The weather app said 80% chance of rain. My friend Darshana said we were crazy. But honestly? That’s exactly what made us pack our bags at 11 PM on a Friday night for a spontaneous Chennai to Yelagiri drive the next morning.

The Road Less Traveled (But Not Really)

We left Chennai around 6 AM, hoping to beat the weekend traffic. The 230 KM journey (300 KM from other route) through was supposed to take us 5-6 hours, but who’s counting when you have good company and a Spotify playlist titled “Monsoon Vibes”?

The first hour was smooth sailing through the Chennai outskirts. Then came Kanchipuram, where we made our mandatory first stop at a roadside tea stall. Nothing beats that perfect South Indian filter coffee when the sky is threatening to open up. The elderly shop owner warned us about the ghat road ahead – “Careful with those 14 hairpin bends, especially in the rain!”

By the time we crossed Vellore, the drizzle had started. Perfect timing, because we’d forgotten to pack raincoats. Classic us. But the windshield wipers were doing their dance, and AR Rahman was crooning through the speakers, so we were living our best monsoon road trip life.

When GPS Fails You (And Tea Saves You)

Our phone GPS decided to take a break. No signal, no directions, just us and a fork in the road. Thank god for local tea shops! The friendly uncle at a small dhaba not only gave us directions but also insisted we try his famous onion pakoras. “Rain means pakoras,” he said with a grin, and who were we to argue with such solid logic?

The final stretch to Yelagiri was where the real adventure began. Those hairpin bends the tea shop uncle mentioned? They’re no joke. But driving through the Eastern Ghats with mist rolling over the hills and the sweet smell of rain-soaked earth, pure magic. We stopped at least three times just to soak in the views and click photos that would never do justice to what our eyes were seeing.

Finding Our Happy Place

By 2 PM, tired and slightly damp from our photo stops, we rolled into Yelagiri. That’s when we discovered Sterling Yelagiri, tucked away beautifully in the hills. After hours of being cramped in the car, walking into those spacious, aesthetic rooms felt like a warm hug. The large windows overlooking the misty valleys were exactly what our city-weary souls needed.

The best part? We didn’t have to step out for entertainment. The indoor games at Anthurium restaurant kept us busy while we waited for lunch. Nothing fancy, just carrom and table tennis, but after a long drive, it was perfect. The warm food hit all the right spots too, especially their South Indian thali that reminded us we were still in Tamil Nadu, just with better air and prettier views.

Later that evening, we treated ourselves to a spa session. Because honestly, what’s a Yelagiri weekend getaway without melting away those weekday stress knots? The therapist told us the monsoon season is actually perfect for spa treatments, something about the humidity helping the oils absorb better. Science or not, we felt amazing.

Monsoon Magic from the Balcony

The rain picked up again by evening, and we spent hours just sitting on our room, watching the clouds play hide and seek with the hills. The peaceful surroundings of the property, combined with the gentle patter of rain, created this incredibly calming atmosphere. No honking, no traffic, no deadlines, just us, some hot tea, and nature’s own sound therapy.

We realized this is what we’d been missing in our busy Chennai lives. Sometimes you need to drive 230-300 KMs to remember what silence sounds like.

The Drive Back (And Why We’re Already Planning Another Trip)

Sunday evening came too soon. The drive back was bittersweet, clear roads, amazing weather, but the weekend was ending. We made the same stops, bought the same pakoras, but this time with the satisfied tiredness of a perfect monsoon escape.

The Chennai to Yelagiri route has officially become our go-to weekend therapy. Easy enough for a quick getaway, scenic enough to feel like a proper vacation, and just the right distance to make you appreciate both the journey and the destination.

Next time though, we’re definitely remembering those raincoats. And maybe staying an extra day. Because some places deserve more than just a weekend – they deserve to become a tradition.

Not all escapes need plane tickets, sometimes, it’s just a turn off the highway. And somewhere along the winding roads and whispering hills, you’ll find your peace waiting, just like I did.

Author: Soundara Barnidharan D
Banker & Traveller