Coimbatore City?

Answer 1

Coimbatore also known as Kovai, is an industrial city in South India. It has the second largest population in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and the fourth largest in South India. It is the administrative headquarters of Coimbatore District. Coimbatore is known for its textile factories, engineering firms, automobile parts manufacturers, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, pleasant weather, friendly culture and hospitality.[citation needed] Coimbatore has an emerging Information Technology industry. Situated on the banks of the Noyyal river, Coimbatore is also known as Koneyammanputhhur, which means "birth-place of the Goddess" (koni amman).

click here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coimbatore#History

Answer 2

coimbatore taluk vao list

Answer 3

yes coimbatore is a city


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'. 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.

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.



Fast Facts

Area 105.60 sq km
Altitude 43.2 m above sea level
Languages Tamil, English
STD Code 0422
State Capital No


History



The strategic location of Coimbatore near the Palghat gap within the Western Ghats has made this region an area of conflict between different southern kingdoms since ancient times. Not much is known about the prehistory of this region. However, during the Vedic age (1500 BC-600 BC) Dravidians are supposed to have inhabited this region, like most other areas of south India.

The region around Coimbatore was amongst the first places in Tamil nadu, where the local Tamil speaking people set up territorial states. In the ancient period the region around Coimbatore was known as Kongu Nadu (Kongu country) and was ruled by local Velir chiefs, who were of Tamil origin. In course of time Kongu country witnessed a long drawn out struggle between the different kingdoms of south India: the Cholas (who ruled the area of Tanjore), the Pandyas (who ruled in the region of Madurai) and the Cheras or Keralas (who ruled the Kerala coast). The region ruled by these kingdoms was known as the land of the Tamils, as Tamil was the language spoken here. The information we get about these three states is mainly based on Tamil literature also called the 'Sangam literature'.

Sangam literature is a vast collection of ancient Tamil poems. These poems are treasure troves of information, as they vividly describe the life and culture of the common people and the rulers of South India. These poems point out that the Cholas Pandyas and Cheras constantly fought with each other, and the boundaries of their states changed frequently. A large part of Kongu Nadu was ruled by the Cheras while the remaining areas was in possession of the Pandya Kings. Though the region around Coimbatore witnessed a lot of conflict in the ancient period, in reality it never became an important centre for any kingdom and was mainly inhabited by local tribes.

This region became a part of the great Vijayanagar Empire in the medieval period. After the disintegration of the Vijaynagar Empire the local Nayaka rulers of Madurai ruled it. For a short period of time this region came under the rule of the Mughal Empire when Emperor Aurangzeb annexed large areas of Southern India, during his famous Deccan campaign. However, the Mughal Empire could not hold on to its newly acquired territories for long. The decline of the Mughal hold in this region created a political vacuum, which led to a renewal of conflicts between different states. The British finally annexed this region in the 18th century.



Best Season, Climate, and Clothing



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.


reff:http://www.touristplacesinindia.com/coimbatore/about-coimbatore.html

Answer 4

Anamalais Toyota Salem

Answer 5

There are many people who would make fun of the prospect of changing their fates. This is because it thinks that no one gets more that exactly what is written in his destiny.

Answer 6

I do not know the best way to answer this without offending

Answer 7

Wow, thankyou! I was asking myself the same question the other day

Answer 8

yes,its in tamilnadu,india !!!!!!

Answer 9

It is one of the place in tamilnadu district in kerala state. it is 200 K.M far away from Chennai (capital of tamilnadu)

Coimbatore is the second largest city of TamilNadu and one of the fastest growing cities in India. Situated at the foot hills of Nilgiris, it is known for its pleasant climate, peaceful atmosphere, cosmopolitan outlook and private enterprise. Cotton textiles, electric motors, pumps, automobile spares, iron steel and aluminium castings form major exports from Coimbatore.

Coimbatore



Coimbatore
State
- District(s) Tamil Nadu
- Coimbatore
Coordinates 11.01° N 76.96° E
Area
- Elevation
- 411.2 m
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Population (2004)
- Density 1,865,234
-
Codes
- Postal
- Telephone
- Vehicle
- 641001
- +91-(0)422
- TN 37, TN 38

Coimbatore pronunciation (help·info) (Tamil: ேகாயமப்த்தூர்), also known as Kovai, is an industrial city in South India. It has the second largest population in [1]Tamil Nadu after Chennai and the fourth largest [2]in South India. It is the administrative headquarters of Coimbatore District. Coimbatore is known for its textile factories, engineering firms, automobile parts manufacturers, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, pleasant weather, friendly culture and hospitality.[citation needed] Coimbatore has an emerging Information Technology industry.[citation needed] Situated on the banks of the Noyyal river, Coimbatore is also known as Koneyammanputhhur, which means "birth-place of the Goddess" (koni amman).
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Information about the origins of Coimbatore is scarce. During the early period it was ruled by the Cheras and Cholas. During the early Chola period (prior to the year 200 CE) Karikala Chola built the Perur temple.[citation needed]

