Coimbatore is a major industrial city in Tamil Nadu, often likened to being the Manchester or Detroit of Southern India. It's famous for the manufacture of motor pump sets and varied engineering goods.
Coimbatore is known for its various industries, engineering goods, textile mills, educational institutions, health care facilities, dry-hot weather, friendly culture and hospitality.
There is a significant minority of people from Northern and Western India in Coimbatore which gives it the local Indian-cosmopolitan outlook.
The Tamil spoken here is called Kongu Tamil. Other languages spoken include English, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. Very friendly & courteous people in South India. During Summer (Feb-May) it is very hot, the rest of the year has a manageable hot climate throughout the year.
It's one of the upcoming Information Technology Hub with new initiatives from the State Govt. The locals claim they have the world's second tastiest water - Siruvani Water - after Nile, no official or scientific proof for this claim though. Coimbatore is an orthodox city.
It has developed in terms of wealth, however the general populace is still down to earth. People here don't have a flashy lifestyle, they are generally very content. Most of all the Coimbatoreans are known for the respect displayed in Tamil language towards everyone.
A major hub for manufacturing, education and healthcare in Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore is among the fastest growing tier-II cities in India. It is also the 93rd fastest growing city in the world.
It houses more than 25,000 small, medium and large industries with the primary industries being engineering and textiles. Coimbatore is called the Manchester of South India due to its extensive textile industry, fed by the surrounding cotton fields.
TIDEL Park Coimbatore in ELCOT SEZ was the first special economic zone (SEZ) set up in 2006. In 2010, Coimbatore ranked 15th in the list of most competitive by business environment among Indian cities.
Coimbatore also has a 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2) trade fair ground, built in 1999 and is owned by CODISSIA.
Coimbatore region experienced a textile boom in the 1920s and 1930s. Though, Robert Stanes had established Coimbatore's first textile mills as early as the late 19th century, it was during this period that Coimbatore emerged as a prominent industrial centre.
In 2009 Coimbatore was home to around 15% of the cotton spinning capacity in India. Coimbatore has trade associations such as CODISSIA, COINDIA and COJEWEL representing the industries in the city.
Coimbatore houses a number of textile mills and is the base of textile research institutes like the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International School of Textiles & Management, Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) and the South India Textile Research Institute (SITRA). Kovai Cora Cotton saree is a recognised Geographical Indication.
Coimbatore is the second largest producer of software in the state, next to capital Chennai. TIDEL Park Coimbatore and other Information technology parks in the city has aided in the growth of IT and Business process outsourcing industries in the city.
It is ranked at 17th among the top global outsourcing cities by Tholons. Software exports stood at 7.1 billion (US$100 million) for the financial year 2009–10 up 90% from the previous year. Coimbatore has a large and diversified manufacturing sector and a number of engineering colleges producing about 50,000 engineers annually.
Coimbatore is a major centre for the manufacture of automotive components in India with car manufacturers Maruti Udyog and Tata Motors sourcing up to 30%, of their automotive components from the city. G.D. Naidu developed India's first indigenous motor in 1937.
India's first indigenously developed diesel engine for cars was manufactured in the city in 1972. The city is also a major centre for small auto component makers catering to the automobile industry, from personal to commercial and farm vehicles.
The city contributes to about 75% of the 1 lakh total monthly output of wet grinders in India. The industry employs 70,000 people and had a yearly turnover of US$410 million in 2015. The term "Coimbatore Wet Grinder" has been given a Geographical indication.
Coimbatore is also referred to as - the Pump City - as it supplies nearly 50% of India's requirements of motors and pumps. The city is one of the largest exporters of jewellery renowned for diamond cutting, cast and machine made jewellery.
There are about 3,000 jewellery manufacturers employing over 40,000 goldsmiths.
Coimbatore has a large number of poultry farms and is a major producer of chicken eggs. The city contributes to nearly 95% of processed chicken meat exports.
Coimbatore has some of the country's oldest flour mills and these mills which cater to all the southern states, have a combined grinding capacity of more than 50,000 MT per month. The hospitality industry has seen a growth in the 21st century with new upscale hotels being set up.
Coimbatore is the largest non-metro city for e-commerce in South India.
Coimbatore also known as Kovai, is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the Noyyal River and surrounded by the Western Ghats. Coimbatore is the second largest city by population and Area in the state, after Chennai and the 16th largest urban agglomeration in India.
It is administered by the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation and is the administrative capital of Coimbatore district. It is one of the fastest growing tier-II cities in India and a major industrial hub in South India.
It is often referred to as the Manchester of South India due to its cotton production and textile industries. Coimbatore is also referred to as the Pump City and it supplies nearly half of India's requirements of motors and pumps.
The city is one of the largest exporters of jewellery, wet grinders, poultry and auto components; the Coimbatore Wet Grinder and the Kovai Cora Cotton are recognised as Geographical Indications by the Government of India. Coimbatore is also an hub for education.
