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Overview

Coimbatore is known for its various industries, engineering goods, textile mills, educational institutions, health care facilities, pleasant weather, friendly culture and hospitality. There is a significant minority of people of North and West Indian origin in Coimbatore which gives it a cosmopolitan outlook. The Tamil spoken here is called Kongu Tamil. Other languages spoken include English, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. Very friendly & courteous people in South India. Except for early summer it otherwise has a very pleasant climate throughout the year, similar to a resort town. It's one of the upcoming Information Technology Hub with new initiatives from the State Govt. Coimbatore is an orthodox city. It has developed in terms of wealth, however the general populace is still down to earth. People here don't have a flashy lifestyle, they are generally very content. Most of all the Coimbatoreans are known for the respect displayed in language towards everyone.


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Try tasting Siruvani Water (off late the water has lost its sweetness as the civil authorities mix Siruvani water with another source called Athikadavu water) & drinking before heading towards your destination.


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  • 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), Dhyanalinga Yogic temple [26]& Isha Yoga centre(35 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 three good water theme parks Black Thunder Near Ooty foot hills Kovai Kondattam enroute to Siruvani Dam and Maharaja Water Theme Park near Neelambur, Avinashi Road. 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: Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple[27], 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 statue of Lord Ganesha 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. Isha Yoga Center's SHIVA TEMPLE - Worth to visit -20 kms from city. 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
  • Churches in Coimbatore are Infant Jesus Church in Kovaipudur, where devotees throng on thursdays for attending the Noveena.St.Antony's Church in Puliakulam, where many devotees offered their prayers on every Tuesday, CSI Immanuel, Intouch Fellowship at the YWCA Hall.
  • Dams are Siruvani (World's Second tastiest water which is the source of drinking water in Coimbatore), Amaravathi Dam(Udumalpet), Thirumoorthi Dam(Udumalpet), Aazhiyaar(Aaleeyaar), Sozhaiyaar (Solaiyaar), Bhavani Sagar,
  • Waterfalls include Monkey falls on the way to Vaalpaarai hills, Kovai kutralam near siruvani and others are on the way to Vaalpaarai hills and Ooty hills,Thirumoorthi falls near Udumalpet(65 Km)..
  • Hill stations are Ooty(80 km), Vaalpaarai near Pollachi having no of sight seeing and picnic spots, Kodaikanal(180 km).
  • Sanctuaries are Mudumalai Wild Life Sanctuary(150 km), Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary(100 km), Top Slip.
  • Crocodile Park in Amaravathi is near Udumalpet (65 km).

Coimbatore is lush green barring the core summer month of March to Jun, and is relatively unexplored by outsider tourists. The rainy season is also mild compared to the heavy rainfall that the neighbouring Kerala state witnesses.Hence people looking for an economy travel with peaceful motoring (bike/car) could explore Coimbatore and the surrounding hills like Anaikatti , Kovai Courtalam, Kurundhamalai etc.


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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 and a meter gauge line connects to the cities of Palani, Dindugul & Madurai. A by-pass tollway was built recently to avoid unnecessary traffic into the city.

By plane

Coimbatore has an airport which has regular flights from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Cochin, Hyderabad,Sharjah, Mumbai and New Delhi. Paramount Airways, Air India, Air Deccan, Jet Airways, Jetlite and Kingfisher, Spice Jet operate domestic flights out of Coimbatore Airport. International flights are operated by Air India, SilkAir, SriLankan Airlines and Airarabia. In fact, Paramount Airways, India's first all-business class carrier first took wing in Coimbatore, before shifting base to Chennai

Coimbatore Airport is approximately 15 kilometers from the center of the city. Mode of transport from the airport to the city includes taxi and autos.

International

Domestic

By train

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.

  • Southern Railway [12]
  • Indian Railway reservations [13]

By bus

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.use less site ur preparing man , with out any phone numbers.


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Getting around Coimbatore is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and call taxis available in plenty.

