Coimbatore Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: September to March Read More

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Also Refered As:

Koyampuththoor

"Manchester of the South India"

Coimbatore Tourism

Often termed as 'Manchester of South India', Coimbatore, the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu, photographically situated on the banks of River Noyyal. Coimbatore, also known as Kovai, is a welcoming area with the backdrop of hustle-bustle and charm of activity and industry. 

From ancient temples to classy new buildings, from breathtaking mountains to jaw-dropping waterfalls, from mouth-watering cuisine to pleasant weather all year round, Coimbatore has everything you could possibly need to make for a perfect holiday experience. Coimbatore is home to a massive 112 feet tall statue of Lord Shiva, known as the Adiyogi Shiva Statue. Featured in the Guinness Book of World Records, this architectural masterpiece is a very popular tourist spot in Coimbatore and stands as a symbol of self-transformation and inner peace.

Camping and trekking are very popular things to do in Coimbatore, so if you’re looking for a thrill, don’t forget to check out the most exciting trekking trails that the city has to offer, such as the Dhoni Hills, the Vellari Mala, the Perumal Peak, and the Thalaiyar Falls trek. The official name of Coimbatore has been changed to Koyampuththoor. It was done to change the name of the city closer its original name in Tamil.

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Religious Hub

Popularly known as the "Manchester of South India", it is situated at the Nilgiri foothills of and ranks among the top Indian tourist destination. There are various temples and pilgrimage sites here that pertain to Jain and Buddhist religions.

Languages Spoken in Coimbatore

The official language that is spoken in Coimbatore is Tamil. However, the majority of the residents in the city speak a dialect of Tamil that is known as Kongu Tamil. Languages like Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Urdu are also spoken by the natives of the city. English is less prevalent language among the natives in comparison to the official languages.

Culture of Coimbatore

Coimbatore is known for its diverse culture with a host of people from different parts of the country settled in the city. The city is now considered as a cosmopolitan hub. The city is a home to "Swamikannu Vicent" who gave the concept of 'Tent Cinema'. It also holds art, music and dance concerts in September and December. One can find many museums and art galleries that display the heritage of the city that was acquired from its colourful history. The "Mariamman" festivals at the city's numerous temples, devoted to the Goddesses of the Hinduism, are among the major festivals celebrated by the people. Rice is the staple food for the residents of the city. Most restaurants server their meals on a giant banana leaf because it is considered as a healthy way to eat food. It is also believed that the banana leaf renders its distinctive flavour and enriches the taste of the dishes.

History of Coimbatore

Coimbatore was a part of Kongu, and it served as the primary route between the west coast and Tamil Nadu. The purpose behind the city's name is that a Kongu King called Kovan ruled this area and thus the name Kovanpudur which developed and became anglicized as Koyambuthur, Koyamuthur and Coimbatore. The history of the city dates back to the 12th Century during the Sangam Age. Under the rule of the Sangam Cheras, the area was largely inhabited by tribes called Kosars, and later they came under the rule of Rashtra Kutas. Coimbatore was also the birthplace of the Cholas, and it was conquered by the Cholas in the 10 century BC. Later, Vijayanagar Dynasty ruled the region during which the city became popular with a large group of settlers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. This city also witnessed the Anglo- Mysore War. The British troops took over of the entire city in the year 1768.

Restaurants and Local Food in Coimbatore

Coimbatore is an urban hub where you can relish traditional South-Indian preparations, as well as indulge in the western influences over the food here. So while you can enjoy a South-Indian platter which has essentials like Idli, Dosa, Chutney, Rice, Vada, Sambhar, Rasam, Upma, Sweet Pongal, Payassam and more, you can also make the most of a number of coffee pubs and fast food joints here. Other popular items here are Halwa, Biryani, Mysorepa (a sweet dish) as well as delicacies of North-Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines. Have a meal at Shree Annapoorna restaurant to get the taste of authentic Tamil cuisine.
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Suggested Itinerary for Coimbatore

Day 1: Start your trip by visiting the temples of Coimbatore on the first day. Begin with Marudhamalai Murugan Temple located in the highland on the Western Ghats. Next, take a trip to the Perur Patteeswara Swamy temple on the banks of Noyyal River. In the evening while returning to Coimbatore City, pay a visit to one of the ancient temples of Coimbatore, Eachanari Vinayagar Temple.