Later the region passed to the Rastrakutas and Ganga kingdoms of Mysore following the political confusion created by the Kalabhras who held sway over South India until 550 CE. Chalukyas took over the region in 550 CE, after a brief tussle with Pallavas who ruled the region for a few decades. From the Chalukyas, it passed on to the Pandyas of Madurai in 720 CE.

A second Chola empire arose in the mid-9th century, and gained the territory encompassing Coimbatore. They established a planned layout, with the Koniamman temple in the center.[citation needed] The village was named "Kovanputhur" after its aboriginal Irula Clan chieftain. The Irulas built the water tanks which still play a major role in Coimbatore's water management system.

**Medieval Coimbatore**

From the Cholas, control of Coimbatore passed back to the Pandyas for a brief period, then to the Hoysalas of Karnataka in 1291. By the early 14th century, the region was ruled by the Muslim rulers of Madurai under the Delhi Sultanate. The Muslim rule in Madurai was ended in the late 14th century by the newly formed Vijayanagara Empire. The Vijayanagara reign brought new settlers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

In the 1550s the military governors (Nayaks) of the Vijaynagara Empire took control of Madurai, with Coimbatore belonging to their territory. After the downfall of Vijayanagara Empire, the Madurai Nayaks established their state as an independent kingdom, with other Vijayanagar offshoots forming new kingdoms in Vellore, Tanjore, Gingee, Chandragiri and Mysore. The Nayaks introduced the Palayakarars (called Polygars by the British), who were military governors of their respective regions.

By the 1700s, frequent fighting between Madurai and Mysore forces in the Coimbatore region resulted in the village being ruled by Mysore. At this time Coimbatore was still a village of around 3000 people.[citation needed]

**British rule**

In the 1760s the Mysore throne itself was usurped in a coup by General Hyder Ali. Ali was hostile to the British,[citation needed] who were gaining a foothold in the area with the help of Arcot Nawab. A series of wars between the British and the Mysore forces continued till Tipu Sultan's death in 1799, when the Mysore throne was handed over to the earlier Mysore rulers. At that time the British annexed the Coimbatore region into the Madras Presidency. When Hyder Ali acquired Coimbatore, the population was around 3000.[citation needed] The village dwindled to 1500 by Tipu's death.[citation needed]

In 1804 Coimbatore was established as a capital for the newly formed Coimbatore district. In 1848, it was accorded the Municipality status.

A British Gazetteer in 1858 observed in his manual 'the town not fit for human dwelling, with air and water unsuitable for humans.'[citation needed] Sir Robert Stanes, a British entrepreneur and philanthropist, became the first Chairman of the Coimbatore City Council in the late 19th century and founded a major high school.

** Post-independence**

In 1979 Coimbatore became a Corporation with annexure of the Singanallur Municipality.

[edit] Geography

The city lies between 10° 10' and 11° 30' of the northern latitude and 76° 40' and 77° 30' of eastern longitude in the extreme west of Tamil Nadu near Kerala state at an elevation of 432 metres from sea level. Mean valued to 11.01° N 76.96° E.

Surrounded by mountains on west and northern side with reserve forests and river basin (Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve), the eastern side of the district starting from the city is predominantly dry.

The entire western and northern part of the district borders with Western Ghats with Nilgiri bio-sphere, Anamalais and Munnar range with a western pass to Kerala a.k.a. Palghat gap providing its boundary. Due to the presence of the mountain pass major parts of the district are benefited from the south-west monsoon.

** Geology**

It is generally a dry district apart from the Noyyal river basin and occasional over-flowing streams from the western ghats, which terminate in the city's large tanks. The soil predominant is black soil suitable for cotton cultivation with frequent interlude of a type of red loamy soil. Coimbatore also falls under Class III/IV Seismic Zone and has experienced 6.0 Richter scale earthquake in the past.

** Climate**

Climate is generally pleasant with low humidity temperatures, noted for its cool breeze unusual for a tropical Zone. Temperatures range from 20°C - 32°C during winters (December) to 27°C -36°C during summer (April-May). After mild winters in December - January months winters from the city has an early summer starting March till May. Due to the western pass, the city gets (south-west) monsoon showers with a mild drizzle in June to August. After a pleasant September, regular monsoon starts from October lasting till early November, which is brought about by the retreating monsoons/post monsoon season (North-eastern monsoon). Although these rainfalls are not enough for the entire year, small rivers like Siruvani and Atthikadavu fulfil water needs of the city.