Coimbatore was part of Kongu Nadu during the Sangam period between c. 1st and the 4th centuries CE and was ruled by the Cheras as it served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap, the principal trade route between the west coast and Tamil Nadu.
Coimbatore was located along the ancient trade route that extended from Muziris to Arikamedu in South India. The medieval Cholas conquered the Kongu Nadu in the 10th century CE.
The region was ruled by Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century followed by the Nayaks who introduced the Palayakkarar system under which Kongu Nadu region was divided into 24 Palayams.
In the later part of the 18th century, the Coimbatore region came under the Kingdom of Mysore and following the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Anglo-Mysore Wars, the British East India Company annexed Coimbatore to the Madras Presidency in 1799.
The Coimbatore region played a prominent role in the Second Poligar War (1801) when it was the area of operations of Dheeran Chinnamalai.
In 1804, Coimbatore was established as the capital of the newly formed Coimbatore district and in 1866 it was accorded municipality status with Robert Stanes as its chairman. November 24 is being observed as Coimbatore Day, say those familiar with the history of Coimbatore.
The city experienced a textile boom in the early 19th century due to the decline of the cotton industry in Mumbai. Post independence, Coimbatore has seen rapid growth due to industrialisation. Coimbatore was ranked the best emerging city in India by India Today in the 2014 annual Indian city survey.
The city was ranked fourth among Indian cities in investment climate by Confederation of Indian Industry and 17th among the top global outsourcing cities by Tholons.
Coimbatore has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission. Coimbatore was rated as the safest city in India for women according to National Crime Records Bureau report in 2015
Coimbatore lies at 11°1′6″N 76°58′21″E in south India at 411 metres (1349 ft) above sea level on the banks of the Noyyal River, in southwestern Tamil Nadu. It covers an area of 642.12 km2 (247.92 sq mi).
It is surrounded by the Western Ghats mountain range to the West and the North, with reserve forests of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve on the northern side. The Noyyal River forms the southern boundary of the city, which has an extensive tank system fed by the river and rainwater.
The eight major tanks and wetland areas of Coimbatore are namely, Singanallur, Valankulam, Ukkadam Periyakulam, Selvampathy, Narasampathi, Krishnampathi, Selvachinthamani, and Kumaraswami. Multiple streams drain the waste water from the city.
The city is divided into two distinctive geographic regions: the dry eastern side which includes majority of the urban area of the city and the western region which borders the Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Munnar ranges.
Palghat Gap, a mountain pass which connects the neighbouring state of Kerala to Tamil Nadu, lies to the west of the city. Because of its location in the biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats, it is rich in fauna and flora.
The Coimbatore urban wetlands harbours around 116 species of birds, of which 66 are resident, 17 are migratory and 33 are local migrants. The spot-billed pelican, painted stork, openbill stork, ibis, spot-billed duck, teal and black-winged stilt visit the Coimbatore wetlands on their migration.
Apart from the species common to the plains, various threatened and endangered species such as Indian elephants, wild boars, leopards, Bengal tigers, gaurs, Nilgiri tahr, sloth bear and black-headed oriole are found in the region.
The northern part of the city has a rich tropical evergreen forest with commercially significant trees such as teak, sandalwood, rosewood and bamboo. The soil is predominantly black, which is suitable for cotton cultivation, but some red loamy soil is also found.
According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, Coimbatore falls under the Class III/IV Seismic Zone, having experienced an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 on the Richter scale on February 8, 1900.
Coimbatore has a pleasant climate due to the presence of forests to the north and the cool winds blowing through the Palghat gap in the Western Ghats.
The city has a tropical wet and dry climate, with a wet season lasting from September to November due to the northeast monsoon. The mean maximum temperature ranges from 35.9 °C (97 °F) to 29.2 °C (85 °F) and the mean minimum temperature ranges from 24.5 °C (76 °F) to 19.8 °C (68 °F).
The highest temperature ever recorded is 40.4 °C (105 °F) on May 5, 1983 while the lowest is 9.7 °C (49 °F) on January 8, 1912.
Due to the south-west monsoon winds passing through the Palghat gap, elevated regions of the city receive rainfall in the months from June to August. After a warm and humid September, the north-east monsoon starts from October lasting until early November.
The average annual rainfall is around 700 mm (27.6 in) with the northeast and the southwest monsoons contributing to 47% and 28% respectively to the total rainfall.
This periodic rainfall does not satisfy the city's water requirements throughout the year and water supply schemes like Siruvani and Pilloor maintain its availability during low rainfall months.
The summer season starts in mid March to early April, with temperatures noticeably rising during late March. It is at its peak during April and May, and subsides during late May or the start of June as the Southwest Monsoon sets in.
The winter season emerges during late November, with the weather getting drier and colder. The peak of this season starts after the December Solstice and lasts up to mid-January, i.e, the festival of Pongal in Tamilnadu, elsewhere known as Makar Sankranti and other names.
Temperature lows drop below 15 degrees Celsius during this period. After this, temperatures gradually rise until late February before the day becomes considerably hotter with rises of nearly 3 degrees Celsius found during this period as summer sets in.