Day 2: Spend the second day among the flora and fauna of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. Next, you can head towards the Monkey falls and spend some time besides the refreshing waterfalls before heading back to Coimbatore City in the evening. End your trip with a lip-smacking dinner at Bike and Barrel Restaurant which serves several European and Indian cuisines.

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Coimbatore Photos

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Beautiful Rajagopuram of Marudhamalai Murugan Temple
Monkey Falls - Nestled in Amidst of Forest
Isha Yoga Centre - Non-Profitable Yoga Centre Founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev

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FAQs on Coimbatore

What are the places near Coimbatore?

The top places near to Coimbatore are Ooty which is 52 km from Coimbatore, Munnar which is located 103 km from Coimbatore, Wayanad which is located 121 km from Coimbatore, Malampuzha which is located 34 km from Coimbatore, Coonoor which is located 41 km from Coimbatore

What are the things to do in Coimbatore?

The top things to do in Coimbatore are Vydehi Falls, Kovai Kondattam, Marudhamalai Hill Temple, Adiyogi Shiva Statue, Velliangiri Hill Temple, Perur Pateeswarar Temple. You can see all the places to visit in Coimbatore here

What is the best way to reach Coimbatore?

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.
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What is the local food in Coimbatore?

Coimbatore is an urban hub where you can relish traditional South-Indian preparations, as well as indulge in the western influences over the food here. So while you can enjoy a South-Indian platter which has essentials like Idli, Dosa, Chutney, Rice, Vada, Sambhar, Rasam, Upma, Sweet Pongal, Payassam and more, you can also make the most of a number of coffee pubs and fast food joints here. Other popular items here are Halwa, Biryani, Mysorepa (a sweet dish) as well as delicacies of North-Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines. Have a meal at Shree Annapoorna restaurant to get the taste of authentic Tamil cuisine.
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What is the best time to visit Coimbatore?

The temperature in Coimbatore is very pleasant throughout the year. However, the best time to visit this place is from September to March.
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Who should visit Coimbatore?

Coimbatore is a great place for pilgrims and tourists alike.

What is not so good about Coimbatore?

The summers can be dry and scorching hot. The condition of the roads in the city is not so good. They worsen after the monsoon season as they are filled with potholes.

What is famous about Coimbatore?

Easy to reach. Culturally rich.

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Popular Questions And Answers on Coimbatore

Q. I'm going to Coimbatore for a day between my trip to Thanjavur from Chennai. What should I not miss?

Kaveesh Nair

5 years ago
If you only have one day then you should try checking visiting Marudamalai Temple, Perur Siva Temple, or the Eachanagari Vinaynagar Temple. You could also see one of the many water falls around the c (Read More)ity but they're 20-30km away from the city and might be a tough to fit all of it into one day.

Coimbatore Reviews

Your rating

12F10 SAKTHIVELRAJA V R

3 years ago
If you only have one day then you should try checking visiting Marudamalai Temple, Perur Siva Temple, or the Eachanagari Vinaynagar Temple. You could also see one of the many water falls around the c (Read More)ity but they're 20-30km away from the city and might be a tough to fit all of it into one day.

P vinod Menon

3 years ago
Have seen coimbatore many flight I take are from coimbatore lesser take from kochi nice place many goodies available also called Manchester of south india

Surbhi Parashar

5 years ago
Often termed as 'Manchester of South India', Coimbatore, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu, photographically situated on the banks of River Noyyal. It is an almost perfect tourist destination wit (Read More)h array of natural attractions like temples, churches, other than being the sparkling hub of industry. Coimbatore, also known as Kovai, is a welcoming area with the backdrop of hustle-bustle and charm of activity and industry. You can visit Monkey Falls, Vydehi falls, Kovai Kutralam falls and Siruvani Falls and Dam. Coimbatore is also the home to a rich culture of temples such as Ayyappan temple, Anubhavi Subramaniar Temple and numerous more. The area also has the Infant Jesus Church and Dhyanalinga Yogic temple. You can also visit a number of important dams here such as the Kodiveri Dam, Amaravathi dam and more.
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