Parapente Yelagiri Hills Ramakrishna

Yelagiri Hills, located in Tamil Nadu, is renowned for its excellent paragliding conditions and is considered one of the top paragliding sites in South India. The hill station offers a pleasant climate year-round and is easily accessible from Chennai and Bangalore. The journey includes a scenic drive with 14 hairpin bends, offering panoramic views of the Javadi hills and stunning sunsets over the hills of Andhra Pradesh. For more information, visit: [Yelagiri Paragliding](http://www.yelagiritrips.com/yelagiriparagliding2010.html) **Flying Season:** - **March/April:** Light winds from the E/SE with light midday thermals. Take-off from Jayakrishnan. Overdevelopment and thundershowers start mid-April. - **May/June:** Medium to strong winds from the S/SW/W (not flyable during south winds). Thermals are medium to strong. Take-off from Ramakrishna. High chance of overdevelopment and thundershowers. - **July/August:** Medium strong winds from the SW/W/WNW. Thermals are medium to strong. Take-off from Ramakrishna. Overdevelopment and scattered thundershowers. - **September:** Light to medium winds from the W/SW. Thermals are medium. Take-off from Ramakrishna. Scattered thundershowers. - **October:** Pleasant weather with W/SW winds. Flyable until the start of the North East monsoon around October 15th. Take-off from Ramakrishna. Scattered thundershowers. - **November/December:** Monsoon rains with winds from the N/NE. No take-off sites in that direction, hence no flying. - **January/February:** NE winds. No flying. **Landing:** Official landing sites are yet to be acquired, so landing in any bare field is acceptable. Avoid cultivated fields. To return, head to the village of Pooneri at the base of Yelagiri on the west side and catch a bus to Attanavoor. For landings on the E/SE side, head to Tirupattur, then to Pooneri or Attanavoor directly. **Important:** Upon arrival, register with the Yelagiri Paragliding Club (YPC) at the tourist office near Attanavoor before flying. A minimum flying experience of P3 level is required. For more details, visit: [Yelagiri Adventure Sports](http://www.yelagiritrips.com/adventuresportsparagliding.html) **Elevation:** The Yelagiri launch site is at 1111 meters with a 500-meter AGL and an 8 km long ridge. Launch sites are available for NW, SW, and SE wind directions. For more information, visit: [YASA](http://www.yasa.co.in/YPC/welcome.html) **Accommodation:** Yelagiri offers a range of accommodations from budget to luxury. Government-run Yatri Nivas caters to budget travelers, while various private resorts offer different comfort levels and tariffs. **Weather Hazards:** Avoid the SW monsoon season (June, July, August) and the NE monsoon season (December, January). **Flight Regulation:** Follow the rules set by YASA (YPC). Contact the Yelagiri Paragliding Club, part of the Yelagiri Adventure Sports Association, before flying. Contact Mr. Sudhakar at +91 4179245333 (Landline) or +91 9786958374 (Mobile). **Paragliding Events:** Yelagiri hosts paragliding festivals, attracting pilots from around the world. The local community is very enthusiastic about paragliding, and the area has become a hotspot for the sport in India. **How to Get to Yelagiri:** **By Road:** - From Chennai: Take NH 4 towards Bangalore, switch to NH 46 before Vellore, and head towards Vaniyambadi. Look for signs to Yelagiri. Approx. 204 km. - From Bangalore: Take NH 7 towards Krishnagiri, then NH 46 towards Chennai, and look for signs to Yelagiri. Approx. 126 km. - From Salem: Take NH 7 to Dharmapuri, continue towards Chennai, and look for signs to Yelagiri after Krishnagiri toll gate. Approx. 161 km. **By Rail:** Take a train to Jolarpettai, an important junction in South India, and then a local bus or taxi for a 45-minute ride to Attanavoor, the main town in Yelagiri. **By Air:** The nearest airports are in Chennai and Bangalore. From there, continue by train or car as mentioned above.