The population of the urban agglomeration as per 2011 census is 2,136,916 with males constituting 50.08% of the population and females 49.92%.
Coimbatore has an average literacy rate of 89.23%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. Male literacy is 93.17% and female literacy is 85.3% with 8.9% of the population under six years of age.
The sex ratio was 964 females per 1000 males. In 2005, the crime rate in the city was 265.9 per 100,000 people, accounting for 1.2% of all crimes reported in major cities in India. It ranked 21st among 35 major cities in India in the incidence of crimes.
In 2011, the population density in the city was 10,052 per km2 (26,035 per mi2). Around 8% of the city's population lives in slums.
Coimbatore and its people have a reputation for entrepreneurship. Though it is generally considered a traditional city, Coimbatore is diverse and cosmopolitan. The World Classical Tamil Conference 2010 was held in Coimbatore. The heavy industrialisation of the city has also resulted in the growth of trade unions.
Tamil is the official language and Kongu Tamil also called Kangee or Kongalam, a dialect, is predominantly spoken. Coimbatore also has a significant number of Kannadigas, Telugus, Malayalis and North Indians, mainly Gujaratis.
As per the 2001 census, the number of speakers by native language are as follows : Tamil (707,263) followed by Telugu (125,616), Malayalam (46,645) and Kannada (30,195).
During the 1970s the city witnessed a population explosion as a result of migration fuelled by increased economic growth and job opportunities.
The city's population is predominantly Hindu with minority Muslim and Christian population. Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists are also present in small numbers.
According to the religious census of 2011, Coimbatore has 83.31% Hindus, 8.63% Muslims, 7.53% Christians, 0.28% Jains, 0.05% Sikhs, 0.02% Buddhists and 0.01% Others. 0.17% of the respondents did not state their religion.
The Mariamman festivals at the city's numerous Mariamman temples are major events in summer. Major Hindu temples in the city include the Perur Patteeswarar Temple, Naga Sai Mandir, Koniamman Temple, Thandu Mariamman Temple, Eachanari Vinayagar Temple, Karamadai Ranganathaswamy Temple, Marudamalai Murugan Temple, Loga Nayaga Shaniswara Temple, Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar Temple, Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple and the 112-foot Adiyogi Shiva statue which is the world's tallest bust of Lord Shiva.
The mosques on Oppanakara Street and Big Bazaar Street date back to the 18th century CE. Christian missions date back to the 17th century when permission was granted by the Nayak rulers to set up churches in the region. Sikh Gurudwaras and Jain temples are also present in Coimbatore.
Coimbatore cuisine is predominantly south Indian with rice as its base. Most local restaurants still retain their rural flavor, with many restaurants serving food over a banana leaf.
Eating on a banana leaf is an old custom and imparts a unique flavor to the food and is considered healthy. North Indian, Chinese and continental cuisines are also available. Idly, dosa, paniyaram and appam are popular dishes.
Coimbatore has an active street food culture and various cuisine options for dining. Arisi Paruppu Sadam, made from a mixture of dal and rice is a recipe that existed from fourth century AD and unique to the area.
Kaalaan is a popular dish prepared by simmering deep fried mushrooms - usually chopped mushroom in a spicy broth, until it reaches a porridge like consistency and served sprinkled with chopped onions and coriander leaves.
Swamikannu Vincent, who had built the first cinema of south India in Coimbatore, introduced the concept of Tent Cinema in which a tent was erected on an open land to screen the films. Central Studios was set up in 1935 while S. M. Sriramulu Naidu established Pakshiraja Studios in 1945.
The city conducts its own music festival every year. Art, dance and music concerts are held annually during the months of September and December, Tamil calendar month – Margazhi.
Coimbatore also houses a number of museums and art galleries like G.D. Naidu Museum & Industrial Exhibition, H A Gass Forest Museum, Government Museum, Kadhi Gandhi Gallery and Kasthuri Srinivasan Art Gallery and Textile Museum.
The city is served by the Coimbatore International Airport at Peelamedu 15 km (9.3 mi) from the city centre. The airport commenced operations in 1940 as a civil aerodrome with Indian Airlines operating Fokker F27, Douglas DC-3 and later Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft.
The then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh declared the government's intention to upgrade the Coimbatore Airport to International status in a meeting with senior ministers on 6 June 2012 and it was granted the status of international airport by the Union Cabinet on 2 October 2012.
The airport is operated by Airports Authority of India and caters to domestic flights to major Indian cities and international flights to Sharjah, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
As of 2014-15, the airport was the 15th largest airport in India in terms of total aircraft movement, 18th largest in terms of passengers handled and 13th largest in terms of cargo handled.
It has a single runway, which is 9,760 feet (2,970 m) in length and is capable of handling large aircraft. Air Carnival, a private airline commenced its operations in 2016 with the Coimbatore International Airport as its hub.