**Flora and fauna**

Given its close proximity to western ghats the district is rich in fauna. Apart from the species common to the plains, wild elephants, leopards, tigers, bisons, deers, Nilgiri Tahr, sloth bear, black headed oriole. The Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (88 km) in the western ghats at an altitude of 1,400 meters covers an area of 958 km². Among region’s livestock animals are the Kangeyam breed bulls (cross-bred by Mandradiar family in 17th century to suit the terrain). These breed which helped gain foothold in dairy industry are found only in Coimbatore and neighbouring districts.

More than 20% of the district is classified as forest and compromises mountain range, and they lie in west and north. The forests here are abundant in commercially significant items such as teak, sandalwood, rosewood, bamboo etc. The Nilgiris slope viz. the Mettupalayam range is rich in sandalwood trees and bamboo. They vary from rich tropical evergreen forests of Punachi range to jungles of shrubs in southern ranges. Apart from this, quite a few are tea plantations. The Nilgiris biosphere reserve is an hour drive from the city.

** City-scape**

The city has six major arterial roads and three National Highways, NH-47 (Kanniyakumari - Salem), NH-67 (Coimbatore - Nagappattinam) and NH-209 (Bangalore - Dindigul) passing through the city. There is one civil airport in Peelamedu (8 km) and air-force Base at Sulur (12Km). Railways (Broad Gauge) connect to all parts of India and a (Meter Gauge) line to Dindigul.

The Townhall area is the oldest part of the city, also a major trading center, with the main market. Rest of the city were villages till independence, later clubbed into Municipality. In 1979 the city was further upgraded as Municipal Corporation. Most of the banks have main branch offices in Townhall.

The city and surrounding landscape is dotted with coconut Trees. R.S.Puram and Saibaba Colony are two major residential localities which later turned commercial. The western part of the city has a higher population density. The southern side ends with Noyyal River, but areas in-between Noyyal and Trichy road are still under cultivation with no access.

Barring the Western side almost all industrial units are located on the other three sides with most being on the North. Kovaipudur is a satellite town located on the Palghat Main Road, while Mettupalayam road (leading to Ooty) is almost fully urbanised (entire stretch of 40Kms) making it the most dangerous and fatal for motorists.

Five large tanks encompass the Western part of the town. Gandhipuram and R.S.Puram form the other major shopping areas. All major roads in the city and those leading to the city are heavily occupied with commercial establishments, often resulting in traffic bottlenecks.

The eastern side has more residential localities in-between old villages.Lack of new wider roads makes the city traffic always using few major roads. Race course established by the British then on the outskirts of the city with a circumference of 2.3 km is now an expensive residential area, which is fast turning into a commercial centre losing its charm. Avinashi road houses major commercial offices and further east Peelamedu houses most of the city's educational institutions.

Coimbatore is also one of the few Indian cities which has the presence of all major wings of the country's external defence- Army, Navy and Airforce. River Noyyal marks the Southern border of the city.

**Surrounding towns and districts**

It is bounded in the north by Nilgiris district, east by Erode district, South by Dindigul District. In the west and south the mountain ranges and the West by Kerala.

Nearest ports are Cochin, Chennai and Tutucorin (424 km). Nearest international airports are Chennai (505 km), Cochin (160 km) and Bangalore (335 km).

Nearest major tourist centres are Munnar (90 km), Ooty (96 km), Mysore (230 km), Trichy (255 km), Madurai (245 km), Palani (105 km) and Kodaikanal.

*** Demographics***

As of 2001 India census, Coimbatore has a population of 1.2 million within city limits and estimated another 0.6 million under urban cover. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Coimbatore has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 81% and female literacy is 74% with 11% of the population under 6 years of age (2001).

**** People and culture****

The city has a multi-cultural society, mostly of cosmopolitan nature. Many of them are basically conservative in nature but always open for blending tradition with modern values, with most of the people still retaining their roots in their native villages. People here are known for being polite, modest and courteous. Even addressing the young in plural, with brash and rude behavior is generally looked down.

[edit] Languages

Tamil is the official and widely spoken language. The dialect of the Tamil language spoken here has a flavour of warmth and generosity, and is referred to as 'Kongu Tamil’, often addressing younger person and strangers in plural irrespective of class.

