Lake in The Woods.
A four day engagement took us to "Steel City" Salem last week. Though barely 210 kms. from Bangalore, via NH 7, Salem was a Hotplate to Bangalore's Aircooler clime, thanks to a summer that had set in early and in right earnest too. Being three quarters surrounded by high mountains does not in any way cool down this bustling industrial town ( Salem is famous for Steel,Textiles, Sago , Bauxite, Silversmithy and Mangoes). The name Salem is derived from Shailam , meaning "Mountains". As the prospect of spending 4 days there did not seem so inviting, we headed to the nearest hills, from where we could easily come down for the two functions that needed attending. So, to YERCAUD. Located 1515 meters above sea-level in the Shevaroy Range of hills in the Eastern Ghats , Yercaud is a small wooded (" Kaadu") hillstation clustering around a Lake (" Yeri"), tagged as "Poor Man's Ooty ". Climate here is moderate throughout the yea