Sulur Air Force Station, located at Kangayampalayam is an air base operated by the Indian Air Force and accommodates Antonov An-32 heavy air lifter aircraft, Mil Mi-8 transport helicopters and the HAL Dhruv helicopters of the Sarang helicopter display team.
The first squadron of ingeniously built HAL Tejas will be inducted at Sulur AFS and Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft will be stationed at the base by 2016.
Train service in Coimbatore started in 1861, upon the construction of the Podanur – Madras line connecting Kerala and the west coast with the rest of India.
Coimbatore lies on the Coimbatore - Shoranur broad gauge railway line and the city falls under the Salem division of the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways.
The major railway station is the Coimbatore Junction which is the second-largest income generating station in the Southern Railway zone after Chennai Central and is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railways.
Other major railway stations catering to the city include Coimbatore North Junction, Podanur Junction and minor stations at Peelamedu, Singanallur, Irugur Junction, Perianaikanpalayam, Madukkarai, Somanur and Sulur.
In 2012, Coimbatore Municipal Corporation proposed three rail routes. The first circular route was planned to connect Gandhipuram with Ganapathy, Sivananda Colony, Sai Baba colony, RS Puram, Townhall and City Railway Station.
The second circular route will connect Podanur with Trichy Road, Sungam, Redfields, Race Course, City Railway Station and Ukkadam. A linear line was proposed from Chinniampalayam to TNAU via airport, CODISSIA, PSG Tech, Lakshmi Mills, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore North Junction and Cowley Brown Road.
Vadavalli and Thondamuthur were included in the linear line as part of the phase extension. In 2017, the government of Tamil Nadu announced that feasibility study for the metro will be conducted by Chennai Metro Rail corporation and will be funded partly by Germany.
There are six major arterial roads in the city: Avinashi road, Trichy road, Sathy road, Mettupalayam road, Palakkad road and Pollachi road. Coimbatore bypass is a series of bypasses connecting the various national highways and state highways passing through and originating from Coimbatore.
The first section of the bypass, a 28-kilometre (17 mi) stretch from Neelambur to Madukkarai on National Highway 544 opened for traffic in 2000.It was the first road privatisation project to be implemented on a build–operate–transfer model in South India.
In 2008, the State Highways department came up with a proposal to create a Ring road to help de-congest the main arterial roads and the 12 km road would extend from Peelamedu to Mettupalayam road.
In 2011, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu announced the construction of two new flyovers at Ukkadam and Athupalam to help de-congest the Palakkad Road. In 2012, the Government of Tamil Nadu decided in favour of an eastern road that connected Mettupalayam Road with Avinashi Road and the existing bypass.
The city municipal corporation is undertaking the construction of six rail-over-bridges in the city. There are five National Highways passing through the city:
Apart from State and National Highways, the city corporation maintains a 635.32 kilometres (394.77 miles) long road network.
Town buses started operating in 1921 and serve most parts of the city, as well as other towns and villages in the district. The number of inter-city routes operated by Coimbatore division is 119 with a fleet of more than 500 buses. It also operates town buses on 257 intra-city routes.
The intra-city buses operate from major bus stations in Gandhipuram Central Bus Terminus, Singanallur Bus Terminus, Ukkadam Bus Terminus and Saibaba Colony Bus Terminus to other parts across the city. From Coimbatore to salem has most number of buses are operated.
Inter-city and intra-city buses that connect Coimbatore operate from different bus stands
From Coimbatore to salem has most number of buses are operated. Coimbatore BRTS is a proposed bus rapid transit project under the JNNURM scheme of the Government of India. It is planned along a 27.6 kilometres (17.1 mi) stretch connecting Avinashi road and Mettupalayam road.
The city is also served by auto rickshaws and radio taxi services. Coimbatore has four Regional Transport Offices viz. TN 37 (South), TN 38 (North), TN 66 (Central), TN 99 (West).
Coimbatore is often referred to as the India's motorsports hub and the Backyard of Indian Motorsports. S.Karivardhan designed and built entry level race cars and the Kari Motor Speedway, a Formula 3 Category circuit is named after him.
Tyre manufacturer MRF assembles Formula Ford cars in Coimbatore in association with former F3 Champion J. Anand and racing company Super Speeds designs Formula cars. Rallying is another major event with rallies conducted in closed roads around Coimbatore.
Narain Karthikeyan, India's first Formula One driver hails from the city and other motorsport drivers from Coimbatore include J. Anand and V. R. Naren Kumar.
Nehru Stadium, built originally for football also hosts athletic meets. The stadium has been renovated with Korean grass for the field and a synthetic track around it for athletics.
Apart from the stadium, other sporting venues include the Coimbatore Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course and Coimbatore Cosmopolitan Club, which is more than 100 years old. Coimbatore Flying Club is located in the Coimbatore airport premises.
The city hosts its own annual marathon called Coimbatore Marathon as an event to raise cancer awareness. Retired tennis player Nirupama Vaidyanathan, who became the first Indian woman in the modern era to feature and win a round at a main draw Grand Slam in 1998 Australian Open hails from Coimbatore.