Other languages spoken in Coimbatore include Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English. There are quite a large population of Gujrathis and Marwaris settled more than 100 years ago. Also people from Konkan coast of Konkani and Tulu origins have settled in the city. The early settlers of Kongu Nadu were the Gounders and Adi Dravidars, essentially a farming community. Vested with irrigated land by the then rulers, they were quick to improvise, try and adopt new farming practices.

Apart from the native Gounders, Adi Dravidars and otherTamil speaking population, the city has large number of Telugus, (Kamma, Naidus and few Telugu Chettiars, Kannadiga’s (Gowda’s , Kannada and Chettiars who migrated and settled in and around Coimbatore during 16th century. Palghat Brahmins, Keralites from Palghat and Trichur too are in large numbers from 19th century onwards.

***Religion***

The city's population is predominantly Hindu, along with a sizable Muslim and Christian populations. Sikhs and Jains constitute in much smaller numbers.

The city is dotted with numerous temples, but the most famous being the Perur Temple, the Avinashi Temple, the Murugan temple in Marudhamalai and two Vishnu temples at Papanaickenpalayam. Konniamman temple at Big Bazaar temple is considered to be the city-temple. A replica temple of Tirupathi is located in Valparai and another near Mettupalayam.

The city's big Mosques are in Oppanakara Street and Big Bazaar Street dates back to the period of Hyder Ali.

Christian missionaries date back to 1647 when permission was granted by the Nayak rulers to set up a small church in Karumathampatti (12 km). Later they were destroyed by Tipu Sultan’s army resulting in a new church in 1804. In 1886, Coimbatore was constituted as a diocese after bifurcating with Pondicherry. Numerous big churches of both Roman Catholic and CSI Protestant are in Coimbatore including one church for Kerala Roman Catholics and a Syrian Christian curch. The CSI Immanuel curch in Avinashi and is the largest church in India which can accomodate about 8000 people within its building in a single service. Sikh Gurudhwaras and Jain Temples are located in R.S Puram.

** Festivals**

Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival (Sankranthi in Telugu and Kannada) is celebrated by most of the people, when most of the houses will be re-painted. Tamil New Year's day, Vishu (Malayalam New Year) is celebrated in April along with Telugu New Year’s day (Ugadi) falling a week later.

Summer festivals are the Mariammam festivals, at the city’s numerous 'Amman' temples. This is one of the most popular festivals celebrated along with Koniamman temple car festival.

New moon day in Tamil month of Aadi (August) is a major festival to commemorate ancestors. Vinayagar (Ganesh) Chaturhuthi and Vijaydasami are major events. Auyudha pooja is quite a major festival, as being a major industrial city all establishments and industries will be cleaned, re-painted, machines and vehicles washed and concluding with a pooja. Onam is celebrated by the Keralites in the city.

Deepavali (also known as Diwali) is a major festival, gaining popularity than Pongal partly due to the bonus disbursements along with fire crackers and purchase of new clothes. The Lamp festival (Karthigai) in late November marks the conclusion of monsoons. Early morning Bhajans and poojas in all temples are held during Tamil month of Markazhli (December-January).

Bakrid and Ramzan are celebrated by the Muslims in the city. Easter and Christmas are celebrated by the Christians and Mahavir Jayanthi by Jains. Apart from this, other national holidays are observed including Independence Day on August 15 and Republic Day on January 26.

Koniamman temple car festival and Karamadai temple car festival attracts huge crowds.

***] Cuisine***

The cuisine is predominantly South Indian with Rice as base. Most locals still retain their rural flavour and non-vegetarians are in much larger numbers. In restaurants, it is typical South Indian with less spicy Coimbatore flavour, while the Biriyani is again a favourite originating from the Tamil Muslims. Foods in most restaurants are served in banana leaf. North-Indian cuisine is available in many restaurants but the ones owned by north Indians are more authentic. Also notable are Chinese restaurants along with continental hotels. They usually serve Idly or Dosa with Sambar, Roti or Puri for breakfast and Biriyani or rice meals in the noon. Marriage festivals do have elaborate dinners and lunch with more of fusion food and Palghat cuisines.

Sweets play a predominant role during special occasions and during visits to friends and relatives. The city is most famous for 'Krishna sweets Mysurpa' (a sweet made from lentils and ghee) and Idly, Dosa from 'Annapoorna' chain. The water originating from Sirivani is known for its sweet taste, now available only in the western parts of the city.Bhelpuri and Pani Puri eateries (more of southern style) dot most streets in prime time. Tea shops known as bakeries along with pastries, fresh juice and Ice-cream are again in abundance filling almost all streets. New developments are Pizza and Coffee houses and grill chicken. Majority of cuisines are typical south Indian with modified flavour to suit locals.

