Coimbatore - Socio-Economic Aspects

Coimbatore City

The region around Coimbatore, known as Kongu Nadu, was ruled by the Sangam Cheras till the 10th Century AD and then it was the Medeival Cholas. In the 15th Century AD it came under the Vijayanagara empire. The Vijayanagara rule brought new settlers from Andhra and Karnataka. 1550s, the military governors of the Vijaynagara Empire (Madurai Nayaks) took control of the region. After the Vijayanagara Empire fell in the 17th century, the Madurai Nayaks established their state as an independent kingdom, with other Vijayanagara offshoots forming new kingdoms. They introduced the Palayakkaraar system under which Kongu Nadu region was divided into 24 Palayams.

In the later part of the 18th century, the Coimbatore region came under the Kingdom of Mysore and after the Anglo-Mysore wars the British annexed Coimbatore to the Madras Presidency in 1799. In 1865, Coimbatore was established as the capital of the newly formed Coimbatore District and in 1866 it was accorded the Municipality status. In 1981 it became a Corporation.

Coimbatore is one of the ten fastest growing cities in India. It has been ranked 4th among Indian cities in investment climate by a survey done by the Confederation of Indian Industry (Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj) and 17th among the top global outsourcing cities in a study by Tholons. Coimbatore has an international airport, a busy railway junction and several bus terminals. The water of Siruvani reservoir, considered the tastiest in South India, is the drinking water supplied in Coimbatore.

The incessant cool breeze from the Western Ghat Mountain Ranges, surrounding Coimbatore, makes even the summer days comparatively cool, especially in the morning and evening.Coimbatore is the second largest city of Tamil Nadu, with a population of over 2 million. Situated on the banks of Noyyal River and surrounded by the Western Ghats, it has a perennially pleasant and salubrious climate.

Fact File - Coimbatore

Known as Manchester of South India, Coimbatore alias Kovai, is at an elevation of about 398 meters at the foot hills of Nilgiris and on the bank of the Noyyal River. It is believed that the name evolved from name of the local Goddess Koniyamman, also known as Koniyamuttur. Some argue that it was Kovan Putur from a king named Kovan who ruled Coimbatore. Coimbatore is the administrative head quarters of Coimbatore district. It has been famous for motor pumps and textile industry and is now becoming the hub of Information Technology.