Yelagiri is a small, undeveloped plateau at about 1,100 m, with orchards, a lake and a handful of simple treks. It will not take your breath away. It is a cheap, quiet, easy weekend that both big southern cities can reach in three hours. Walk up Swamimalai for the view, hike down to Jalagamparai Falls, and spend the rest of the time doing nothing.
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When to go
Pleasant from October to February. It gets warm from April to May, though it is still cooler than the plains. Jalagamparai Falls runs best after the October–December rains.
Yelagiri right now and the next 7 days
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Yelagiri, planned for you
A satellite map for every day with each stop pinned in order, photos of the places, timings, what each part costs, where to sleep and eat, and a checklist. One PDF that works offline: print it, or send it to everyone going.
- Day 1 Arrive in Yelagiri · Swamimalai hill walk
- TravelTrain + bus: → Jolarpettai, then bus up₹350
- 08:00Swamimalai hill walkFree
- 11:30Jalagamparai Falls₹50
₹49 once, 4 pages. Secure payment by Razorpay, instant download. Already bought? Get your download
Yelagiri on the map
Tap anything in the list: the map zooms straight to it. Tap your starting city to see the way there.
The area
Getting there
Places to see
Day trips
Yelagiri · Open in Google Maps ↗
Map by Google. Places are found by name, so check the exact spot in Google Maps before you go.
Step 3 of 11Next: Cost↓What your trip costs
Change anything and the numbers update. Every price is what the bus, room or ticket itself costs. We take no commission and sell no packages, so this is what you pay booking each piece yourself.
Ballpark ranges, not live quotes. Prices last updated 6 October 2026. Prices move with season and demand, so check live fares before you book. Spot a wrong price? Tell us and we fix it.
On the ground: stay, food, local travel and tickets. Pick a route above to add the journey.
Yelagiri in 1 day: a day-by-day plan
Our suggested plan, in a sensible order with times. Move things between days, remove them or add more. It saves on this device, and you can share it.
- 08:00Swamimalai hill walk3 h · free · The highest point on the plateau. A 3 km forest trail from Mangalam village. Start early.
- 11:30Jalagamparai FallsHalf day · ₹50 each · A forest walk to a waterfall on the Attaru river. Best from October to January.
- Lunch on the way
How to get to Yelagiri
One-way prices per person. The cheapest sensible option is marked. Each button opens live times and fares for the date you picked above.
Train + bus Cheapest
₹350Jolarpettai is on the Bengaluru–Chennai line, and many trains stop there.
Drive
₹2,000Via Hosur and Krishnagiri. The ghat has fourteen hairpins, each named after a Tamil poet.
Getting around once you're there
On foot
FreeThe lake, the park and the adventure camp are close together.
Local bus
₹15Buses link the villages on the plateau, but they are infrequent.
Auto / taxi
₹1,000To Jalagamparai trailhead and back.
Bicycle
₹250The plateau roads are gentle and quiet.
Where to stay in Yelagiri
Price per night for the room. The buttons open live availability for your dates.
Budget
₹900/nightBasic rooms, fine for one night.
Resort
₹2,800/nightMany have pools and gardens. Midweek prices are much lower.
What to eat, and what it costs
Meals and biryani
₹80Ambur and Vaniyambadi, at the foot of the hills, are famous for their biryani. Eat one on the way up.
Jackfruit and seasonal fruit
₹60From roadside stalls in season.
Chai and snacks
₹40At the lake.
Places to visit and things to do in Yelagiri
Tap “Add to my plan” and it goes into your day-by-day plan above.
Swamimalai hill walk
FreeThe highest point on the plateau. A 3 km forest trail from Mangalam village. Start early.
Jalagamparai Falls
₹50A forest walk to a waterfall on the Attaru river. Best from October to January.
Punganoor Lake
₹60Boating and a small park.
Paragliding & adventure camp
₹1,500Seasonal. Check the operator's safety record and weather conditions.
Nilavoor Lake
FreeA quieter lake in an orchard village.
Day trips and next stops
Vellore Fort & Golden Temple
₹80Bus
Ambur (biryani)
₹40Bus
Yercaud
₹180Bus via Krishnagiri
Bengaluru
₹150Train from Jolarpettai
Know before you go
Mistakes to avoid
- There is little to do after dark and few restaurants. Eat before 9 pm.
- Resorts fill on long weekends. Book ahead or go midweek.
- Jalagamparai's rocks are slippery. Do not bathe in the falls in heavy flow.
Ways to spend less
- Stop for an Ambur biryani on the way up.
- Trains to Jolarpettai are cheaper and faster than the road on a Friday evening.
- Midweek resorts discount heavily.
