Scenic drive · Yercaud (Shevaroy Hills)
Salem–Yercaud ghat road (20 hairpin bends)
A sealed two-lane ghat that stacks 20 named hairpin bends in a short climb, with the plains and Salem city opening up below you — the panorama over Salem is a standout, especially near the top and after dark. Expect tour buses and share-cabs on the classic road; the Kuppanur (via Ayothiyapattinam) and Nagalur (via Bommidi) approaches are quieter forest-and-estate alternatives.
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- Type
- Scenic drive
- Access
- Open
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Terrain
- sealed ghat road
- Duration
- About 45 minutes to an hour for the climb from Salem, unhurried.
- Region
- Yercaud (Shevaroy Hills)
About this route
The classic approach — the roughly 28–32 km climb from Salem up the Shevaroys with 20 hairpin bends (the historic Arthur Havelock ghat), whose bends are named after Tamil scholars, kings and freedom fighters. It is a fully sealed mountain road: climb and descend slowly, use engine braking on the way down, and sound the horn on blind curves. The surface can be slick and foggy during and just after the monsoon — a seasonal hazard, not a closure.
What to expect
A sealed two-lane ghat that stacks 20 named hairpin bends in a short climb, with the plains and Salem city opening up below you — the panorama over Salem is a standout, especially near the top and after dark. Expect tour buses and share-cabs on the classic road; the Kuppanur (via Ayothiyapattinam) and Nagalur (via Bommidi) approaches are quieter forest-and-estate alternatives.
Highlights
- 20 named hairpin bends on a historic sealed ghat
- Panoramic views over Salem city and the plains
- Cool climate change as you climb ~1,000 m onto the plateau
- Quieter Kuppanur and Nagalur alternative approaches
Best time & conditions
Good year-round as a cool hill drive; clearest views October–February. Avoid night driving in monsoon fog (June–September and just after).
How to reach
From Salem city / Salem bus station, take the classic Salem–Yercaud ghat road up the 20 bends into Yercaud town (~28–32 km).
Access & permits
Access here is Open, confirmed on the official source:
Tamil Nadu Tourism + TheYercaud.com travel routes (opens in new tab)Frequently asked questions
A sealed two-lane ghat that stacks 20 named hairpin bends in a short climb, with the plains and Salem city opening up below you — the panorama over Salem is a standout, especially near the top and after dark. Expect tour buses and share-cabs on the classic road; the Kuppanur (via Ayothiyapattinam) and Nagalur (via Bommidi) approaches are quieter forest-and-estate alternatives.
More routes in Yercaud (Shevaroy Hills)
Publicly sourced32 km plateau loop road
A loop road on the plateau (commonly cited as ~32 km) strings the main viewpoints together for a half-day drive through the coffee, orange and spice plantations that quilt the Shevaroys. Sealed plateau roads; some lanes narrow near the viewpoints.
sealed plateau road
in Yercaud (Shevaroy Hills)
Publicly sourcedLady's Seat & Pagoda Point viewpoints
Cliff-edge viewpoints reached on sealed plateau roads — Lady's Seat over the Salem plains and the ghat switchbacks (best at sunset), and Pagoda Point about 5 km from town with a small Rama temple. The drops are largely unfenced and the rock gets slippery near water, so keep well back from edges, especially after rain and with children.
sealed plateau road
in Yercaud (Shevaroy Hills)
Publicly sourcedShevaroyan (Servarayan) Temple drive — Shevaroy peak
A drive across the plateau toward the Servarayan (Shevaroyan) temple near the highest point of the range (~1,628 m per Wikipedia) — an ancient cave shrine to the hills' presiding deity, about 5 km from the lake, with sweeping views on the way up. Reached on public plateau roads then a short walk; it is an active place of worship, so dress respectfully and follow on-site rules. The lane narrows near the top — drive it slowly.
sealed plateau road + short walk
in Yercaud (Shevaroy Hills)