Coimbatore
About the city
Coimbatore or Kovai (in Tamil) city is the third largest city in Tamil Nadu. It is rightly called 'Manchester of South India'. Due to the salubrious climate, the city is known as poor man's Ooty. Coimbatore is also known for the manufacture of motor pumb sets and varied engineering goods and its handloom products. A large number of technical institutions in Coimbatore cater to the growing technical needs of the region.The Manchester of the South'
Coimbatore is one of the most industrialised cities in the state. Popularly known as "The Textile Capital of South India" or ‘The Manchester of the south', the city is situated on the banks of the river, Noyyal. Located in the shadow of the Western Ghats, Coimbatore enjoys a very pleasant climate, the year round, aided by the fresh breeze that flows in through the 25-km long, Palakkad gap.
There are more than a hundred textile mills in and around Coimbatore apart from a number of other manufacturing units, which produce engineering equipment and electronic items.
Siruvani Dam in Coimbatore,Coimbatore, Coimbatore city, Coimbatore Tourism, History of Coimbatore, Visit Coimbatore, Coimbatore tour, Coimbatore Hotels Coimbatore lies at the foot of the quaint Nilgiri Hills. Its vicinity to the Nilgiri hills gives Coimbatore a pleasant climate that is much cooler than the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu. Travellers visiting the Nilgiri hills from the south use Coimbatore as their base.
Coimbatore is a part of the Coimbatore circuit covering places like Coimbatore, Mettupalayam and Ooty. While at Coimbatore you can visit the Botanical Garden, the Agricultural College Museum and the VOC (V.O Chidambram) Park. You can also purchase textiles and readymade garments in Coimbatore, as it is an important textile-manufacturing centre in India.
Abour 96 km from Chennai, this is the state's commercial capital with a thriving textile and engineering industry. This is the base for visiting the Nilgri hill statons. The Perur Temple on the Noyyal River and the Muruga Maruthamalai Temple atop a hill are visited by thousands of devotees during temple festivals.
The places around Coimbatore also make interesting tourist destinations. The serene natural surroundings, picturesque locales and the diverse fauna enchant all those who move out of Coimbatore for excursions. Siruvani Waterfalls is a panoramic site located 37 km to the west of Coimbatore. The Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (90 km) is home to different kind of animals and birds like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther, sloth bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel, jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo, re-whiskered bulbul, black-headed oriole, tree pie, spotted dove, and green pigeon. The Thirumoorthy Temple is situated at the foot of Thirumoorthy Hills adjoining the Thirumoorthy Dam. Bhavani is known for the Sangameshwarar Temple situated at the confluence of the Bhavani and Cauvery rivers.
The third largest city of the state, Coimbatore, the headquarters of a district of the same name, is one of the most industrialised cities in Tamil Nadu. Known as the textile capital of South India or the Manchester of the South, the city is situated on the banks of the river Noyyal. Coimbatore existed even prior to the 2nd century AD as a small tribal village capital called Kongunad until it was brought under Chola control in the 2nd or 3rd century AD by Karikalan, the first of the early Cholas. Among its other great rulers were the Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Pandyas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara kings. When Kongunad fell to the British along with the rest of the state, its name was changed to Coimbatore and it is by this name that it is known today, except in Tamil, in which it is called Kovai.
Located in the shadow of the Western ghats, Coimbatore enjoys a very pleasant climate the year round, aided by the fresh breeze that flows in through the 25 kms long Palakkad gap. The rich black soil of the region has contributed to Coimbatore's flourishing agriculture industry and, it is in fact that successful growth of cotton growing that served as a foundation for the establishment of its famous textile industry. The first textile mills came up as far back as 1888 but there are now over a hundred mills. The result has been a strong economy and a reputation as one of the greatest industrial cities in South India.
Coimbatore serves as an entry and exit point to neighbouring Kerala and the ever popular hill station of Udagamandalam(Ooty). It is the disembarking point for those who want to take the Mountain train that runs from Mettupalayam, just 35 kms from Coimbatore. There are also regular bus services from Coimbatore to Ooty.