Auto rickshaws are not advised as they charge whatever they feel like, if they find that you are an outsider. Call taxis are the best as they have digital meter installed which will tell you the cost. Minimum charge is Rs. 35/- .There are many call taxi operators here, you can get the number from your hotel or railway station, airport etc.

By taxi

  • Rajshree Call Taxi : +91-422-2513716 & 93666 59900
  • COR rent a car : 093447 93446, +91 422 321 6446
  • A.G Travels : 09865853446, 99407 12967
  • ABI Call Taxi : +91-422-2474747
  • Best Call Taxi : +91-422-2555222
  • City Call Taxi : +91-422-2234455
  • Kovai Call Taxi : +91-422-2478787
  • Siruvani Call Taxi : +91-422-2472626
  • Vinayaga Call Taxi : +91-422-2494949
  • Capital Call Taxi  : +91-422-2440555
  • Aroma Call Taxi : +91-422-2474747
  • SS Cabs :+91-422-2444324 & 9443040601
  • sree saravanaa travels:+91-422-3 26 26 36
  • YELLOW CABS +91-422-435 11 22 (Watch out for their drivers to switch on the night rate button during day time to make the meter go faster to be able to pocket higher amount from unsuspecting users)

Car rentals

  • COR holidays - South india package Tour Operator - [14]
  • Kumar Tourist [15] - A tourist agency in Coimbatore
  • Arr Arr Travels - A Travels Agency
  • Lakshmi Travels, Pappanaickenpalayam - Contact: 98422 19900 - for full-day car hire
  • Yellow Cabs Call Taxi 422-435 11 22
  • Capital Traveline, No, 166, VRG complex, N.S.R Road, Saibaba Colony contact:+91 99943 99913- for All Travel needs
  • SS Travels Koundampalayam :0422-2444324.
  • Indus Travel Link, 100 Feet Road : +91 422 4369766
  • Uva Tours India - Package Tour Operator -Domestic & International - 23 teachers colony,Podannur,Coimbatore-23 ,+91 999 5139563,91 422 2671925

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While Coimbatore lacks the pavement shop culture of Chennai where you bargain and get rock bottom prices, the town has some good shops in terms of clothing and jewellery.Unless you are very keen to buy something , shopping may be avoided. The shopping areas are RS Puram (DB Road/CB Road), Gandhipuram (Cross Cut Road) and Town Hall Area(Oppanakara St, Big Bazaar St, Raja St) Buy Jewelery and Cotton. Normally visitors to Coimbatore return home with different types of South Indian Silk Sarees (Kancheepuram Silk, Mysore Silk, etc). You will also find other varieties like Kerala Sarees, which are a speciality of the neighbouring state, Kerala. For men, there are besides "mundus" or "dhotis" , modern outfits of leading brands including those from Coimbatore like KG, Tibre, Crocodile, etc. A visit to Coimbatore is incomplete without going to the number of huge textile showrooms in the city (notably Chennai Silks, Ganapathy Silks & Crocodile Gallery on Oppanakara Street, Mahaveers, PSR, Shree Devi Textiles & Trouser Town on Cross Cut Road, and Kalyan Silks on 100 Feet Road and Tharakram in Ram Nagar). Other must-buy items from Coimbatore include Banana chips (of Banana slice, outlet in Ram Nagar behind City Tower hotel, and A-1 chips with numerous outlets in the city), Sambar & curry powders from Annapoorna, and the famous Mysurpa (a sweet made from lentil flour and ghee) of Sri Krishna Sweets.

ATMs

State Bank of India, Trichy Road, RS puram, Gandhipuram, TNAU, Vadavalli, Kovaipudur

Punjab National Bank, Dr. Nanjappa Road, Gandhipuram

HSBC, Race Course

Corporation bank, Trichy road, R.S.Puram, Saibaba Colony, Gandhipuram, GKNM Hospital, Sathy Road

Oriental bank of commerce, Trichy road

IOB Crosscut road, NSR road, DB road

ICICI bank, Several across the city

HDFC, RS puram, Avinashi road, Trichy road

Standard Chartered Bank, RS puram

Citibank, Avinashi road

AXIS bank, RS puram,avinashi road

You can find Most of the ATMs at NSR Road stretch at Saibaba Colony, DB Road RS Puram, Avinashi road, Cross cut Road Gandhipuram, Oppanakara street, Trichy Road.


