{{Short description|Hill station in Tamil Nadu, India}} {{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|12.5781|N|78.6407|E|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|India}} | subdivision_type1 = 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 | timezone1 = IST | utc_offset1 = +5:30 | postal_code_type = 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), 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 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|url-access=subscription}}</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 Ages, 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 Zamindars 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 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 Malayali tribes populated the area and practiced agriculture.<ref name="Hut"/> As per the 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 tribes 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 town panchayat as a part of the 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 Aw according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification.
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.<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 of Government of Tamil Nadu.<ref name="TN"/> The nearest major rail head is at Jolarpettai, located about {{cvt|19|km}} away. The nearest airport about {{cvt|155|km}} away is located at Salem, which has limited domestic flights with major international airports at Bengaluru and 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