coimbatore

Coimbatore, also spelt as Koyamputhur and sometimes shortened as Kovai, is one of the major metropolitan cities in the state of Tamil Nadu. Enclosed by the Western Ghats, the city is nestled on the banks of Noyyal River and is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu in terms of population after Chennai. Being a hub of textile industry in South India, the city id also referred to as the ‘Manchester of South India’.

Ancient temples, lofty hills, gushing waterfalls, modern architecture, mouthwatering cuisine, and pleasant weather year-round are some of the adjectives that can be used to describe Coimbatore for a perfect holiday experience. Coimbatore is also home to a gigantic 112 feet tall statue of Lord Shiva known as the Adiyogi Shiva Statue, which has also been featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. This architectural masterpiece is a popular tourist spot here and is a symbol of self-transformation and inner tranquility. The city has several trekking trails to offer the adrenaline junkies such as Dhoni Hills, the Vellari Mala, the Perumal Peak, and the Thalaiyar Falls trek.

The official language spoken in Coimbatore is Tamil. However, the people in the city speak a dialect of Tamil known as Kongu Tamil. Languages like Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Urdu are also spoken by the natives of the city while only a few people understand English.

Being the industrial city, Coimbatore is home to people from across the country and even non Tamilians. It is a cosmopolitan hub and is known for its diverse yet rich culture with a host of people from distinct parts of the country. There are several art galleries and museums which efficiently display the heritage and cultural history of the city. The ‘Mariamman’ festivals at the city’s numerous temples which are dedicated to the Hindu Goddesses, are among the major festivals celebrated enthusiastically by the people. Rice is the staple food of the residents and most authentic restaurants serve food on huge banana leaf as their tradition. It is also believed that the banana leaf imparts its distinct flavor to the dish and enriches its taste.

• Adiyogi Shiva Statue– This is one of the world's biggest Shiva statue surrounded by verdant green farms at the foothills of Velliangiri Mountains in the Western Ghats. It is located in the Isha Yoga Complex which is a peaceful place to be.
• Vydehi Falls – It is 35km away from the Coimbatore City and is a must-visit place if you want some relaxing environment abundant with lush greenery, soothing sound of water, and cool atmosphere.
• Marudhamalai Hill Temple – The temple is located at a height of 500 ft in the highland on the Western Ghats and has a mesmerizing and divine atmosphere. It is dedicated to Lord Murugan and the main feature of this hill is that it has several medicinal herbs used for making ayurvedic medicines.
• Sree Ayyappan Temple – Located at the heart of the city, the temple is a significate site and is dedicated to Lord Sree Ayyappan. The temple in Tamil Nadu has been built on the same lines as of the original Sabarimala Temple in Kerala.
• Velliangiri Hill Temple – Nestled on Velliangiri Hill at 6000 feet altitude, the temple is located 40km from Coimbatore and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Velliangiri Hill temple is the most conspicuous worship abode in an around Coimbatore and is visited by several tourists who wish to offer their prayers.
• VOC Park and Zoo– It is an amusement park and a zoological garden visited by the locals for recreational purposes and is a preferred picnic spot for families. The park has a play area for kids, an aquarium, and a Jurassic Park themed park where both children and adults enjoy.
• Nilgiri Biosphere Nature Park – The biosphere nature park is created to preserve the rich flora and fauna of the Nilgiris and boasts over 430 species of 25,000 plants along with several species of mammals, reptiles, birds, etc. and is a heaven for the nature and wildlife lovers.
• Perur Pateeswarar Temple– Located 6km from Coimbatore, the temple was constructed by Karikala Cholan and is nestled on the banks of Noyyal river. The temple is commonly known as the temple dedicated to Lord Nataraj and is famous for its intricate artwork and sculptures.
• Gedee Car Museum – It is one of the museums in India where you can find cars manufactured in Britain, Japan, Germany, and America all under one roof. The car collection is well maintained and the relevant information about cars on display is mentioned for visitors to learn from.

