Coimbatore

Coimbatore is the Textile Capital of South India. Situated near Western Ghats, it one of the most industrialized cities Kerala and has a rich black soil, wonderful for the growth of cotton. It is this yield that gave birth to the agricultural industry flourishing today and the famous textile industry of the city. The first textile mills were set up here in 1888 and today, they have multiplied to over 100 of the most renowned mills here and contribute greatly to the prosperity of the city. Yet, Coimbatore has managed to maintain a pollution free environment and has earned the title of 'Manchester Of The South'.

The ancient manuscripts state that the Irula tribal chief Kovan and his clan founded Coimbatore as the viilage of 'Kovanthupur'. Till then, forests covered the area. The city has a pleasant climate all the year round and especially; the fresh cool breeze of the 25-km stretch of Palakkad gap breathes new life in the visitors. Coimbatore serves as an important entry and exit point to Kerala from its neighboring state and Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam. One can enjoy the ride of the Mountain train that runs from Mettupalayam, 35 km from Coimbatore and visit its famous educational institutions such as the Coimbatore Agricultural University, one of the best colleges of its kind in South Asia.

Coimbatore's Prime Attractions

Thiruppur: 50 km from Coimbatore, the textile market of Thiruppur is famous for hosiery products. The place is known as the birthplace of 'Thiruppur Kumaran', one of the most renowned freedom fighters.

V O C Park: Named after V. O. Chidambaram, this children's park features a mini Zoo, models of prehistoric dinosaurs, toy train and amusement park.

Thirumoorthy Temple: Situated at the foothills of Thirumoorthy Hills, the temple near the Thirumoorthy Dam is quite popular. Dedicated to Sri Amalingeswarar temple, it has a waterfall nearby too make its scenery even more picturesque. One can also visit the Crocodile Farm, 25 km from here, at Amaravati Dam.

Perur Patteeswaraswamy Temple: Perur Patteeswaraswamy temple, 7 km from Coimbatore, is one of the most popular temples here and houses giant statues. Its has been mentioned by Arunagiri Nather and Kachiappa Munivar, the famous poets, in their works.

Khadi Gandhi Gallery: Set up on 15th July 1970, it has a picture gallery on Gandhiji capturing his life right from his birth to his death and including rare photographs such as 'Journey through Harijan Life', 'Family', 'Friends', 'Independence Struggle', 'Jail Life' and 'Peace Talks'.

Forest College Museum: One of the oldest of its kind in the country, the Forest College museum exhibits fossils and dead specimens of plants and animals, even the rare ones. You can also get counseling regarding plant husbandry here.

Coimbatore City Facts

Location: Situated in Tamil Nadu, India.

Climate: The pleasant tropical climate with mild and warm sunny days characterizes Coimbatore throughout the year.

How to Reach:

By Air: Peelamedu airport is just 10 km from Coimbatore and has regular flights to and from Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi and Madurai.

By Train: A major railway junction of Southern Railways, Coimbatore has regular trains to and from Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kochi, Rameswaram, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kozhikode, Mettupalayam and Mumbai.

By Road: Smooth roads connect Coimbatore to all the major cities of South India.