Manchester of South India - Tamil Nadu Series #2❤️🔥
Namma Kovai - Let's get some fresh air along the Western Ghats
Welcome back to Tamil Nadu Series. After a nice visit to Chennai, what about we drive down to a city surrounded by the western ghats on the Tamil Nadu - Kerala border?
The city always hosts a climate comparable to Bangalore. 100 km drive from this city, you reach Ooty, the Queen of Hill Stations.
The city is always known for its witty, humorous talk and has become a prominent city in Tamil Nadu’s growth. It’s time to visit a beautiful city in the Kongu Region of Tamil Nadu.
Namma Kovai! Yes, it’s Coimbatore🤩
The common language is Tamil, and you will witness a unique colloquial style here and around the Kongu Region. It is also often praised as the cutest and most respectable form of Tamil in the current state.
The city also hosted the World Tamil Conference in 2010, known as the Semmozhi Thiruvizha.
History
The Cheras ruled the region around Coimbatore during the Sangam period, and then the Cholas conquered Kongu Nadu. In the 18th century, the region came under the Kingdom of Mysore following a series of wars with the Madurai Nayak dynasty.
The Coimbatore region played a prominent role in the Second Poligar War when it was the area of operations of Dheeran Chinnamalai. In 1804, Coimbatore was established as the capital of the newly formed Coimbatore district.
The cotton industry's decline in Mumbai fuelled an economic boom in Coimbatore in the 1920s and 1930s. Today, it is one of the largest contributing sectors in Tamil Nadu, with districts around Coimbatore (Erode, Tiruppur, Karur) helping it.
A sorrowful event on 14 February 1998 put the city under everyone’s attention. The Islamist group Al Ummah bombed 11 places across the city, killing 58 people and injuring more than 200.
Places to Visit
Isha Foundation
Timings - 6 AM to 8 PM, Everyday (Adi Yogi and Dhyanalinga)
Isha Foundation, started by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, doesn’t need a separate introduction. Coimbatore is the main headquarters and where it started from. Around 10 km from the city, it hosts the Adi Yogi and the Dhyanalinga.
Mind it; the whole place attracts too much crowd during Maha Shivratri. Not a preferable time if you want to visit it calmly with family.
There is also accommodation available which you can avail through booking online.
Velliangiri Temple
Very close to Isha Foundation, the temple is also called the Kailash of the South. There is a shrine at the bottom of the hill, which everyone can easily access.
There is a cave that has self-made Lingas (picture below). One needs to trek seven mountains from the base shrine to reach this. Girls within a specific age bracket aren’t allowed to climb the mountain.
I have climbed this range two times, and it’s worth the trek. Usually, people climb the whole range overnight, as the rocks get hot in the morning due to sunlight. Also, there is a lot of crowd during the full moon and no moon days.
The trek is allowed only during April-May, and all the full moon and no moon days every month, as it is a forest area. There is no threat of wild animals, though.
Siruvani
Timings - 10 AM to 5 PM, Everyday
Around 36 km from the city, Siruvani Waterfalls and the Siruvani Dam result from a joint initiative of the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments to supply water to the Coimbatore region.
The water here is considered “Asia’s Sweetest Water” and the “World’s 2nd tastiest water.” I’m not even lying about this; it’s true❤❤
About 4 km of the trek is involved in getting to the falls, and the water springs off from a height of 180 feet.
Marudhamalai
Timings - 6 AM to 8.30 PM, Everyday
Marudhamalai Murugan Temple is a popular 12th-century hill temple built by Tamil kings during the Sangam period, as indicated in the Purananuru, a Tamil literary work. The temple is dedicated to Lord Murugan.
Anamalai Tiger Reserve and Topslip
Anamalai Tiger Reserve is in the hills of Pollachi and Valparai, formerly known as the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. You can visit the forest reserve and take forest treks and jeep safari. If you are lucky, you might spot tigers.
Topslip is the tourist zone and main birding area of the Annamalai Tiger Reserve. You also have accommodation facilities here. They take you to nearby tribal villages and elephant rides on a payment basis. A short drive from here, you can reach the Kerala border and visit the Parambikulam Dam.
Black Thunder
Black Thunder is an amusement park like Wonderla and offers a variety of water-based and dry games. One full day will not be enough to complete the rides here. Wonderla offers a variety of dry games, whereas Black Thunder is the best place for water rides. I recommend spending a day here, especially if you have kids.
Pollachi
A small town around 45 km from Coimbatore is a pleasant place to stay for a day or two. The town is very famous for its naturally grown sweet, tender coconuts. It would give you a pleasant experience.
There are many other temples and small waterfalls near Siruvani, which are worth visiting. Other than these, malls like Brookefields, Prozone, and Fun City are preferred hang-out spots for the youth and families in Coimbatore.
Education -
The city serves as an essential education hub in the state, hosting many old and famous colleges and institutions. Some of them are Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology, PSG College, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, etc. The city invites a lot of students from across the country.
Food -
Don’t forget the Kongu region-based delicacies in some famous hotels like Hari Bhavanam (Non-Veg) and the authentic taste of Sambar in Annapoorna (here, you can get sambar as much as ever want, even if you want to drink it xD)
Business and Trade -
There are a lot of industries and small manufacturing units in all sectors. However, it is more famous for clothes and merchandise. You can visit Coimbatore and surrounding cities also for more cloth trade opportunities.
I think that’s more about the Manchester of South India.
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