Coimbatore District Chess Association (CDCA), established in 1940 is the oldest chess association in the country.
There are several amusement parks around the city, namely: Black Thunder water theme park near Mettupalayam, Kovai Kondattam amusement park at Perur and Maharaja Theme Park at Nillambur.
Monkey Falls
Since the 1980s, the city has had a few small shopping complexes and major shopping malls include Prozone Mall, Brookefields Mall and Fun Republic Mall. The city also has a number of parks including the VOC park, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University park, Race Course Children's park and Bharathi park in Saibaba Colony.
Coimbatore Zoo houses a number of animals and birds and is located near VOC park. The grounds are used for conducting fairs and events including the annual Independence day and Republic day celebrations. Singanallur Lake is a popular tourist place and bird watcher destination.
Popular cinemas include KG Cinemas, The Cinema by SPI Cinemas, Cinepolis and INOX.
Air pollution, lack of proper waste management infrastructure and degradation of water bodies are the major environmental issues in Coimbatore. There is a sewage treatment plant at Ukkadam with the capacity to process 70 million litres of sewage water per day.
Garbage is collected by the corporation and sewage is pumped into the water tanks and the Noyyal river through streams. This along with garbage dumping and encroachments has led to degradation of the water bodies and depletion in the groundwater table.
The tanks are renovated by the city's environmental groups with their own fund-raising and the corporation. The corporation is responsible and involved in clearing encroachment of the tanks.
Siruthuli, an environmental organisation founded by the city's industrial houses, undertakes de-silting of tanks and cleaning of the Noyyal river. Environment Conservation Group based out of the city is also involved in conservation of trees and wetlands, monitoring wildlife crime and conducting awareness sessions for students.
Coimbatore has sister city relationship with Toledo, Ohio. The relation has enabled exchange in the fields of arts and education between the cities.
A twin city pact with the German city of Esslingen was signed in July 2016 with the relation enabling the cities to collaborate on areas of mutual interest, health, education, culture and social development
Tamil is the mother tongue of the natives. Picking up few words in Tamil would be helpful though many locals have a business knowledge of English. Telugu, Kannada, Urdu and Malayalam would qualify as the other languages. English is also widely spoken by many.
The city has six major arterial roads and three National Highways, NH-47 (Kanyakumari-Salem), NH-67 (Nagapattinam-Ooty) and NH-209 (Bangalore-Dindigul) passing through the city. The city has a civil airport at Peelamedu and an Airforce base at Sulur.
Broad Gauge trains connect to all parts of India. A by-pass tollway was built recently to avoid unnecessary traffic into the city.
Coimbatore Airport is approximately 7 kilometers from the center of the city, connections are mainly done with airport's own prepaid cabs. The airport currently has two operational terminals one for departure and one for arrival.
Coimbatore airport has regular flights from many Indian cities, and Flydubai has also started its operations from September 2009. Air Asia and Malindo Air has also expressed interest in introducing flights between Coimbatore and Kuala Lumpur.
Flights to Sharjah and Singapore is operational currently. Sharjah by Air Arabia, Singapore by Silk Air.
Domestic Flights
Air Costa
Bangalore, Hyderabad, Tirupati & Vijayawada
Air India
Calicut, Delhi & Mumbai
Jet Airways
Bangalore, Chennai & Mumbai
IndiGo
Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata & Mumbai
Spice Jet
Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad & Mumbai
International Flights:
AirArabia
Sharjah
SilkAir
Singapore
Coimbatore Junction is well connected by trains from all major cities including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Cochin, Chennai, Gorakhpur, Hyderabad, Kanyakumari,Tirunelveli, Jammu, Mumbai, New Delhi and Trivandrum.
- Other nearby train stations include Podanur Junction and Coimbatore North Junction.
- Southern Railway
- Indian Railway reservations
- Southern Railway
The State Transport Corporation and a lot of private buses operate from Coimbatore to major cities in Tamil Nadu like Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli and neighboring Kerala and Karnataka states.
There are lot of private cab services company which operate from Coimbatore to major cities in Tamil Nadu like Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli and neighboring Kerala and Karnataka states.
Getting around Coimbatore is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and plenty of taxis available. Auto rickshaws can charge whatever they feel like, if they find that you are an outsider. Call taxis have a digital meter installed which will tell you the cost.
Dial any fancy number to get in touch with Call taxis. Minimum charge is Rs. 40/- .and 16/12 per KM for different operators There are many call taxi operators and you can get a number from your hotel, the railway station or airport.There are also several tour operators in Coimbatore who offer day return tours to ooty,isha etc.
Temples To Visit In Coimbatore:
- Anjeneyar Kovil:, Esso Bunk, Peelamedu. This Temple was recently constructed in one of the calmest localities.Offers great peace of mind and is open in the morning till 12.00PM and opens again from 5.00PM for public. Dont miss various alangaarams done for the God.
- Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple at the Isha Yoga Centre.
- Eachanaari Vinayaga Temple in Pollachi road.