• R.H.R Pure Veg Restaurant – Known as Royal Hindu Restaurant, this serves a great vegetarian feast from the South Indian cuisine and that too from a budget-friendly menu. A great family restaurant with courteous staff and comfortable ambiance, the must-try items here are chilly parotta, mushroom appam, pepper idli, and filter coffee.
• Sree Annapoorna – To savor the authentic south Indian breakfast, this restaurant in Coimbatore is your go-to place. From crispy dosa to fully idlis and sambar, strong filter coffee and appams, you name it and the dish will be presented to you.
• Haribhavanam – A fine dining experience for the non-vegetarians, Haribhavanam serves some of the best non-vegetarian dishes such as Idiyappam, Mutton Chukka, Biryani, fish, brain fry, etc.
• Junior Kuppanna – This is famous for its casual dining and delectable non-veg dishes. Although the menu is limited, but the meat dishes are of quality and are really mouth-watering. Must try the mutton nalli fry and pepper chicken here.
• Dindigul Venu Biryani – This is one of the best non-veg restaurants in Coimbatore and is filled all day long with visitors for its delectable biryani dishes. Must try here are egg dosa, mutton biryani, chicken 65, and mutton kola.
• Ammayi Veedu Pot Cook – The specialty of this restaurant is that all the veg and non-veg dishes are prepared in earthen vessels and are served on banana leaf. The spices are home ground which gives the dishes a unique taste. Must try dishes here are turkey biryani, turkey fry, chicken kuzhambu, mutton kothu curry, chicken uppu curry.

• Ghee Roast Dosa – A paper-thin dosa made from fermented rice and lentil batter and cooked in ghee from both sides. The ghee roast dosa is savored with onion and tomato chutney or sambar.
• Arisi Paruppu Sadam– It is a rice and lentil one pot dish tempered with spices, mustard seeds, onions, garlic and ghee and is served with pickle, papad, or curd.
• Pallipalayam Chicken – A typical Kongu cuisine, the chicken is never marinated and chunks of chicken are fried in a little oil with shallots, garlic, chilies, and ribbons of coconut along with a little salt and pepper. It is best paired with rice and rasam for a wholesome meal.
• Elaneer Payasam – Made with rice, jaggery and fresh coconut water and flesh, this decadent version of payasam is served in tender raw coconut shells which makes the texture even more silky and delightful.
• Paniyaram – These are steamed rice and lentil batter dumplings also served as street food that can be eaten as morning breakfast or evening snacks. The rice balls are lightly crispy on the outside and soft from the inside and are served with piquant chutneys.
• Kaalan – Kalan means ‘mushroom’ but the dish is a mishmash of mushroom and cabbage, deep fried and served in a saucy, tomato heavy gravy and topped with a garnish of chopped onions and grated carrots. It is a hot and spicy delight.
• Kongunadu Biryani – This Kongu-style vella biryani is the mild version of its fiery counterparts from other regions. This biryani comprises minimal spices and uses local, short-grained seeraga samba rice and has a pale hue appearance to it.

High-End Shopping :

• Brookfield Mall
• Fun Republic Mall
• Prozone Mall

Street Shopping :

• Oppanakara Street – This busy street market has several street hawkers and vendors selling accessories, big shops selling gold jewelry and other household products. The market also has some of the oldest commercial establishments in the surroundings where you can get cloth material at affordable costs along with a variety of sarees and home décor items.
• Sukrawarpettai – It is a busy commercial market area that holds a range of wholesale and retail markets with narrow streets and vintage buildings. Here, the north Indian community resides and you can find many north Indian apparels and jewelry along with some grocery stores and north Indian street food.
• Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium, Town Hall – This is a large handicraft showroom where you can get handicraft items from south India like hand-woven silks and cottons, bronze images, bell-metal lamps, wood and stone carvings, etc. There are other handicraft showrooms in this area of Town Hall for a rich assortment of handicraft items.
• Shantiniketan Silks – Located at Rangai Gowder Street, the shop is one of the oldest in the city and is known for its impressive silk sarees. What makes the experience here even more amazing is that the sarees can be custom-made for which you only have to wait for a couple of days which is worth the wait.

• Dvara Resort – Siruvani (INR7488)
• IKON by Annapoorna (INR5,451)
• Ananyas Nest (INR3,066)
• The Residency Towers Coimbatore (INR9,438)
• Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Racecourse Coimbatore (INR7,062)
• Fairfield by Mariott Coimbatore (INR6,960)
• FabHotel Prime Royal Castle Gandhipuram (INR2,755)
• JK Hotels (INR4,012)
• Zone Connect Coimbatore (INR14,160)
• Vivanta Coimbatore (INR9,440)
• Zone by The Park Coimbatore (INR5,841)
• Hash Six Hotels (INR3,025)
• Hotel Grand Tree (INR3,528)

• By Air: Coimbatore has a domestic airport which connects all the major cities via regular flights. The airport is 15km from the city centre and cabs and buses are available from outside the airport.
• By Train: Coimbatore Junction is the prime railway station in the city that connects the city with the rest of India.
• By Bus: The city has an extensive network of government buses and private-owned buses, connecting it to the neighboring cities 24/7.