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When you vist Coimbatore don't forget to taste the Food & Siruvani Water Coimbatore is an ideal stop if you want to take some rest while on the way to Ooty, Bangalore or Kerala. Don't forget to taste the best of South Indian Idlis, Dosas, Vada, Chutney and Vegetarian rice meal from the Annapoorna Chain of Restaurants and Non-vegetarian food from the Angannan's, Sampoorna, Rayappas and Thalappas restaurants. Try Krishna Sweets too, the sweets chain had their origins in this town. The strong influence of the west has prevailed and resulted in numerous coffee pubs and fast food outlets (Brown's Corner, Marie Brown, Domino's Pizza,coffee day, Boomerang).

  • Annalakshmi, [28].

Budget

  • Annapoorna-Veg Hotel Chain with more than 10 outlets in Coimbatore.
  • Aaryas-Veg Hotel Chain with around 10 outlets in Coimbatore.
  • Anjali Restaurant in Bharathiyar Road.
  • Chicken Sampoorna, Gandhipuram-Serves biriyani and Chicken the Chettinadu (Southern Tamilnadu) way.
  • Dakshin Restaurant, Nanjundapuram road, next to Parsons apartment complex.
  • Rayappas Restaurant, Gandhipuram and Bharathiyar road. Serves spicy biryani, Tandoori and Chettinadu dishes. Top preferred restaurant by students and families.
  • Burma Bhai Chicken Shop Near Police Quarters Uppilipalayam. Serves different chicken dishes with Kerala Paratta.
  • Thalapakattu Biryani Hotel in 7th street, Gandhipuram.
[[Kongu Special Foods]]
  • Arya Bhavan Hotels,NH Road(Townhall),Singanaullar
  • Arya Bhavan classic ,RS Puram
  • Sri Krishna Hall , Avarampalayam
  • Balaji Hotel - for Non veg,RS puram
  • Akshaya Fast Food-For Non Veg,Raja street,

Mid-range

  • Cloud 9 Roof top restaurant, on 6 th floor Hotel City Tower. Offers a good view of Coimbatore. Ideal dinner spot.
  • Nilgiris-Nest, Avinashi Road.

Splurge

  • Pavilion at The Residency-Lawns.
  • Chin Chin at The Residency-Chinese Restaurant.
  • Afghans Grill at The Residency .

HOTEL NAMES

  • CAG PRIDE- GANDHIPURAM
  • JENNY CLUB- PSGCAS
  • HERRITAGE INN-GANDHIPURAM
  • ALLANKAR-GANDHIPURAM
  • CITY TOWER -GANDHIPURAM
  • THE RESIDENCY -AVINASHI ROAD

Budget

  • Hotel Kalliapas, situated in gandhipuram cross cut road, offers a rooftop bar, the beverages are cost effective, though the crowd is noisy the place per se offers a cool ambience with lots of plants around, must visit if you prefer to be among locals.
  • Ramba Bar, opposite to Railway station which has the same traits as Kaliappas. Could help if you want a fast one before catching the train
  • Arr Vee Hotel near bus stand has good Bar.

Mid-range

"SHOWERS BAR" and "SHOWERS LOUNGE BAR" The twin bars at Hotel Vijai Paradise is a must feel place. It is at NSR road, saibaba colony, cbe-11

The Courtyard at Rathna Regent (OROIN), this place is on the main Avinashi Road opposite to Hotel Residency.

Splurge

  • House of Lords, [29]. At Residency, offers plush and tastefully done cocktail lounge.

Photos from Coimbatore, India
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