Tourism

Tourist attractions inside the city

VOC Park

Named after V.O. Chidambaram, a freedom fighter who had a shipping company of his own, the park is located near Gandhipuram Bus Stand. It has a mini zoo, an aquarium and a garden with models of prehistoric creatures, besides children's play area with toy train, sliders, see-saws, etc., and other usual attractions for spending an evening enjoyably. It is maintained by Coimbatore Corporation

Architectural attractions

The Clock Tower, the Victoria Town Hall and several other remnants of colonial occupation remain in Coimbatore to remind visitors of its history and heritage. Samathur, Puravipalayam and Uthukuli, at about an hour's drive from the City, have palaces of Polygars (Zamindars), who were rulers during the Raj. These are over 300 years old and are treasures for the students of architecture.

Government Museum

Located at the Nehru Stadium Complex, the Museum houses thousands of exhibits related to arts, science, numismatics, archaeology, anthropology and geology. In the sculptures exhibited are beautiful and ancient representations of gods, guardian deities, hero stones, etc.

Ancient Industrial Artefacts Museum

Tucked away in a small street off Nanjundapuram Road, is a treasure house which focuses mainly on the glorious Kongu-Chola period. Antiques excavated from Boluvampath, Vallalur, Perur and such other nearby places include stone beads, shell bangles, copper bangles and other jewellery articles. There are also other exhibits including the stone tools of Old and New Stone Ages.

Mahatma Gandhi Museum

Established in 1993 and run by Mahalingam Mariammal Mani Vizha Charitable Trust, it is located in Varadarajapuram. It houses over 60 photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, taken while he was alive.

Kasthuri Sreenivasan Trust Arts Gallery and Textile Museum

It is in Avinashi Road and exhibits include photographs and depictions of costumes of Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Akabar, etc. It also showcases looms of various periods and contains paintings of Indian and European painters including specimens of modern art.

Tourist attractions nearby

Ooty

Known as Queen of Hill Stations, Ooty is a three hours drive from the city and is one of the most popular hill stations in India. The first hydroelectric project in India at Pykara, charming Doddabeta, the highest peak in the Nilgiris, the boat house, the botanical gardens, the serene lake and the fine fragrance of Cyprus, Eucalyptus and the cool climate will refresh and rejuvenate you

Kodaikanal

At five hours drive from the City is Kodaikananl, the hill station nestling high up in the Western Ghats, one of the most bio-diverse areas in the world. Rare flora and fauna, clean and placid lakes, mesmerising caves, charming gardens and winding pathways through pristine wilderness are what awaits you at Kodaikanal.

Palani

On the way to Kodaikanal, before you leave the plains, you can just divert from the path to visit Lord Murugan in his most famous shrine. Thousands visit this temple on top of a hill throughout the year. During Thai Poosam festival in January millions of devotees from Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Kerala walk all the way from their home to Pazhani temple.

Valparai

Manicured tea gardens, silvery waterfalls, tranquil stretches of water, rocky crags and wilderness with rare birds and animals make Valparai a paradise for the nature lover. Sprawling bungalows constructed in the colonial times await the visitors with money to spare.

Malampuzha

Malampuzha Dam, one of the most popular destinations near Coimbatore, is situated 57 km away, in Palakkad District of Kerala. It is the largest reservoir in Kerala with a dam over 2069 metres in length and 355 metres in height. There is a beautiful garden with flower beds and flower-filled pools and sculptures, boating facilities, a ropeway joining two hills on either side of the dam and passing over the gardens and the spillway and an amusement park close by.

Avanashi Temple

In the pilgrim city of the same name, 40 km from Coimbatore, called the Banaras of the South, is the Avanashilingeswarar temple, built by the Cholas during the 12th century. It is the biggest temple of the district and the minute and well shaped carvings and sculptures are adorable in their aesthetic perfection.