- Marudhamalai Hill Temple, Anubhavi Subramniar temple which has a natural spring that spurts water throughout the year.
- Perur Pateeshwarar Temple a siva temple which is more than 1000 years old with wonderful sculptures.
- Asia's biggest statue of Lord Ganesha temple in Puliakulam.
- Velliengiri hills and temple is a famous temple with a long lasting history, which is also known south Kailash.
- Other temples are Ayappan Pooja Sangam in Ramnagar and Ayyappan temple in New Siddhapudur, Sringeri Saradha Koil, Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Saibaba colony, Koniamman temple and Ramar temple in Ramnagar near Gandhipuram bus stand.
- Isha Yoga Center's SHIVA TEMPLE - Worth visiting -20 km from city. The famous Palani temple devoted to Lord Muruga is 100 km from Coimbatore.
- Anubhavi Subramaniar Temple:, Chinna Thadagam. This temple has a natural outflow, which spouts water all through the year. For this reason, the temple is quite popularly known and people never fail to make their visit. There must be 100s of steps to get to the temple, and no mechanical help available.
This place is frequented by elephants and hence do not plan to visit the temple during evening hours. Don't forget to visit the Lalithambikai temple situated at its foothills.
- Marudhamalai Murugan Temple, Arulmigu Subramaniyaswamy Thirukoil. A huge temple complex, at least 1200 years old, located on a picturesque hill, you should not miss it.
Also you can go to Then Thiruppathi a nice place to visit with family which is located near mettupalayam.
More Attractions To Visit:
- Athar Jamaat Masjid, (Located in Big bazaar street). A famous 100 years old Masjid
G.D.Naidu Car Museum, #734 President Hall, Avinashi Road, Coimbatore - Located on Avinashi Road. Tuesday - Saturday - 9.00am to 5.00pm / Sunday - 10.00am to 6.00pm / Monday and Public Holiday - Closed.
A must visit for all science history enthusiasts. Interesting collection of inventions by G.D.Naidu who is also referred as Edison of India. Interesting science experiments. One can also see the history of Industrialisation in Coimbatore.
Also on display an old motor bike which G.D.Naidu learned to assemble from an British officer after which he interested in engineering. A Germany Gift shop is attached with the museum where one can buy interesting Toys from Germany. Children will enjoy a lot. Entrance free.
Kovai kutraalam, Located. 10.00am to 3.30pm. It is a scenic spot with a waterfall originating on the Siruvani hill ranges.
There are three good water theme parks Black Thunder Near Ooty foot hills Kovai Kondattam enroute to Siruvani Dam and Maharaja Water Theme Park near Neelambur, Avinashi Road. The entry fees are 300 to 350 for adults , while children get a discount of Rs 50-100 per head.
Shopping in Coimbatore is concentrated in the areas of RS Puram, Cross-Cut Road and the Town Hall Area Oppanakara St, Big Bazaar St, Raja St.Coimbatore,known as the Manchester of South India,is famous for textiles.
Visitors to Coimbatore must not miss the dazzling array of shops selling Kanchivaram, Benares and designer sarees at Cross-Cut Road. Coimbatore is also known for its numerous jewelry stores situated along Cross-Cut Road and Town Hall Area.
Leading global brands like Lee,Arrow,United Colors of Benetton, Levi’s Reebok, Adidas, Puma, Crocodile etc.,have retail outlets in D.B.Road. There are several huge textile showrooms in the city. RmKV,Pothys,The Chennai Silks, Shree Devi Textiles,Sri Ganapathy silks,Kalyan Sarees, Kalanikethan, Srinikethan etc.,that sell ethnic wear, catering to the needs of the entire family.
Sri Krishna Sweets, that specializes in Indian sweets,is famous for its Mysurpa, a sweet made from lentil flour and ghee.
BrookeFields in Brooke Bond road is a famous shopping mall which is equivalent to the malls in Bangalore, Dubai, etc..The mall Fun Republic adds more color to Coimbatore Shopping. You can get all Branded dress materials, Electronics, Duty Paid shops, etc..
ATMs are available in most parts of the city with most concentrated in the commercial areas like R.S.Puram,Trichy Road and Avanashi Road.
Nilgiris is South India’s leading chain of retail stores providing consumers a shopping experience that hinges around freshness of produce, superior quality and better value. They have an outlet in R.S. Puram and another at Trichy Road.
They stock most of the up-market food items like frozen and tinned foods, offering a wide range of grocery, general merchandise and personal care products.
They also stock gourmet cheeses like Gouda, Colby, Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Havarti, Feta, Haloumi and Camembert made by Acres Wild Cheesemaking Farm which is located in Coonoor.
When you vist Coimbatore don't forget to taste the Food & Siruvani Water. Coimbatore is an ideal stop if you want to take some rest while on the way to Ooty, Bangalore or Kerala.
Don't forget to taste the best of South Indian Idlis, Dosas, Vada, Chutney and Vegetarian rice meal from the Annapoorna Chain of Veg Restaurants, Aaryaas Veg Restaurant and Non-vegetarian food from Kovai Biriyani Hotel, Angannan's, Anjappar, Sampoorna, Rayappas and Thalappas restaurants.
