Coimbatore

Coimbatore

Coimbatore also known as Kovai, a major city of Tamil Nadu is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in the state and the sixteenth largest urban agglomeration in India.

Coimbatore- Manchester of South India

It is one of the best ever growing tier-II cities in India and a major textile, industrial, commercial, educational, IT, healthcare and manufacturing hub of Tamil Nadu.

It is also referred to as “the Pump City” as it supplies two thirds of India’s requirements of motors and pumps.

The city is one of the largest exporters of jewellery, wet grinders, poultry and auto components and the term “Coimbatore Wet Grinder” has been given a Geographical indication.

The city is located on the banks of River Noyyal bounded by the Western Ghats.

Coimbatore was actually the capital city of the historical Kongu Nadu which was ruled by the Cheras as it has been served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap, the principal trade route between the west coast and Tamil Nadu.

Coimbatore was in the middle of the Roman trade route that extended from Muziris to Arikamedu in South India.

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.

It has been ranked the best emerging city in India by India Today in its annual Indian city survey conducted in the year 2014. The city has also been ranked 4th among Indian cities in investment climate by CII and ranked 17th among the top global outsourcing cities by Tholons.

Let’s have a bird view of its nearby attractions.

• Dhyanalinga Temple:

It’s a Yogic temple in Coimbatore, consecrated by a yogi and mystic named Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev using prana prathista and is devoted for meditation.

According to Sanskrit language, Dhyana means meditation and linga means form. The owners of the temple claimed that Dhyanalinga Temple is an example for powerful and unique energy form created from the distilled essence of yogic sciences and the first of its kind to be completed in over 2,000 years.

The Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple offers a meditative space that does not ascribe to any particular faith or belief system.

• Subramaniyaswami Temple, Marudamalai:

A popular hill temple dedicated to Hindu god Murugan, situated in near Coimbatore. Like most Murugan temples, the temple is situated upon a hillock, part of the Western Ghats.

Near the foothill, there is a temple for Pillayar known as the “Thaan thondri Vinaayakar” and a cave referred to as “Paambaatti Sitthar Kugai” dedicated to a Sitthar who lived here.

• The Velliangiri Mountains:

It’s a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, known as the “Thenkailayam – Kailash of the South”.

These mountains are assumed and considered sacred like Mount Kailash, the legendary abode of Shiva, religiously most powerful place on the planet. On the top of the Velliangiri Mountains, Shiva is worshipped as Swayambhu.

• Brookefields:

A shopping mall located on Brooke Bond Road in Coimbatore. It was inaugurated in the year 2008. The mall has several outlets for major clothing for all and apparel brands.  It also houses a six screen multiplex cinema theatre complex, and a food court serving multi-cuisine dishes.

• Kovai Kutralam:

A scenic spot having the presence of tender waterfalls originated from the Siruvani hill ranges.

It is located on the mountain ranges of Western Ghats that lies to the west of this city. The Siruvani Dam which is just above the water falls is under the control of forest department.

• Azhiyar Reservoir

A reservoir in Coimbatore District, where the dam is located in the foothills of Valparai, in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats.

The dam offers supreme getaways for entertaining visitors which includes a park, garden, aquarium, play area, boating and a mini Theme-Park maintained by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Corporation.

The backdrop is beautiful, with mountains surrounding the three fourth of the reservoir.

• Monkey Falls:

The Natural waterfalls located in the Anaimalai Hills range, in Coimbatore district.

The Monkey falls is an excellent roadside stop and one can spot it from the road connecting Pollachi and Valparai.; As it is a linear stretch of evergreen forests surrounded by rocky cliffs, an interesting trek route at the Monkey Falls is available and regular guided treks are conducted during favourable season.

Prior request for permission should be given to the Tamil Nadu Forest Department headquarters at Pollachi before a fortnight.

Monkey Falls is a famous and popular tourism spot, as it is an outstanding scenic attraction.

Monkey falls is an ideal place for little children and adults to have a shower. Ticket fee of Rs 20 is charged to enter inside the falls vicinity.

Kodiveri Dam

The dam is located on the River Bhavani near Sathyamangalam forest range in Western Tamil Nadu.

The name ‘Kodiveri’ is originated from ‘kodivari’ literally means Tiger in Tamil, as name represents, the forest land around the Dam is the habitat of large number of tigers.

It was constructed by the Maharaja of Mysore in the 17th century, by carving a 20-foot wall of rock and the stones were then interlocked with iron bars and lead was used as mortar.

One of the two channels that arise from the dam is on the northern side of River Bhavani and the other on the southern side via “Arakkan Kottai Channel” and “Thadapalli Channel” respectively.

Black Thunder:

A pioneer water theme park located in the foot of Nilgiris near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore.

The park offers about 49 rides, including Surf Hill and the Wild River Ride. The park has a hotel situated within its premises.

It charges Rs. 500 for children under 10 and Rs. 600 for people above 10.

Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park:

IGWLS&NP is a protected area located in the Anaimalai Hills covering districts of Coimbatore and Tirupur of Tamil Nadu. The park is named after former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who visited the park on 7 October 1961.

“Topslip” located in the northeast corner of the park is derived from the local practice of sliding timber logs down the hills from here during 19^th century.

The area was notified as Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary in 1974. Of its unique habitats at 3 places – Karian Shola, Grass hills, Manjampatti Valley were notified as a National Park in 1989.

IGWS was declared a Project Tiger Reserve in 2008. The Park and the Sanctuary is under consideration by UNESCO as part of The Western Ghats World Heritage Site.