5 Top-Rated Weekend Destinations From Erode (2024)
The city of Erode is a major tourist destination in Tamil Nadu. Located just a 100 kilometers from Coimbatore, Erode is a beautiful small town that is a breath of fresh air for those who want to get away from the noisy environment of the bigger cities. From temples, churches, forts to tiger reserves and sanctuaries, Erode has something for everyone to enjoy. There are many numerous places around Erode that make for the perfect weekend getaway. Here are some of the best places to visit from Erode during the weekend.
1. Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Located in the Nilgiri district, the Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary are situated on the Ooty-Mysore interstate national highway. It falls roughly midway between both Ooty and Mysore, and it is around 190 kilometers from Erode. If you are driving down on the national highway from Erode, it will take you roughly five hours to reach the tiger reserve.
The tiger reserve is sprawled over 321 square kilometers and located strategically at the tri-junction of three prominent South Indian states – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary play an essential role in preserving the ecosystem of this area as it is part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, which is the first Biosphere Reserve in India.
The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is also home to various wild animals, including wild elephants, grey langurs, the flying lizard, wild boar, Bengal tiger, gaur, the Indian leopard, Sambar deer, ungulates, reptiles like pythons, spectacled cobra, and many more. There are also over 266 species of birds present in this sanctuary, including the critically endangered long-billed vulture and the Indian white-rumped vulture. There are also around 50 species of fishes, 21 species of amphibians, 55 species of mammals, and 34 species of reptiles.
The sanctuary is also home to many species of wild varieties of cultivated plants like wild ginger, wild turmeric, wild rice, solanum, mango, guava, and pepper.
The sanctuary is divided into five ranges, namely Thepakadu, masinagudi, Kargudi, Nellakota, and Mudumalai.
The best time to visit the Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is during the winters and at the onset of summers. October to May is the best months to visit as the climate remains pleasant and relatively cool, and you can easily roam around the park without getting tired.
2. Coimbatore
Located just 100 kilometers from Erode is the beautiful city of Coimbatore. You can reach Coimbatore from Erode by taking a train, or you can also drive down on the National Highway 544. By train, it will take approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, while driving to Coimbatore takes a little over two hours.
What is Coimbatore called? Popularly referred to as the Manchester of South India, Coimbatore is also called Kovai. It is the second biggest city in Tamil Nadu, located along the banks of the River Noyyal. The photographic town has much to offer for tourists, including ancient temples to majestic mountains and cascading waterfalls.
What is Coimbatore famous for? Coimbatore is also renowned for being home to a huge 112 feet tall statue of Lord Shiva, known as the Adiyogi Shiva statue. This statue has even been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being an architectural masterpiece and is a massively popular tourist spot in Coimbatore. 
Trekking and camping are also some other popular activities to do while in Coimbatore as the city has many exciting trekking trails to offer, including the Vellari Mala, the Perumal Peak, the Thalaiyar Falls trek, and the Dhoni Hills.
Here are some other popular spots to visit in Coimbatore:
- Vydehi Falls
- Kovai Kondattam
- Marudhamali Hill Temple
- Sree Ayyappan Temple
- Velliangiri Hill Temple
You can visit Coimbatore anytime during the year as the weather remains pleasant throughout the year.
3. Ooty
Located around 150 kilometers from Erode is the Queen of the Nilgiris, the beautiful hill station of Ooty. Also known as Udagamandalam, Ooty is a popular hill station in Tamil Nadu. It is a popular weekend getaway for people living in Erode and serves as a breathtaking destination that takes you away from the hustle-bustle of city life.
Also referred to as the Queen of the Hills because of its breathtaking beauty, the allure of Ooty lies in the panoramic and majestic views of the Nilgiri Mountains. What is there to see in Ooty? Here are some of the most exciting things to see in Ooty:
- Avalanche Lake
- Ooty Lake
- Emerald Lake
- Ooty Botanical Gardens
- Deer Park
- Doddabetta Peak
- Kalhatty Waterfalls
- Kamraj Sagar Dam
- Mukurthi National Park
- Needle Rock View Point
- Ooty Rose Garden
- Ooty Toy Train
- Pykara Waterfalls
- Stephens Church
- Ooty Stone House
- Wenlock Downs Ooty
The list of things to do and see in Ooty are as endless as the majestic mountain range that stretches on all sides of this beautiful hill station.
You can visit Ooty throughout the year as the weather remains pleasant and perfect for sightseeing. You will find that the temperature remains between 5 to 15 degrees Celsius around the year, though the nights tend to be colder. The peak tourist season is from October to June, so if you don’t like crowded places, it is best to avoid visiting Ooty during this time.
4.Munnar in Kerala
Another popular weekend getaway from Erode is Munnar in Kerala. This quaint little hill station is known for its tea gardens, lakes, and overall beauty. How far is Munnar from Erode? Munnar is around 213 kilometers from Erode, and if you are driving down, it is a roughly five-hour drive. You can also take the train for a shorter trip.
Munnar is located at an altitude of 1600 meters in the Western Ghats and is famous for its sprawling tea plantations, lush greenery all around, the blankets of mist that envelop you as the clouds seem to touch the ground, and the majestic peaks. Munnar is popularly, also referred to as the Kashmir of South India.
Here are some of the best places to visit while in Munnar:
- Echo Point
- Photo Point
- Atukkad Waterfalls
- Top Stations
- Pothamedu View Point
- Tata Tea Museum
- Eravikulam National Park
- Wonder Valley Adventure and Amusement Park
- Kundala Dam and Lake
The best to visit this hill station is in the months of September to March as the weather remains pleasant during this time. April to June can be warm, but you can still visit Munnar as due to its altitude, it doesn’t get too hot. It is recommended that you avoid visiting Munnar during the monsoons as there are frequent landslides and road blockages that hamper your travel plans, especially if you are driving down from Erode.
5. Madurai
Another great weekend getaway from erode is the Lotus City of Madurai. Built in the shape of a lotus, Madurai is a famous tourist destination in Tamil Nadu. It is around 195 kilometers away from Erode. If you are driving down via NH 44, it will take you about 4 hours to reach Madurai.
Madurai is considered to be the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, and it is known for being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of India. city has a rich history and is renowned for the revered Meenakshi Amman Temple, which is dedicated to the Goddess Meenakshi and her consort, Lord Sundareshwarar.
You will be correct if you start thinking that there are more temples in Madurai than elsewhere in the entire state. The city is sometimes also known as the City of Temples for this reason. There are many ancient temples that dot Madurai, including Thiruparankundram. This is one of the most important ancient temples that is dedicated to Lord Kartikeya or Murugan. The temple is located on a hill, which is about 8 kilometers from the city.
While in Madurai, don’t forget to check out the Vaigai Dam, Meghamalai, Alagar Koil, and the Samanar Hills.
