The new year is coming and so plan for celebrating a new year bash was to be made. Our family from Delhi and friends were planning to come over to Bangalore for Winter Holidays. Planning and arrangements were on full swing. By arranging their trip to Mysore, Coorg, and Tirupati only new year party arrangements were left. We were 4 couples that mean 15 people together. And the offbeat location in mind we planned for a new year trip to Yelagiri.
YELAGIRI AT A GLANCE
Yelagiri is a hill station in the Tirupattur district of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bangalore Chennai Highway NH 44. It is 3 hrs drive from Bangalore and approximately 160Kms.
Tourists also come from other places like Vellore, Chennai, etc. With not many things to do around, it is ideal for a 1-night stay. People do come for the day picnic from the nearby cities.
THINGS TO DO IN YELAGIRI
Yelagiri has a man-made Punganur lake also known as Yelagiri lake. One can enjoy boating which is of two types
- Pedal boating
- Motor Boating
A few big swings are also set up for the people to enjoy and spend time there. One can even find games shops around. From the parking lot to the lake many small eateries, food vendors, tea stall and homemade chocolate selling shops are there. One can enjoy shopping, eating, and games at one time.
Yelagiri is also famous for camping and trekking. Trekkers trek to Jalagamparai Falls, but recently it was heard that these falls are all dried up. Since we didn’t go there so I am not sure.
SUMMER FESTIVAL
Yelagiri celebrates the summer festival each year in the months of May-June. It’s a 3-day festival where flower and dog show along with other cultural activities, and folk dances are organized to promote tourism.
WHY YELAGIRI
It was a New Year Eve and we had to return to Bangalore on by 4 PM on 1st January 2019 as a friend of ours have a return flight to Delhi at night.
Since everyone plans to spend New Year at some place so a lot of traffic was expected on Hassan and Mysore route so we avoid going to Wayanad, Chikmanguloor, etc
And for the New Year kids wanted to have dance, masti and fun which we luckily got in Yelagiri.
HOW WE TRAVELLED
We were a total of 15 people including kids and adults and we chose to travel in 2 cars altogether to have fun. We started at around 9.30 AM on 31st Dec 2018. The Bangalore Chennai highway is a very nice to drive on. And one can find a good number of food joints and public conveniences options. We had breakfast at home so we didn’t have to stop anywhere except for a quick tea break.
We almost checked in at 1 PM. As usual, kids first explored the place around. We had our lunch there. Took some rest and at around 3 PM went to the lake. Parked our cars and started walking down. There are many small shops down the lane. We played some games like putting the rings and shooting the balloons. For us repeating our childhood games was fun.
Lake and around
Few went for boating others stayed ashore and relaxed. There was a giant wheel and a few other swings. To be frank more than kids we elder enjoyed a lot. We also bought handmade chocolates which were really nice. Enjoyed a cup of refreshing ginger tea at a tea stall. It was so tasty that we again ordered and had 2 cups instead of 1. We enjoyed ourselves a lot and came back to our resort.
Late in the evening, we could start feeling the chilling factor which we didn’t expect and moreover wind intensified it. Kids went inside the pool but soon realized its better to come out. We all sat around the pool and enjoyed the lovely weather.
NEW YEAR COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Being the New Year eve, the hotel was all full and they have planned many games and DJ night as well. They even screened a movie for the kids in their central courtyard. Then comes the Tambola where none of us won anything. Next was musical chairs where surprisingly I and my son both were winners in mothers and kids games respectively. Then till midnight, there was a DJ and we just danced and enjoyed it.
There was a gala dinner set up by the hotel. As the clock struck 12 it was time for fireworks liting the sky. Then we all cut the New Year cake and distributed among all. Everything was just amazing. All of us were having a gala time. Kids extended the DJ by around 1 at night by requesting one more song plz. We all were so much so engrossed in the dance that we even danced to any other language dance which the DJ was playing.
THE NEXT DAY
Being slept late at around 2, we all got up late. Kids just plunged into the pool. We all were sitting around and enjoying the sun shining brightly and warming us on a new day of a new year. After enjoying our new year we headed back to Bangalore at around 1 PM and reached by 4 PM as one of our friends had his flight back to Delhi at 8 PM on the same evening.
As the new year comes many of us have different expectations, resolutions, and commitments. All of us try our best to fulfill our dreams. New Year brings new hope in everyone’s life how much we work towards it depends on us.
Why we chose Kumararaja Palace –Yelagiri.
- Had new year program which was our primary reason.
- Close proximity to Bangalore.
- Since we were a big group we wanted to stay connected and had fun together.
- Facilities like swimming pool, the indoor games room was ideal for kids and a quiet and calm place were soothing for elders.
- It was a beautifully designed hotel.
- Got a chance to visit an offbeat location.
