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Originally Coimbatore district formed part of the
Kongu country the history of which dates back to the Sangam age. It is found
that in early days the area was inhabited by tribes, the most predominant
among them being the Kosars who are reported to have had their headquarters
at Kosampathur which probably later became the present Coimbatore. However,
tribal predominance did not last long as they were over-run by the Rashtra
Kutas. From Rashtrakutas the region fell into the hands of the Cholas who
were in prominence at the time of Raja Raja Chola.
Coimbatore is snuggled near the Western Ghats and bestowed with a pleasant
climate throughout the year. One of the interesting tourist spots of South
India, Coimbatore is rich in flora and fauna. Coimbatore's landscape is
marked with glorious temples and is one of the loved places by tourists.
Another important attraction here is the Perur Temple, situated about 6 km
from Coimbatore. It is one of the seven Kongu Sivalayams. The temple has
shrines to the presiding deity Patteeswarar and his consort Pachainayaki.
There are also some elegantly carved sculptures in the Kanagasabai hall. The
Marudhamalai Temple is well-known temple of this area, located on a hillock
about 12 km from Coimbatore Railway Station. This temple is dedicated to
Lord Subramanya.
Coimbatore offers a good number of interesting getaway destinations. The
exotic and calm environment, lovely locales and rich fauna enthrall
innumerable tourists. Some of these exciting travel places are Siruvani
Waterfalls, an enchanting site located 37 km to the west of Coimbatore. Then
there's the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary situated about 90 kms away from
Coimbatore. It is home to a wide variety of animals and birds.
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HOW
TO REACH
By Air : Peelamedu airport is only 10 km away from the Coimbatore city,
which operates regular flights to Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi and
Madurai.
By Rail : Coimbatore is a major railway junction on the Southern Railways
and has trains to Chennai, Rameswaram, Madurai, Bangalore, Mumbai,
Kanyakumari, Kozhikode, Mettupalayam, Kochi and Delhi.
By Road : Coimbatore is connected by road with all major places in South
India.
WHEN TO GO
Coimbatore can be traveled round the year.
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WHAT TO SEE |
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Perur Temple - Built by Karikala Cholan, this
temple is situated 7 kms. west of Coimbatore near River Noyyal. It is
dedicated to Lord Siva. The presiding deity of the temple is known as
Patteeswarar and His Consort, Pachai Nayaki. The exquisite sculptures in
the hall, Kanagasabi, attract one and all. It is also known as Mel
Chidambaram.
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Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary - Situated near
Pollachi at a distance of around 90 km, the Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
forms an interesting excursion from Coimbatore. The sanctuary, situated
at an altitude of 1,400 metres in the Western Ghats, is home to
different kind of animals and birds like elephant, gaur, tiger, panther,
sloth bear, deer, wild bear, wild dog, porcupine, flying squirrel,
jackal, pangolin, civet cat and birds like rocket-tailed drongo,
re-whiskered bulbul, black-headed oriole, tree pie, spotted dove, and
green pigeon. The Amaravathy reservoir in the Annamalai has a large
number of crocodiles. Annamalai also has many places of scenic beauty
such as Karainshola, Anaikunthi shola, grass hills, waterfalls, dams and
reservoirs.
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Agricultural University - About 5 kms from the
Coimbatore Railway Station, this is the sixteenth Farm University in
independent India. Though it came into existence on June 1, 1971 its
ancestry is much older than that of the earliest started Agricultural
University in the country. The nucleus was an Agricultural Demonstration
Farmstarted in 1868 in Saidapet, Madras, which was later shifted to
Coimbatore in 1907 and became one of the internationally reputed
Agricultural Colleges in course of time. It is this Agricultural College
that has been converted into the present Tamil Nadu Agricultural
University.
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Thirumoorthy Temple - It is situated at the foot
of Thirumoorthy Hills adjoining the Thirumoorthy Dam. This is about 20
kms. from Udumalpet on the Highway from. Palani to C.oimbatore. A
perennial stream flows by the side of the Sri Amallngeswarar temple and
nearby there is a waterfalls. The Crocodile Farm at Amaravathi Dam is
just 25 kms. from here. This place is being developed as a District
Excursion Centre. Regular buses are available from Udumalpet.
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VOC Park and Zoo (Amusement Park) - Named after
the famous freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram, the VOC Park is an
interesting place to visit in Coimbatore, especially if you are
accompanied by kids. For the young ones, the main attractions within the
park include the aquarium, which has a good collection of different
species of fish, a mini zoo, and a toy train for joyrides.
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Siruvani Waterfalls and Dam - The project
consists of a series of dams interconnected by tunnels and canals for
harnessing the Parambikulam, Aliyar, Nirar, Sholiyar, Thunakadavu,
Thekkadi and Palar rivers, lying at various elevations, for irrigation
and power generation. The scheme is an outstanding example of
engineering skill. It is located in the Anamalai range.
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Forest College - One of the oldest institutions
of its kind in India, the Forest College is situated 3.5 kms. north of
the Railway Station. The College Museum is worth a visit.
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Top Slip - It is a picturesque locale in the
Anamalai Hills. It is about 37 kms. from Pollachi. This small town is an
ideal picnic spot.
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Bhawani Sagar Dam - The lower Bhavani Dam is
located on the Bhavani River just below the confluence of River Moyar,
at 16 kms West of Sathyamangalam and about 36 km North - East of
Mettupalayam in Periyar District. It is an earthen dam, constructed
after India's independence. Alongside the dam there is a well-maintained
park with all amenities for children to play around and an orchard that
can be enjoyed.
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WHERE TO EAT
There are few good restaurants which serves delicious pure vegetarian food.
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