Try Krishna Sweets too, the sweets chain had their origins in this town. The strong influence of the west has prevailed and resulted in numerous coffee pubs and fast food outlets.
Chains like Subway,Domino's pizza,Pizza Hut,Baskin Robbins Ice cream,Marry Brown,Barista,Cafe Coffee Day,Boomerang etc., have made their presence felt among the city's elite and emerging middle class.
You can also try local online food apps such as foodkourt for the local cuisine and its delivered at your door step.
Hari Bavan, RTO Road & Gandhipuram 4th Street & SO Bunk, Peelamedu. Serves excellent non-veg varieties. the lunch with 4 types of gravy fish, mutton,chicken and Nattu Kolli gravy is famous. Dont forget to taste their karandi (omlet) and their side dish. Available only for lunch.
Ajmir, Near TownHall ManiKundu. Serves excellent mutton(Beaf) and chicken Dont forget to taste their mutta poriyal and chicken fry thats great. Not only for beef lovers for chicken lovers also this is a place to be.Great 250.
The Village, Near Gem Hospital or archana darchana theater GandhiPark, go via senthil hospital in gandhi park. only in evening and night. Serves a wide variety of dosas and sevai like chola, kambu, tomato, ragi, cauliflower, mushroom, babycorn, paneer dosai and seva.
Don't forget to order their muttai chappathi. It's delicious. 250 for 2.
Paati Amma Dosai Kadai, Near Gem Hospital or archana darchana theater GandhiPark go via senthil hospital in gandhi park. only in evening and night. Serves a wide variety of dosas and sevai like chola,kambu,tomato,ragi,cauliflower, mushroom,babycorn, panner dosai and seva.
Don't forget to order butter appam yummy .The place was so small but the taste was the best. 250 for 2.
Burma Bai Barotta Kadai, Nehru staduim Near Boomerang Ice cream. Only in the evening. Serves excellent non-veg varieties. their speciality is barotta that can be made crispy or softy depending upon the user wish.
Dont forget to order their pepper chicken and tomato chicken - This restaurant is closed now and a new restaurant named Madurai Amma Mess is functioning at this place. Not sure if this is the same famous Madurai Amma Mess or a local restaurant using the same name.
By the way, never felt Burma Bai Restaurant deserved to be given a thumbs-up though. The rates were too high and food quality very poor. No surprise that they have closed down 350 for two.
- China town, Nehru staduim in the road between the park gate. Only in the evening. Serves excellent chinese items like chilly pork, dragon chicken, and their lumpfu soup price 400 for two.
- Four season, Non sakthi highway at karattumedu. Only in the evening till 12 in night. Serves excellent veg and non veg items even u can geta beer there nice place for party guys. Dont forget to eat their kerala chicken, kudal. price 300 for two.
- Hotel Blue Berry (I), Opposite VLB Arts College, Kovaipudur. 8 AM to 10 PM. Specialist in Biriyani (Mutton, Chicken and Fish). Serves excellent varities of Non Veg curries. Takes function orders and entertains home deliveries. You will be addicted to their Chettinad and Chengudu Chicken. Price 200 for Two.
- Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has opened an outlet in R.S.Puram, Coimbatore - Seems to be a big hit amongst the locals here. Always crowded. Difficult to get in on the weekends. It has opened its other branches at Brooke Fields Mall and Avinashi Road also.
One can feel McDonald's (MAC) has opened a outlet in Fun Mall in Avinashi Road on August 13th. after seeing the response to KFC here in Coimbatore.
- Brookfields plaza, Brookbond road, R.S.Puram. has everything from dresses like Rmkv, lifestyle,Pantaloons,reliance Trends, Max to food like KFC, Subway, Baskin Robbins, etc.
- Dhabas. Dhabas are very famous in coimbatore, you can have a good variety of foods with the facility of attached bars. there are many dhabas in coimbatore. There was a dhaba near maharaja world and one near ramani's mayuri, chinnavedampatti.
These places were so peaceful and a good place for boys to have treats. Most of the bar have individual huts where it accommodates around 10 members. Its a best hangout place at nights.
- Seasons, under SKC, R S Puram. It is a place where you get good, healthy vegetarian stuff very cheaply. The good items here are corn and spinach sandwich and all fruit juices. It's usually crowded. The ice creams are so nice.
Sri Aishwarya Cars (Used Car Dealer), 280, Avinashi Main Road, Peelamedu, Coimbatore 641004. Near Varadharaja Mills. 09.00am-8.30pm. Dealing used cars in and around Coimbatore, and also provide Ads to sell cars for Free of cost with your Contact details.
You can get quality Pre Owned Cars for Best Price than any other Places in Coimbatore. Before Buy or Sell your Cars just Visit once to Sri Aishwarya cars, Coimbatore.
