Tours & Travels

Yelagiri "The Call of the Hills"

A quaint little hill station located in Vellore, Yelagiri is just three hours away from Bangalore, making it the perfect spot for a quick weekend getaway. Spread a little over 30 square kilometres, and at a height of over 1100 metres above sea level, Yelagiri offers its tourists some beautiful places like the Jalagamparai falls, sweeping orchards and rose garden, among others. The ideal destination for nature lovers, Yelagiri is a town that is completely off the beaten tourist trail, lending it a quieter and much more peaceful vibe compared to other more famous hill stations nearby. Originally belonging to the Zamindar family of Yelagiri, the hill station began to gain popularity since the colonial rule, when it was used by the British as a summer getaway. Ever since then, it has been one of the hidden gems of South India, replete with rocky hills and natural scenic beauty, making it the perfect place to take a break from the fast-paced city life.

Yelagiri is one of those typical, silent places that seem ordinary on the outside but are more and more startling as you discover it. It has all the features of a great hill station, be it sunset points or lakes and parks. But the beauty of Yelagiri lies in all the more that it has to offer. Being one of the lesser known hill-stations in Tamil Nadu, the place is rarely overcrowded. The surroundings are pristine and the forests are home to some rare species of flora and fauna. The honey that is locally available is considered to be one of the purest and tastiest varieties.

Golden Temple, Vellore

The Sripuram Golden Temple is a sight to behold, and it is situated in Tirumalaikodi at Southern Vellore, Tamil Nadu. The golden temple sits inside a spiritual park or ‘Spiritual Oasis’, and a star path leads the visitors towards it. The main feature of the temple has to be that it is covered in real gold foil and it is regarded as the biggest and the only temple to do that. The inauguration took place on 24th August 2007, and it was inaugurated by Narayani Amma. The chief deity of the temple is Sri Lakshmi Narayani or Maha Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth in Hinduism. Sashasra Deepam or one thousand eight lamps is a ceremony that is performed in the temple every morning and in the evening. Pilgrims enjoy the beautiful natural park when they visit the temple. The best time to visit the temple is every day as the body decided to keep it open 365 days in a year.

St. Johns Church, Vellore

St. John’s Church is one of the oldest churches in the Vellore Diocese which follows the Anglican tradition. Located in the heart of the city in Vellore and within the campus of Vellore Fort, it is a church that is most visited by the locals and also one of religious significance. Built-in 1846, the interiors of the church has a touch of charm to it. At present, the majority of the church is in association with the Christian Medical College & Hospital. The church also works with several NGOs and supports schools and hostels.

This beautiful church is located at a distance of about 1.5 kms from the Vellore Railway station, which is situated in the fort of Vellore. The St. John’s Church is said to have begun in 1846, by Reform Church of America, goes by the name, RCA. The church was relocated from FilterBed Road to its at-times location. It is said that the Soldiers who lost their lives amid the war of Sepoy Mutiny have been buried in the establishment of the Church. The history of the Shrine is depicted through the inscriptions safeguarded in the Church of St. John. And hence, this particular church is said to be one of the oldest ones in the city of Vellore.