Geography: The city lies between10.8° and 11.13° of the northern latitude and 76.87° and 77.11° of eastern longitude in the extreme west of Tamil Nadu near Kerala state at an elevation of 432 metres from sea level.

Climate: The summers are hot with the average temperatures going up to 39°C, while the minimum temperature in summer is around 21°C. Winters are hardly different with the temperature remaining between 15- 30°C.

Located in the shadow of the Western Ghats, Coimbatore enjoys a very pleasant climate the year round, aided by the fresh breeze that flows in through the 25 km long Palakkad gap. The best time to visit Coimbatore is definitely between December and March.

Coimbatore is an important industrial city. Being an important textile-manufacturing centre in India, it is also known as the 'Manchester of South India'. The rich black soil of the region has contributed to Coimbatore's flourishing agriculture industry and, it is in fact that the successful growth of cotton that served as a foundation for the establishment of its famous textile industry. The first textile mills came up as far back as 1888 but there are now over a hundred mills. The result has been a strong economy and a reputation as one of the greatest industrial cities in South India. Coimbatore is also known for the manufacture of motor pumpsets and varied engineering goods. The city is also known for its handloom products. There are a number of technical institutions as well. This place is also known as Kovai.

Coimbatore is the gateway to the neighboring Kerala and the popular hill station of Udhagamandalam (Ooty). Buses are available to Ooty at frequent intervals from central bus stand Coimbatore and Mettupalayam. The distance from Coimbatore to Ooty is 97 kms.

Coimbatore is located in the rain shadow region of the Western ghats and is one of the largest districts of the state of Tamil Nadu, covering the geographical area of 7469 Sq. km. For proper administration the district is divided into three Revenue Divisions, namely Coimbatore, Pollachi and Tirupur and nine Taluks comprising of 482 Revenue villages. Out of the three Revenue Divisions, the economy of Coimbatore Division is dependent on industries, Pollachi is dependent on agriculture and Tirupur both on agriculture and hosiery manufacturing industries.

Coimbatore is connected by road with all major places in South India. For local transportation, city buses, taxis and auto rickshaws are also available. The city has six major arterial roads and three National Highways, NH-47 (Kanyakumari-Salem), NH-67 (Nagapattinam-Salem) and NH-209 (Bangalore-Dindigul) passing through the city.

Coimbatore is a major railway junction on the Southern Railways and has trains to Chennai, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kanyakumari, Kozhikode, Mettupalayam, Kochi and Delhi. Coimbatore has two Railway Junctions, which are Coimbatore Junction and Coimbatore North Railway Station. Broad Gauge trains connect to all parts of India and a meter gauge line connects to the cities of Palani, Dindugul & Madurai.

Possessing its own domestic airport, Coimbatore can also be reached via the airport at Chennai which also handles international traffic. Peelamedu airport is 10 km from the Coimbatore, which operates regular flights to Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi and Madurai.

Thai Poosam and Tirukarthigai festivals are celebrated with great pomp and gaiety at Marudhamalai Temple. Natyanjali Festival: Starting on Mahashivaratri, the day observed for worshipping Lord Shiva, the Natyanjali Festival is celebrated anytime during the months of February to March. Celebrated for 5 days, this is one of the most important festivals of Coimbatore, more so because it is celebrated in honor of the presiding deity of the city, Lord Shiva.

Coimbatore is a one of the major industrial cities in Tamilnadu and is called the Manchester of South India. 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 Malayalam, Telugu and English.

The Perur Temple on the Noyyal river and the popular Muruga Marutha malai Temple, on top of a hillock, are dedicated to Lord Shiva and his son, Murugan, respectively. They are visited by thousands of devotees during temple festivals. Marudhamalai Temple: This temple is 12 kms from the Railway Station. Dedicated to Lord Subramanya, this hilltop temple is one of the most visited temples in the region, the reason being 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. Kottai Hidayathul Islam Safia Jamath, Kottaimedu : This mosque is located in Kottaimedu, which is just a kilometer away from the railway station in Coimbatore. This was the first mosque to be built in Coimbatore. The Arabic college is a part of the mosque. St. Antony's Shrine; Puliakulam: The Shrine is situated only 4 Kms from the Coimbatore City and plenty of buses are available from the town. In 1820, it was small chapel. Fr. De Geils built a new Church in 1859. It was renovated in 1892. The new Church was built and consecrated on 12th June 1987. The original inhabitants are all old Christians, converted by St.John De Britto. The specialty of the Shrine is, it draws thousands of devotees irrespective of religion, caste, and language every week on Tuesdays. The flow of faithful starts in the early hours of the day and continues late night.

MNR Exports, Coimbatore: Supplys Granite Monuments, designer Granite Monuments, colored Granite Monuments, crafted Granite Monuments and Granite memorial. Coimbatore Artist Makes Matchstick Monuments : Palladam (Coimbatore): Venkatesh of Coimbatore is an expert in creating art works using matchsticks. He has created various replicas of famous monuments and historical structures. Venkatesh's creations include the Taj Mahal, Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa and even a replica of the Titanic ship. His favourite work of art is the replica of the Tanjore Temple that he created using 51,306 matchsticks, without their caps. The replica of the temple measures over eight feet in length and four feet in width and it took Venkatesh 520 hours (over 21 days) to make. The structure stands over two feet in height.

