The Shevaroy Hills are another name for Selvarayan range of hills. They are situated near Salem in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The main town here is the hill station of Yercaud. These detached hill range form part of the southern ranges of the Eastern Ghats and spreads over an area of 400 sq. km with plateaus from 4000 to 5000 ft. above sea-level.
The Shevaroy Hills is known to represent the Solaikaradu Peak, which is the highest peak in the southern Eastern Ghats standing at a height of 1620 m above sea level. It is nestled parallel to the lower Chitteri - Kalrayan hills, just north of the Kolli Hills and Pachaimalai Hills and to the west lays the Mettur hills.
Etymology of Shevaroy Hills
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The name Shevaroy is a local Tamil name which is derived from a local deity, Servarayan, which means the Chera king. The term Selvarayan in Tamil means, `the beautiful one`.
Attractions of Shevaroy Hills
People from various places visit the Shevaroy Hills due to their peaceful and quite nature. The major attractions in the Shevaroy Hills are Orchidarium administered by the Botanical Survey of India, the old coffee estates and a sanatorium. Shevaroy Hills offer good opportunity for trekking and cycling. The famous Yeracud town is situated amidst the Shevaroy Hills. The town is dominated by the beauty of a lake which is enveloped by lush greenery. The lake offers the luxury of pedal boating. There is a small park which borders the placid water. The park is home to animals like deer, peacocks and rabbits.
Flora and Fauna of Shevaroy Hills
With an endemic species of flora and fauna, the Shevaroy Hills still has some patches of the original forests and high up the slopes, these forests have a stark semblance to the forests of Western Ghats. For example, the Neelakurinji shrub is found in the peaks of Shevaroy Hills, which apart from the higher altitudes of the Western Ghats is not known to be found in the Eastern Ghats. Apart from natural forests, there is an abundance of coffee and citrus fruits along with bananas, peas and jackfruits.
Various types of animal species are also found here in the Shevaroy Hills like the gaur, sambar deer, spotted deer, Indian pangolin, jackals, civets, hares, jackals and many reptiles among others.
Visiting Information on Shevaroy Hills
The Shevaroy Hills can be easily accessed, with the main town being the hills station of Yercaud. The nearest bus stop is about 5 km away and is accessible by roadways. The Salem Junction is the closest railway station at a distance of about 46 km and the Salem Airport is at a distance of 61 km.