*** Sights and attractions***

Even though Coimbatore is not a pilgrimage center or a place of religious significance, there are a number of noteworthy temples. Major attractions are the Chola-era Lord Shiva (Patteswarar) Perur Temple, and the Hill temple of Marudhamalai which offers a breath taking view of Coimbatore lights in the late evening. Further Sri Murugan Temple at Marthumalai, the Thandumariamman Temple, the Arulmigu Eachanari Vinayagar Temple at Eachanari [3], Arulmigu Koniamman Temple, the Sivan Temple at Poondi are also famous. A beautiful replica of Tirupathi-Tirumala temple is situated in Then Thirumalai, 40 km from north of Coimbatore.

Another notable landmark, ISKCON temple, built based on Puri Jaganathar Temple is located near the CODISSIA Trade Fair grounds, Avinashi road.

Mahalaxmi temple on Pollachi Main road is another attraction. ISHA Dhyana Lingam situated in the foot hills of Velangiri hills is a place which is visited by many people regardless of religion.

Coimbatore District is a great place for wild life and jungle safaris. Otherwise the city has very little to boast of historic monuments when compared to other towns in Tamil Nadu. Black Thunder is a water theme park situated in the foot hills of Nilgiris in Mettupalayam.

There is a beautiful botanical garden spread over 55 acres of fertile land maintained by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, TNAU. Flower shows are held here every year. The TNAU, is one of the oldest institution of its kind. It has an imposing campus.

The museum inside the Forest college and G.D.Naidu Industrial Exhibition offers a glimpse of city’s industrial development. Kasturi Srinivasan Cultural Centre has an excellent Art and Textile Museum.V.O.C Park named after noted freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai[4] with adjoining meeting grounds and Nehru Stadium (Soccer and Athelete) attracts large crowds in the evening. The Coimbatore Zoo nearby is another major attraction.

Wild life centres include Top Slip, Munnar and Hassanur. The district's reserve forests have numerous Forest Bungalows which can be rented. Ooty and Coonor being just within 100kms are beautiful hitt stations. On the Southern side, Kodaikanal and Munnar on the Western Ghats are good for one-day trip, all being hill stations.

***Sports and recreation***

Motorsports is the major sport of the city often known as “Motorsports Capital of India” and “Backyard of Indian Motorsports”. The city has a motor racing circuit (can host upto Formula 3 Category) and two more Go-Kart circuits. National Champion races for Formula racing(Cars), Motorcycle racing, Go-Kart racing are held inKari Motor Speedway. Rallying is another major event with all rally car teams based in Coimbatore. (Team JK and Team MRF). LG Sports designs and constructs almost all Formula cars. Rallies are conducted in closed roads around Coimbatore districts. Narain Karthikeyan is one famous driver from the city and the first Indian to enter Formula 1 in 2005 with Team Jordan Grand Prix Toyota.

The city has numerous Cricket league teams often playing on Sundays on various pitches, popular being the Forest College grounds. Nehru stadium built originally for Football can also host athletic meets. Coimbatore Golf Club is a major 18-hole golf course, regularly conducting national events.

Apart from them, lot of tennis and shuttle courts are around the city. The city is also one of the last bastions of India’s National Game Hockey patronised by few Schools. Football is another major sport with league teams.

Cosmopolitan Club is more than 100 years old, which was started to have Indian Members only contrary to the Coimbatore Club (English Club) which till 50’s never admitted any Indians. Coimbatore Flying Club is situated in the Coimbatore Airport premises. There are a large number of Amateur HAM radio operators, apart from them, almost all sports are represented by its own club.

Though there are a lot of entertainment centres mushrooming in the land-locked city, Cinema still remains the city's most popular recreational activity.

[edit] Media and communication

The city has two major English dailies, The Hindu and The New Indian Express. Tamil language dailies include Dina Malar, Dina Thanthi, Dina Mani and Dina Karan with two other dailies- Maalai Murasu and Maalai Malar published in the evening. Throughtout Coimbatore’s history, several local newspapers and magazines were started and folded up.

Short wave radio station is operated by 'All India Radio' with most programmes in Tamil and news in Tamil, English and Hindi. Two FM radio stations operate from Coimbatore- one 'Rainbow FM' by All India Radio and other 'Suryan FM' by Sun Networks.

Television relay started Coimbatore in 1985 (Delhi Doordarshan), later in 1986 after inception of Kodaikanal Tower Madras Doordarshan commenced. But people of Coimbatore have witnessed 1980 Olympics and 1984 Cricket World Cup on a giant screen in VOC Park when the city-based UMS developed dish antennae for satellite signal reception. Television nowadays is through DTH or by Cable, while 'Doordarshan' reception is still through antennae.

