At a glance Coimbatore is an important industrial city, which is located in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Being an important textile-manufacturing centre in India, it is also known as the 'Manchester of South India'. About the city There are more than a hundred textile mills in and around Coimbatore apart from a number of other manufacturing units, which produce engineering equipment and electronic items. Siruvani Dam in Coimbatore,Coimbatore, Coimbatore city, Coimbatore Tourism, History of Coimbatore, Visit Coimbatore, Coimbatore tour, Coimbatore Hotels Coimbatore lies at the foot of the quaint Nilgiri Hills. Its vicinity to the Nilgiri hills gives Coimbatore a pleasant climate that is much cooler than the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu. Travellers visiting the Nilgiri hills from the south use Coimbatore as their base. Coimbatore is a part of the Coimbatore circuit covering places like Coimbatore, Mettupalayam and Ooty. While at Coimbatore you can visit the Botanical Garden, the Agricultural College Museum and the VOC (V.O Chidambram) Park. You can also purchase textiles and readymade garments in Coimbatore, as it is an important textile-manufacturing centre in India. How to reach Road: Coimbatore is well connected by buses to Chennai (500 km), Bangalore (363 km), Cochin (183 km), Ooty (98 km), Coonoor (83 km), and Kodikanal (138 km). Bangalore, Chennai, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Pondicherry, Rameshwaram and Thiruvananthapuram are well linked with Coimbatore through road. Rail: The city is a major junction and it is from here that the metre gauge track to Ooty starts. Trains link Coimbatore to Chennai, Bangalore, Cochin, Trivandrum, and Delhi. Air: Coimbatore has direct flights to Chennai, Bangalore, and Madurai. Trivandrum Nizamuddin Express - Transportation for Coimbatore,Coimbatore Travel, How to reach Coimbatore, Coimbatore Tours, Coimbatore Tourism, visit Coimbatore Coimbatore Airport is 12 km from the city and is well connected with Mumbai, Chennai and Kozhikode (Calicut). Getting Around: Buses, autorickshaws, cabs the choice is yours. Autos are never by the meter, so haggling is unavoidable. Distances 40 km west from Siruvani Waterfalls 90 km from Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary 65 km from Monkey Falls 102 km from Valparai Best Seasons Coimbatore enjoys a pleasant climate due to its proximity to the Nilgiri Mountains and the cool breeze that flows through the Palakkad Gap. This makes it an ideal tourist destination throughout the year. Summers tend to be hot, with the mercury touching a high of 39 C, but the light and cool wind makes it bearable. Winter is not very cold, as the temperature rarely dips below 20 C. The climate of Coimbatore city is moderate and pleasant throughout the year with not much temperature fluctuations between summers and winters. Summers are hot with the maximum temperature reaching 39°C, the minimum temperature in summer is 21°C. Winters are mild with the maximum temperature hovering around 30°C and the minimum temperature rarely going below 15°C. Coimbatore being in Tamil Nadu, does not receive monsoon rains between the months of June and September. However, it experiences rains in October-November, which is brought about by the retreating monsoons (north-eastern monsoon). The best time to visit Coimbatore is between December and March. Cotton clothing is apt for summers and light woollens are required for winters. Places in and around 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. Agriculture University,Places to see in Coimbatore, Places to visit in Coimbatore, Tourist attractions in Coimbatore, Weekend trips from Coimbatore Excursions Agriculture University The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University is one of the interesting places to visit in Coimbatore. Five kilometres away from the railway station, the university is one of the best institutions of its kind in South Asia. The university also houses a botanical garden which is the main source of attraction here. It is located towards the west of the city centre and is spread over an area of 300 hectares. The garden has a good collection of different species of flowering plants and trees. Perur Temple Perur Temple in Coimbatore,Places to see in Coimbatore, Places to visit in Coimbatore, Tourist attractions in Coimbatore, Weekend trips from Coimbatore Excursions Perur is a small town situated about 6 km from Coimbatore. Its main claim to fame is the holy Perur Temple, one of the seven Kongu Sivalayams. The outer buildings of the temple were built by rulers of Madurai in the 17th century but the inner shrine is much older. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the remarkable features here is the figure of a sepoy (Indian soldier) loading a musket carved on the base of the pillar near the entrance, wearing identical dress to that of the Aurangzeb's soldiers. Marudhamalai Marudhamalai Temple Marudhamalai Temple in Coimbatore,Places to see in Coimbatore, Places to visit in Coimbatore, Tourist attractions in Coimbatore, Weekend trips from Coimbatore Excursions Located on a hillock about 12 km from Coimbatore Railway Station, the temple of Marudhamalai, dedicated to Lord Subramanya, is one of the most visited temples in the region. One of the reasons of the large number of devotees flocking the temple is that the residing deity Dandayuthapani is believed to have performed several miracles here. Thai Poosam and Tirukarthigai festivals are celebrated with great pomp and gaiety at this temple. Forest College Located about 3.5 km north of the Railway Station, the Forest College is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in the country. A visit to the College Museum is an interesting experience. This museum has an interesting collection of different minerals, rocks, pests, snakes, insects and fungal diseases that afflict plants and trees. The college also trains forest rangers. Weekend Trips/Excursions The places around Coimbatore also make interesting tourist destinations. The serene natural surroundings, picturesque locales and the diverse fauna enchant all those who move out of Coimbatore for excursions. Siruvani Waterfalls is a panoramic site located 37 km to the west of Coimbatore. The Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (90 km) 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 Thirumoorthy Temple is situated at the foot of Thirumoorthy Hills adjoining the Thirumoorthy Dam. Bhavani is known for the Sangameshwarar Temple situated at the confluence of the Bhavani and Cauvery rivers. Siruvani Waterfalls Thirty-seven kilometres to the west of the city is located the Siruvani waterfall and dam. One is left enchanted and spellbound by the panoramic view of the dam and the falls. And when you are there don't forget to taste the water of Siruvani, for the water of Siruvani is known for its minerals and taste. Annamalai Wildlife Sanctuary Annamalai Wildlife Sanctury,Places to see in Coimbatore, Places to visit in Coimbatore, Tourist attractions in Coimbatore, Weekend trips from Coimbatore Excursions 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. Thirumoorthy temple About 20 km from Udumalpet on the Palani-Coimbatore Highway lies the Thirumoorthy Temple. The temple is situated at the foot of Thirumoorthy Hills adjoining the Thirumoorthy Dam. A perennial stream flows by the side of the Sri Amalingeswarar temple. The beauty of the area is enhanced by the waterfall nearby. One can also visit the Crocodile Farm at Amaravathi Dam which is just 25 km from here. The place is also being developed as a District Excursion Centre. Bhavani Called as Tiruveni of South India, the Sangameshwarar temple at Bhavani is situated at the confluence of the rivers Bhavani and Cauvery. The temple is an important pilgrim centre and has Lord Sangameshwarer with His consort Vedanayaki as its presiding deity. Legend has it that during the East India Company regime, William Garrow, the then Collector of Coimbatore and Salem districts, who had his headquarters at Bhavani, used to worship Goddess Vedanayaki. One night he had a dream in which the Goddess directed him to vacate his bungalow immediately. The moment he moved out, the entire bungalow collapsed. In reverence of this miracle, he presented an ivory cradle to the temple. The cradle is still present in the temple with his signature.