Anaimalai hills are a trekking destination in the Western Ghats. The best time to visit this place is during November to mid May. The nearest airport is in Coimbatore and the nearest railway station is in the nearest city, Pollachi. Vaidehi Waterfalls: It is located 30 km front Coimbatore via. Narasipuram village. It is a fine picnic spot or trekkers. A perennial waterfalls is a major attraction here.

Pubbing and clubbing are yet to catch on. Bars are restricted to the star-hotels and one is as good as the other. So unless invited to a private party, catch up on lost sleep while in Coimbatore. The city has a couple of pubs and a whole lot of bars. Booze is served at pretty nominal rates according to the status of the place.

VOC Park : The Park maintained by Corporation, is dedicated to the memory of VO Chidambaram Pillai, one the Indian stalwarts in the fight for freedom. The Mini Zoo, Children Train, Children Play Equipments, Garden with pre-historic Dinosaurs etc. provide fun and entertainment among children and as well as adults.

Coimbatore is famous for markets housing automobile parts that are among the cheapest in southern India. It is also a good place to do textile shopping. They have very good and huge textile shops like Chennai Silks, Kumaran Silks, Shree Krishna Stores, Fashion Silk House, Sreedevi textiles etc,. which offer fantastic collection of saris, Salwars and wedding dresses. Raja Street and Sukravar Pettai are the places where you will get good textile apparels. Some of the main places to shop in Coimbatore are, Big Bazaar at Oppanakkara Street, Raja Street at Ranga Gownder Street, Sukravar Pettai(for Handloom Saris), Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium, etc,.

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. 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, etc) that are a convenient hang-out for the youth of the city.

Khadi Gandhi Gallery, Forest College Museum and Government Museum are the main museums of Coimbatore. Governmetn Museum: The government initiated the museum in 1989. The museum is situated in VOC Park Road, which bears the remnants of various tribes of the place. The museum is compartmentalized into 5 sections. The museum bears fossil remains and age-old tools. The megalithic burial materials, ancient coins and decorative artifacts are few among the rare items that are displayed. There is a separate section for old rocks, minerals and wood fossils and tribal medicinal plants. Khadi Gandhi Gallery: The Government set the Khadi Gandhi gallery up in Coimbatore on 15th of July 1970. The gallery displays pictures of Gandhi right from his birth to his death. There are interesting collections of rare photographs titled 'Journey through Harijan Life',Family, Friends, Independence Struggle, Jail Life and Peace Talks. Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated with grandeur in this gallery. Anaimalai Hills : The Anaimalai Hills also known as Elephant Hill is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Anai' meaning elephant and 'Malai' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. Anaimalai hills are known for their abundant wildlife. The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in these hills are well known for elephants. These hills is also an ideal spot for trekking.

Agriculture University: One of the best universities of Asia, the Agriculture University is also home to the to a 300 acres Botanical Garden. Anamalai (Indira Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary: This Sanctuary is about 90 kms from Coimbatore and is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The area of the sanctuary is 958 sq.kms. An ecological paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a National Park. It has just recently been renamed as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. It has various kinds of fauna like Elephant, Tiger, Sloth Bear, Deer, Wild Bear, Wild Dog, Flying Squirrel, Jackal, Civet Cat and birds like Rocket-tailed Drongo, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Tree Pie, Black Headed Oriole, Spotted Dove, Pigeon, etc. The Amaravati reservoir in the Anamalai has large number of crocodile. There are many places of scenic beauty such as Grass hills, Waterfalls, teak forests, dams and reservoirs.

Siruvani Waterfalls And Dam: The waterfalls and the dam are located at a distance of 37Km West of the city. The water of Siruvani is water famed for its purity and taste. Siruvani is the source of drinking water supply to Coimbatore. The panoramic view of the dam and the falls are of enchanting beauty. Monkey Falls: It is 65 km from Coimbatore and 27 km from Pollachi on Coimbatore Pollachi Valparai Highways.

Coimbatore serves as an entry and exit point to neighboring Kerala and the ever-popular hill station of Udhagamandalam (Ooty). Money changers: P.Shanmugam(Managing director) MoneyExpress foreign exchange, Opposite to annastatue, coimbatore-641018. ph:91-422-2214035 Cotton clothes and open sandals are sensible things to pack. Some light warm clothing even in the summer months would stand you in good stead because the nights get quite cool in the hills. An umbrella or a raincoat is a good thing to carry in case it rains. Before entering into religious places like mosques, temples, etc,. remove footwear and respect the tradition of the place.

Government of India Tourist Office Tourist Office - Tamilnadu 154, Anna Salai Madras 600 002 Tamil Nadu , INDIA Telephone: +91 44 8269685 , 869695 Fax: +91 44 8266893 Chief Immigration Office Foreigners Regional Registration Office Shastri Bhavan Annexe, Haddows Road-6 Chennai Ph : 8277036 Central Railway Station Chennai - 3 Ph : 5353351

HDFC Bank Damodar Center, Avinashi Road Coimbatore Phone: 0422-2213713 ICICI Bank 1619 Trichy Road Coimbatore Phone: 0422-2300168,2300169 Indian Ovearseas Bank Arts College Road Coimbatore Phone: 0422-2497832,2490335

Coimbatore is a city that is popularly known for its automobile spare parts manufacturing, engineering firms, textile industries, etc,. People who are greatly interested in textiles and hosieries must have to make their visit to Coimbatore, as it is well-renowned for its textile and other engineering works.