Coimbatore is the headquarters for the Tamil Nadu circle of cellular service providers, with Aircell having its headquarters in Coimbatore. Serviced available are DOT landline,CDMA and GSM.

Fibre optic cables were laid in 2001, spurting internet access which earlier started through Dial-up connection in 1996.

[edit] Administration

The city is a Municipal Corporation as well as the district's Head quarters. The city has two MPs representing Coimbatore east and west constituencies, but oddly enough 5% of the city territory is represented by the Nilgiri constituency which runs into the Northern part on the city. The city has a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and several councilors elected by people representing administrative wards and also a corporation Commissioner to administer the city headed by District Collector. District court forms the highest appeal court in Coimbatore. Despite being the largest revenue earning districts, civic development funds by Tamil Nadu government has kept the city underdeveloped in basic civic infrastructure.

[edit] Law and order

Recent crime rate has been on the lower side, much recently after the 1998 Bomb Blast, when police improved vigilance. Contrary to other major cities, shops and public transportation have to shut down by 11pm.

1984 Indira Gandhi assassination marked large scale arson and looting. During 1980’s thugs and rowdies and pick-pockets were on the rise when liquor shops were in plenty, later most of them behind bars or subdued. Hindu – Muslim riots which were frequent during late 80’s reached its peak in 90’s later when it ended with massive riots in the Townhall and west Coimbatore area. Today the city is peaceful and such riots are almost negligible. Now most of the accused in the serial bomb blasts are undergoing trail. Mostly this is one of the calm and peaceful cities in india.

Drunken driving is much strictly enforced than other towns or cities, along with illegal parking where vehicles often gets towed away.

[edit] Environmental issues

Coimbatore has a better air quality, inspite of being heavily industralised. Most industries are engineering based (less polluting) and there are no deadly toxic spewing or waste dumping factories. In 1990’s the State Government and pollution control board took major steps to re-locate the steel foundries out of the city. The foundries were established in 50's and 60’s when there were no residential areas nearby, but expansion had to give way. The textile mills are all equipped with air treatment Towers.

The city has no underground drainage or sewage. Garbage is collected by the Corporation (sometimes systems developed by the locals), but dumping in residential areas has created major controversies. The city's hospitals still have no proper bio-waste management scheme, they often dump them in barren lands. Drainage is pumped into the remaining tanks through streams.

During the 80’s, tanks were encroached by politically backed thugs and by late 80’s corporation planned closing them by filling with waste and lease one of the tanks to a petroleum company. But as a result of outcries from associations, the tanks are being renovated by the city's environmental groups with their own fund-raising. From mid 90’s public encroachments were checked out by the Corporation authorities.

The Sanganur stream once overflowing with mountain water today carries sewage. Waste management is still neglected resulting in open ditches which are used for dumping waste. 'Siruthuli', an environmental organisation initiated by the city's industrial houses have embarked in de-silting of tanks and cleaning of Noyyal river. Citizen Voice Club is one of the most active clubs in raising civic issues.

[edit] Economy

The City's primary economy is engineering and textile industry. Other than that the district also houses the country's largest cluster of Hosiery and Poultry industries. What makes it stand apart from any other major city is most of them are entrepreneurs, often indigenous with family based or community funding. Significantly, Coimbatore's industrial base has been nurtured by agriculture. The most striking feature being its diversity, enterprise and resilience. In its rise from strength to strength it converted to advantage even its disadvantages. The city's industrial growth started in 1920’s and accelerated after Independence. And that was without any government assistance or without the entry of external industrial houses.

Of late, major IT companies have started opening their offshore development centres in the city, for the advantages of salibrous climate, cheap manpower and better infrastructure in the city. Coimbatore has very good scope for developing into an IT hub.

[edit] Early industrial developments

When British occupied Coimbatore, the territory connected the Malabar ports with the rest of India (apart from Konkan coast). Later the British expanded their railway network in 1862, passing through Podanur through Cochin for quicker transit of raw materials required for England.

By mid 1888, Sir Robert Stanes founded the Coimbatore Spinning and Weaving Mills (also known as Stanes Mills) in the northern edge of the town after starting a coffee curing factory in Trichy road. Sir Robert Stanes would later assist several others in setting up their ventures. http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/07/23/stories/2005072302040300.htm] Two more mills (Kalleeswara and Somasundra mills) were established by 1910. Lakshmi Mills Company commenced their operations in 1911 in Papanaickenpalayam. By 1930s a big chunk of textile mills were established around Coimbatore thanks to the cheap power offered by the Pykara power station.

