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.


Attractions of Coimbatore :
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 kms), Monkey falls(75 km), Athikadavu stream(40km), Kallar river banks(55 kms), Topslip town(90 kms), Malampuzha dam(60 km),Thirumurthy waterfalls(90 km), Isha Yoga centre(55 km), Vellingiri hill temple(65 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.

There are two good water theme parks Black Thunder Near Ooty foot hills and Kovai Kondattam enroute to Siruvani Dam. The entry fees are 300 to 350 for adults , while children get a discount of Rs 50-100 per head.

Temples in and around Coimbatore are: Eachanaari Vinayaga Temple in Pollachi road, Marudhamalai Hill Temple, Anubhavi Subramniar temple which has a natural spring that spurts water throughout the year, Perur Siva Temple, Asia's biggest status temple in Puliakulam. 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. The famous Palani temple devoted to Lord Muruga is 100 kms from Coimbatore.

Other places of worship include Kottai Hidayathul Islam Safia Jamath Mosque in Kottaimedu and Infant Jesus Church in Kovaipudur, where devotees throng on thursdays for attending the Noveena.

Getting to Coimbatore :
» By Air -Coimbatore has a domestic airport which has regular flights from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Sharjah. Air Sahara, Indian Airlines, Air Deccan and Jet Airways, Kingfisher operate flights out of Coimbatore Airport.

» By Rail - Coimbatore Junction is well connected by trains from all major cities including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Gorakhpur, Hyderabad, Kanyakumari, Jammu, Mumbai and New Delhi. Other nearby train stations include Podanur Junction and North Coimbatore.


» By Road - The state transport corporation and a lot of private bus operators ply bus from Coimbatore to major cities in Tamil Nadu and also to the neighboring Kerala and Karnataka states.