|
A hardcore trekker can trek through the woody forests from the lake
to the bottom of the falls in about an hour. When you commence walking
towards the fall from the Yercaud Lake, you shall experience the final
500 meter distance only of a rough unpaved steep pathway.
During the monsoons, the stone steps become slippery, but in summer
time, the cascade barely endures any water. The south west monsoon and
the north east monsoon are the main source of water to the Yercaud Lake
and the adjoining hilly area. Kiliyur fall is a small cascade amidst
high hills of the Eastern Ghats. The cold water at the bottom with a
breath-taking view on top, will make all the effort worthwhile for the
traveler.
It is essential to be properly geared up to visit the Kiliyur Falls.
Trekking shoes, food supplies and lots of water or glucose are a must.
Due to its discreet location, not many families prefer to visit the
place unless they are really enthusiastic. The stone and iron steps,
tall and short, uneven, can make the ascent very difficult and tiring.
In case of a mishap at the falls, there is no rescue team at the aid of
the tourists! One can however visit the falls with caution and spend an
inexpensive weekend in the lap of Mother Nature, in her true and
unexplored form.
Trekking:
The trek to Kiliyur is short, but makes up for what it lacks in distance
with adventure. This action-packed trail takes you to the seasonal
Kiliyur Falls, located a couple of kilometers from Yercaud Lake in Tamil
Nadu.
Being extremely easy to identify, this is the kind of trail that is
perfect for trekkers with any level of experience. Trek over bare metal
staircases that seem to endlessly descend into the depths of green
valleys, stern-looking rocks that form the forest floor, estates of
coffee and a queen’s royal bath.
To begin this trail, find the Yercaud Lake and the sign near it that
points in the direction of Kiliyur Falls – 3.2 km to be exact. From the
beautiful lake among the hills, a narrow path leads you onward.
The Best time to visit the falls would be between the months of
September to May. The falls are at its best during the rainy season.
Getting There
Kiliyur Falls is situated at a distance of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from the
Yercaud Lake and 30 km away from Salem. You can hire a car or auto to reach
there easily.
Salem is well connected by good
roads. There are a number of buses running from other major cities and
towns to Salem. Salem Junction (Station code: SA) is well connected by a
good railway network. In fact, it is a divisional headquarters in
Southern Railway. It's connected to Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore and
other major cities and towns of Tamil Nadu and India.
Salem Airport is
situated on Salem-Bangalore Highway at a place known as Kaamalapuram near
Omalur. It is about 20 km away from the city. Currently there are no
scheduled airlines operating at
Salem Airport due to poor patronage.
The nearest international airport is
Coimbatore International
Airport, located in Coimbatore, 160 kms away. It is a three and half hour
drive to Coimbatore from Salem.
|