Say it in Tamil
A few words go a long way, especially when you ask a price.
English works in towns; Hindi much less.
The pronunciation is a simple guide, not a native recording. Spot a mistake? Tell us.
Before-you-go checklist
Yelagiri in pictures
Tap a photo to see it full size.
Step 11 of 11Next: FAQ↓Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Yelagiri?
On our month-by-month scores, the best months are Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec. Pleasant from October to February. It gets warm from April to May, though it is still cooler than the plains. Jalagamparai Falls runs best after the October–December rains.
How do I reach Yelagiri?
Train + bus: → Jolarpettai, then bus up, varies + 1 h, about ₹350 one way. Drive: Bengaluru → Yelagiri, 3 h 30 m, about ₹2,000 one way. Bus: Chennai / Bengaluru → Vaniyambadi / Jolarpettai, 4–5 h, about ₹350 one way.
How much does a 1-day trip to Yelagiri cost?
On the ground (stay, food, local travel and tickets), one person spends about ₹800 on a shoestring, ₹1,500 mid-range or ₹3,000 in comfort over 1 day. Add the journey: the cheapest sensible option is train + bus (→ Jolarpettai, then bus up) at about ₹350 each way.
How many days do you need in Yelagiri?
1 day is right for most people. That covers Swamimalai hill walk, Jalagamparai Falls without rushing.
Is Yelagiri good for families or solo travellers?
Out of 5 on our scores: solo 4, couples 5, families 4, groups 5. It works well for families. It is easy to do on your own.
Is vegetarian food easy to find in Yelagiri?
Fine. Meals everywhere, although the famous thing in the valley is mutton biryani.
Will my phone and cards work in Yelagiri?
Phone signal: Good on the plateau. Cards and UPI: Resorts only. Cash: Needed for most things.
Guides for Yelagiri
Longer reads from our blog that cover this trip.
Places to Visit Near Bangalore: 20 Underrated Trips by Distance, with Real CostsPlaces to visit near Bangalore grouped by distance: under 100 km, 100–200, 200–300 and 300+ km, with road distance,…Read the guide →
10 Weekend Getaways from Chennai Under ₹5,000, Ranked by Real CostWeekend getaways from Chennai under ₹5,000, ranked by real cost: Gingee, Chidambaram, Kolli Hills, Mahabalipuram,…Read the guide →Similar underrated places
YercaudThe 'jewel of the south' is a small coffee-and-orange hill station in the Shevaroys, forty minutes up from…From ₹900/day · Jan–Feb, Nov–Dec
HogenakkalThe Kaveri crashes over black rocks into a gorge, you float under it in a round coracle, and they fry the…From ₹900/day · Jan–Mar, Oct–Dec
Horsley HillsA small granite hilltop at about 1,265 m above the hot Rayalaseema plains, with wind-scoured rocks, a…From ₹1,100/day · Jan–Feb, Nov–Dec
Kolli HillsSeventy hairpin bends up to a plateau of pepper, jackfruit and honey, and a waterfall at the bottom of a…From ₹800/day · Jan–Feb, Oct–Dec.jpg/500px-Tea_estates_near_Kotagiri%2C_Nilgiris_(ultra-wide_view).jpg)
KotagiriThe oldest hill station in the Nilgiris, all tea slopes and shola walks, with a cliff-edge view at Kodanad…From ₹1,000/day · Jan–May, Dec
BandipurOne of India's original Project Tiger reserves, straddling the highway between Mysuru and Ooty, with…From ₹1,200/day · Jan–Mar, Oct–DecTreks near Yelagiri
Swamimalai, YelagiriEasy · Half day · Oct–MarFrom ₹0 at the base
Nandi Hills & SkandagiriEasy · Half day · Oct–Feb, Jun–AugFrom ₹400 at the base
Skandagiri night trekModerate · 1 night (4-6 h) · October to March (October-November for the sea of clouds); April-May with an…From ₹350 at the baseSacred places near Yelagiri
Make the plan yours
Set your dates and group at the top, shape the days, then book each piece directly.
Back to the planner ↑Costs are indicative ballparks for doing it yourself and change with season and demand. Always check live fares, rates and opening rules before you book. Trip Under is not a travel agency: we don't sell packages or bookings, we take no commission, and we link to maps and official sites, never to booking sites. Every guide is free; our only paid products are optional downloadable trip plans and itineraries. Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; see credits.
By Gokul · Updated 6 October 2026 · Photo: Ashwin Kumar from Bangalore, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · Photo: Ashwin Kumar from Bangalore, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · Photo: Ashwin Kumar from Bangalore, India · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · Photo: Mohan Babu V · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · Photo: Ashwin Kumar · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
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