Engineering Industry origins can be traced to 1920’s when PSG and Sons charities started PSG institutions offering polytechnic courses and industrial training later transforming into an autonomous engineering college.

In 1922, Narayanaswamy Naidu from Papanaickenpalayam started a small workshop to repair cane crushers and cotton ginning machines. Since he found it difficult to procure castings, he travelled to Cochin (now Kochi) and studied the operations of the crucible furnace in Cochin shipyard. Two years later, the Dhandayuthapani Foundry (DPF) was established.[5] Around the same time, G.D.Naidu started his unique bus service later manufacturing India’s first pump and motor for agriculture, he also stated an industrial college in 1945 named Hope College (after then Governor Aurthur Hope), later to become Government College of Technology.

In 1931 Pollachi Nachimuthu Gounder stated his Transport business which would later grow into a multi-crore industrial and trading house. In the 1940s, a Sheffield University Graduate, S.Balasundaram Naidu from Avarampalayam in Coimbatore started his company Textool to manufacture textile machines of his design.

In 1900 Swamikannu Vincent, a railway engineer came across a Frenchman looking to sell his touring cinema, later bought it for Rs. 2,000. Machine in tow, he constantly toured the Madras, Trivandrum and Northern states later purchasing an Edison Carbon Arc Projector in 1914 to built the first cinema in South India, naming it `Variety Hall'(now Delite Theatres). He would also generate his own power to run the theatre, set up the first electric printing press, the first electric rice and flour mill in Coimbatore, then selling the excess power to nearby Stanes High School.

His son, Paul Vincent, concretised his father's ambitions by setting up the first powerhouse in Coimbatore. He was also the first to introduce talkie motion pictures in South India, besides producing a Tamil cinema, 'Valli Thirumanam'. Later they would start a chain of movie theatres in the city.

In 1930s two movie studios (Central and Pakshiraja) were set up, at that time facilities in Coimbatore were better than Chennai studios. They operated till 1950s turning out several blockbusters.

In 1960s few started Wet Grinders (considered to be India’s only product and engineering invention) later into several variants.LMW and Pricol would commence operations later growing into a multi crore group, giving a major boost in the regions economy.

Some wealthy industrialists (notable example S.Karivardhan) with a penchant for tinkering machines and cars plunged into Motor racing later making it the country's capital.

The requirement of textile machines, PSG Institutions and later Coimbatore Institute of Technology both churning out skilled technocrats and several employees with entrepreneur dreams resulted in a massive surge in industrial growth after Independence.

[edit] Industries Today

The district is the State's highest revenue earning district. General trade attracts people from neighbouring Kerala. Neighbouring town, Tirupur has Asia’s largest Garment manufacturing clusters.

Coimbatore is also a emerging as an IT and BPO city. Still agriculture is a major occupation in the district. Themotor and pump industry supplies 2/3rd of India’s requirement, while wet-grinder industry has a near monopoly.

UMS used to manufacture radios, calculators and televisions and supplied radar components to the British during World War II. Textool was a notable company in 1940s who offered a prototype of Sten-Guns to Indian Government after Independence. By 60’s they would develop Indian first in-house designed car, but due to license Raj it never saw its light. Later they did make several prototypes till 1990s and successfully manufactured India’s first Indigenously developed diesel engines in 1972 for cars and their own CNC lathes in 1982. Today their branched out Company Jayem Automotives offers R & D services to Mahindra, Tata Motors and Hindustan Motors.

Mak industries is a major supplier of aircraft starters to Boeing, and numerous small companies have been vendors for India’s Rocket programme as dating as far as 1960s. Sakthi sugars and Rajshree sugars are two major sugar processing companies having their new projects in Orissa and Bihar.

Today Maruti Udhyog, Tata Motors source upto 30% of automotive components from Coimbatore. The city also houses numerous jewellers engaged in jewellery exports.

SIMA(South India Mills Association), CODISSIA(Small Industries Association), SEIMA(Engineering Association) and CII (Coimbatore) play a major role in city's development plans.

Coimbatore also has a 160,000 square feet COINTEC Trade Fair Grounds built in 1999 to host INTEC (Small Industries Exhibition). The Trade Fair complex, one of the country's largest was built in six months owned by CODISSIA. It is also the country's largest pillar-free hall.

SITRA (South India Textile Research Association) and SITARC (South India Testing and Research Centre) are two major institutions offering services to the industries.

[edit] Major industries

Cotton yarn, handlooms, textile machinery, engineering and allied industries, machine tools, wet grinders, BPO and IT, poultry, denim, hosiery and darments, motor pumps, agriculture, agricultural implements and harvesters.

