|collapsed =
|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|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=22 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122203158/http://en.climate-data.org/location/968045/|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
== Transport ==
The hills can be accessed by a mountain road with 14 hair pin bends, branching out from [[National Highway 48 (India)|National Highway 48]].<ref name="Hills">{{cite web|url=https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/yelagiri-hills|title=Yelagiri|publisher=[[Government of Tamil Nadu]]|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135849/https://www.tamilnadutourism.tn.gov.in/destinations/yelagiri-hills|url-status=live}}</ref> It is situated about {{cvt|220|km}} from the state capital [[Chennai]] and {{cvt|160|km}} from [[Bengaluru]].<ref name="DH"/> The major access roads are maintained by the [[Department of Highways and Minor Ports (Tamil Nadu)|Department of Highways and Minor Ports]] of Government of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="TN"/> The nearest major rail head is at [[Jolarpettai Junction railway station|Jolarpettai]], located about {{cvt|19|km}} away. The nearest airport about {{cvt|155|km}} away is located at [[Salem Airport (India)|Salem]], which has limited domestic flights with major international airports at [[Kempegowda International Airport|Bengaluru]] and [[Chennai International Airport|Chennai]].<ref name="DH"/>
== Tourism ==
[[Image:Paragliding yelagiri.jpg|thumb|[[Paragliding]] at Yelagiri]]
[[Tourism]] forms a major part of the economy of the hills. The lake has [[boating]] facilities and is accompanied by a park.<ref name="Lake"/> Other places of interest include Jalagamparai waterfalls, Telescope observatory and Swamimalai hills.<ref name="Hills"/><ref name="Tour">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/in-the-lap-of-nature-places-in-yelagiri/articleshow/59160833.cms|title=In the lap of nature – places in Yelagiri|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=24 May 2018|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602134429/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/in-the-lap-of-nature-places-in-yelagiri/articleshow/59160833.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> The district administration has taken up development of the hills in 2007. Though many of the facilities developed during the plan in 2007, have been badly maintained.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/Mar/03/last-used-in-2008-yelagiris-amphitheatre-unkempt-since-2552788.html|title=Last used in 2008, Yelagiri's amphitheatre unkempt since|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|date=3 March 2023|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=8 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308065705/https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/mar/03/last-used-in-2008-yelagiris-amphitheatre-unkempt-since-2552788.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
A herbal farm is maintained by the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].<ref name="Govt"/> Temples include Kalyana Venkataramana Perumal temple, Nilavur Amman temple, Jalagandeeswarar temple and Velavan temple.<ref name="DH"/><ref name="Hindu"/><ref name="Tour"/> [[Trekking]] activities are carried out at Swamimalai hills and adventure sports such as [[paragliding]] and [[rock climbing]] are being promoted by the Government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yelagiri hills, for paragliding|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Yelagiri-Hills-for-paragliding/article15285382.ece|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=20 August 2008|access-date=19 January 2019|archive-date=2 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602135448/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Yelagiri-Hills-for-paragliding/article15285382.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DH"/> The yeary "Yelagiri Summer Festival" is celebrated in May and is organised by [[Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation]]. Stalls from different departments, flowers show, dog show and various cultural programs are conducted.<ref name="Tour"/>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Tirupathur district}}
{{Tourism in Tamil Nadu}}
{{commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Yelagiri}}
[[Category:Cities and towns in Tirupathur district]]
[[Category:Hill stations in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Mountains of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Paragliding in India]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Tirupathur district]]