Artful Home, T10, Fun Republic Mall, Peelamedu. 10 am - 10 pm. Our home decor item includes wooden Ganesha , wooden handicrafts, ceramic products, warli art, rajasthani collections, wooden products, ceramic bowls and clocks. Rs.50 - Rs.5000.
The Siruvani water supplied in Coimbatore is said to be one of the tastiest waters in the world, in fact the second tastiest. Don't you ever resort to buying mineral water bottles when in Coimbatore. If so, you are going to miss something really good.
All liquor stores and Bars will be closed around 10P.M. So you need to plan early if you are partying. Coimbatore is not a party town, So you cannot find many Pubs or clubs in the City. Bars in upscale hotels in the city are always an option. Bike & Barrel at The Residency tends to be a popular choice
There are a lot of budget hotels near the railway station and bus stand with single room between 150-350/day.
- Hotel City Tower, 56 Sivasamy Road, ☎ 0422 2230641, [4]. standard A/C double room Rs.1250/- deluxe A/C double Rs.1500/.
- Dunag Springs Service Apartments (Dunag Springs), 12/24 Dunag Springs, Padmanabha Nagar, Civil Aerodrome, SITRA, Coimbatore - 200 Mtrs from Coimbatore Airport.
Dunag Springs Service Apartment , Coimbatore's Largest & Luxurious Hotel Apartment having 29 furnished apartments spread over 3 Locations at Airport, Nehru Nagar, Ramanathapuram in town on daily rental. Wifi enabled 25 Seater A/C Conference Hall & Gym Facility Available with In House Pantry Services. 1250 onwards.
- Kanimani lodge, 427, 100 Feet Road Gandhipuram Coimbatore opposite to karpagam complex. one of the best and cheapest lodge located near bus stand. well maintained and good service. located opposite to karpagam complex.just five minutes walk to cross cut road.
- Guestlines Service Apartments, Sivaram Nagar, Sungam bye pass road,Coimbatore. Guestlines Service Apartments has 15 fully furnished rooms with free wifi & gym. Guestlines is just about 1.5km from the coimbatore railway station.
- Hotel Prince Gardens, 28, Kalingarayan Street, Ramnagar, Gandhipuram, Coimbatore. Business Class Hotels Coimbatore: Book affordable rooms in Coimbatore at hotel Prince Gardens.
- Hotel Srri Aswini Deluxe, 6&7,Kalingarayan Street ,Ramnagar, Coimbatore.
- M,K, Residency (M.K. Homes India Ltd), 145,Gokhale St, Ram Nagar,Coimbatore-641 009 Near Senthil Kumaran Cinema Theatre. The M.K Residency operates similar to serviced apartment.
- Hive Service Apartments, 71-72, Hindustan Avenue, Udayampalayam Rd, Near Hindustan Arts College, Navaindia, Avinashi Rd, Coimbatore – 641028, Tamilnadu, INDIA. The apartments are enclosed in quiet environs with a subtle ambiance and an air of comfort and convenience.
Churches in Coimbatore are Infant Jesus Church in Kovaipudur, where devotees throng on Thursdays for attending the Noveena.St.Antony's Church in Puliakulam, where many devotees offered their prayers on every Tuesday, CSI Immanuel, Intouch Fellowship at the YWCA Hall.
Other places of worship include Kottai Hidayathul Islam Safia Jamath Mosque in Kottaimedu
Watch out for pickpockets at Ukkadam, Townhall,and Gandhipuram bus stands. While travelling on bus, keep your valuables safe. The police code is 100.
Coimbatore is surrounded by hill ranges and hence several picnic spots for one-day drive and back exist around Coimbatore.
Some of them are: Kovai Kutrallam water falls(45 km), Monkey falls(75 km), Athikadavu stream(40km), Kallar river banks(55 km), Topslip town(90 km), Malampuzha dam(60 km),Thirumurthy waterfalls(90 km), Dhyanalinga Yogic temple & Isha Yoga centre(35 km), Vellingiri hill temple(37 km), Marudhamali Hill Temple(20 km), Vydehi Water falls(35 km), Bhavani Sagar(55km), Kodiveri(75 km) etc.
Most of them are not very well known to outsiders and if you go on a working day , the tranquility would be an added advantage. And most of these roads are good, compared to Indian standards.
More good places to visit:
- See the tea plantations at Ooty or Munnar
- Topslip
- Waterfalls include Monkey falls on the way to Vaalpaarai hills, Kovai Kutralam near Siruvani. There are a few others on the way to Vaalpaarai and Ooty hills, and the Thirumoorthi falls near Udumalpet(65 Km).
- Hill stations are Ooty (80 km), Valparai near Pollachi having no of sight seeing and picnic spots, Kodaikanal (180 km).
- Sanctuaries are Mudumalai Wild Life Sanctuary(150 km), Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary(100 km), Top Slip.
- Crocodile Park in Amaravathi is near Udumalpet (65 km).
- Botanical Garden which is situated opposite to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, which is situated on the way to Marudhamalai temple.
- Silent Valley national park inside kerala is just one hour drive from coimbatore.
Tourism Observer