*** Infrastructure***

The city has most basic facilities that are found in other similar sized cities, often after much barter by the local industrialists. Cochin -Chennai (Madras) NH 47 highway and several other new NH connect to cities and towns in Tamil Nadu. A new bye-pass highway completed in 1998 eliminated much of the passing truck traffic in the city.

The Coimbatore Airport is well connected with major cities in India. Indian Airlines operates a weekly flight to Sharjah. Proposed international flights include a direct flight to Colombo by Srilankan airlines and to Singapore by Silk airways. However the runway requires expansion for handling bigger planes. The Airport is one of the fastest growing in terms of Air traffic, with Paramount Airways having its hub in Coimbatore.

Lack of ring roads, sewage and inadequate drainage are heading for disasters. New roads in residential areas are often developed lacking proper plans, resulting in congestion. Rampage constructions of commercial malls in once residential R.S.Puram and Saibaba Colony, with Race Course following it has left few quite neighbourhoods.

The city corporation is allotted inadequate development funds by the State Government despite high revenues resulting in snail pace in infrastructure developments. Lack of proper new roads have also resulted in spurt of 10 storied apartments, in areas developed for smaller density population, often opposed by the local residences, in spite of having abundant space available within city limits.

*** Transportation***

The City has a very high vehicle:popluation ratio. Town Bus services ply to most parts of City and villages in the Districts. Out-Station buses to all Towns in Tamil Nadu, North Kerala and South Karnataka and Tirupathi (Andhra Pradesh).Town buses started operation in 1921. City’s autorickhaws having a reputation for fleecing passengers now faces stiff competition from the Call Taxis.

The first train pulled into Coimbatore (Podanur) from Erode on 12 December 1872 when the Podanur(9Km) Madras line completed connecting Kerala and west coast with rest of India. The city has large number of cars, two-wheelers and Light commercial vehicles.

The buses are noted for rash driving with its drivers generally stressed and rude, reason being the trips are based on old timings when the city had a very light traffic.

***Health Care***

The city has numerous hospitals, attracting patients even from abroad. Apart from the Government hospital, several multi-facility hospitals are in the city. The district's health department tops in implementation of various health schemes initiated by the government. Several rare (country's first) kind of surgeries have taken place here. Polio eradication programme is heavily assisted by the city's Rotary Clubs, who also regularly donate ambulances for smaller hospitals.

***Education***

Educational institutions played a major role in the city's development. Every year, about 25,000 graduates are churned out from more than 25 engineering colleges and 65 arts colleges in the city.

Year 1867 saw the first batch appearing for S.S.L.C Examinations. The city today has gained reputation for large number of highly competitive educational instutions. There are more than a dozen engineering colleges, two medical colleges, an air-force administrative college, a Forest College, more than 50 Arts and Science colleges and 3 universities. The first major educational institution was started by Christian Missionaries as St. Micheals School in 1860. Later Sir Robert Stanes started Stanes High School in 1862 followed by Sarvajana High School in 1910 in Peelamedu.

The first college was the Government Arts College in 1975-76. Later the British opened the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 1878 and later the Forest College in 1932.

The first engineering college was started by PSG and Sons in 1932 as a Polytechnic and industrial training institute, later offering graduate programmes including textile engineering. The college also has a large factory which manufactures conventional machine tools as well as automated CNC machines. They would also publish the 'Design Data' book which today is considered as the Industry Bible. G.D Naidu started Hope College (named after Aurthur Hope, then Governor of Madras Presidency), offering Technical education in Mechanical, Electronics and Automobile engineering. Later it became Government College of Technology. Other major technical institutions include the Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Kumaraguru College of Technology, Amrita Institue of Technical Education, Ramakrishna Engineering College and Sri Krishna Engineering College. These intuitions plays a major role in industrial development, when their student opted to stay in the city to work and later to start their own ventures. Later 1980’s saw a spurt in more engineering colleges; with Amrita Engineering College installing the super computer Param 10000.

Coimbatore Medical College started functioning in 1960s, on land granted by some industrial families. Later in 1987 PSG and Sons started PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research.

Air Force Administrative College in Coimbatore is one of its kind. Avinashilingam Home Science College started by freedom fighter Avinashilingam Chettiar is today a deemed university. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, established in 1904, has successfully developed several high yielding varieties of rice and millets.

Apart from this there are numerous Polytechnics and Arts & Science Colleges in the city.

VISIT TO SEE THE MAP OF COIMBATHORE CITY http://www.coimbatore.com/travel/citymap.htm