Amaravathy Reservoir

In the District of Coimbatore,25 km from Udumalpet, is Amaravathi dam and reservoir. It is situated on the Anamalai hills, within Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, and has a large number of Mugger crocodiles in it. There are many other places of interest in its vicinity like Karainshola, Anaikurthi Shola, grass hills, waterfalls, groves of coconut and palm, teak forests, tea estates, dams and reservoirs that have to be visited.

Coonoor

Just 19 km from Ooty and 71 km from Coimbatore is Coonoor with many attractions for the tourists like Sim's Park, Law's Fall, Ketti Dolphin's Nose, Lamb's Rock, Lady Canning's Seat, the Droog, Rallilah Dam, Catharine's fall and several plantations.

Bhavani

This pilgrim town, 121km from Coimbatore, is known as the Triveni of South India. At the confluence of the rivers Cauvery and Bhavani is the Sangameshwarer temple. The British Collector Willizim Garrow who administered the Coimbatore and Salem districts during the reign of the British East India Company, had his office centre at Bhavani and is said to have been a worshipper of Goddess Vedanayaki, the cohort of Lord Sangameshwarer.

Siruvani Waterfalls and Dam

Located in the Western Ghats, Siruvani Waterfalls and dam are located 37 km west of Coimbatore city. The road to the falls leads past the historical villages of Perur, Mathampatty and Alandurai. The view from the falls is enchanting and the water from Siruvani River is renowned for its taste and mineral properties. It is one of the main water sources of Coimbatore city.

Sengupathi Waterfalls

This charming waterfall is on the road from Coimbatore to Siruvani, welcomes the visitors on their way to Siruvani and is just 3 km from the Dam. The view and the refreshing water compel all who go to Siruvani to stop here on their way.

Kotagiri

This is the oldest hill resort in the Nilgiris and is 105 km from Coimbatore and 28 km from Ooty. Rising 1793 metres from sea level, it has been developed around innumerable knolls and valleys. The Doddabetta Range is 22 km away. Catherine Falls, Elk Falls and Rangaswami Pillar are the major attractions near Kotagiri and you can trek to these places. Kodanad View Point offers a spectacular view of the gentle sloping hills and blue hills. The British, who fell in love with this place, started their building activities early in 1819. Tea plantations add to the charm of these green hills and wooded valleys.

The Monkey Falls

The Monkey falls is an excellent and ideal outdoor destination situated some 65 km from Coimbatore city on Coimbatore-Pollachi-Valparai main road. The scenic beauty of the place makes it a very popular tourist attraction. The low fee (Just Rs.2/-) and the fact that even children can safely take a bath in the falls makes it very attractive for families on outing.

Pollachi

The second largest commercial centre of Coimbatore district, Pollachi, lies 40 km from Coimbatore, on the Coimbatore Madurai highway. Pollachi is very popular for its markets, especially for jaggery, fresh vegetables and cattle. The Jaggery Market in Pollachi is Asia's largest of its kind. The Central part of Kerala depends almost totally upon the vegetables from Pollachi. The Cattle Market of Pollachi is also the biggest of its kind in South India.

Parambikulam-Aliyar

Parambikulam dam, 100 km from Coimbatore, is built across the Parambikulam river that originates in the Kerala state. This dam ranks first in India and in the top ten embankment dams of the world for its massive storage capacity. Parambikulam Aliyar dam is the source for canal irrigation for large tracts of agricultural lands lying nearby in the Tamil Nadu side and within the Kerala state. Apart from it storage capacity it is considered the longest dam in Asia since it stretches to a two kilometre distance. Many rivers like Aliyar, Nirar, Parambikulam, Sholayar, Thekkadi, Thunakadavu and Palar supply water to this dam. This dam comes under the Parambikulam Aliyar Project which is used for power generation in addition to agricultural irrigation. Parambiklam Wild Life Sanctuary is famous for many endemic life forms of the Western Ghat biosphere.

Tirumoorthy Temple

This is a popular holy shrine lying 20 km away from Udumalpet on the Palani - Coimbatore Highway. The temple is set on the foot of the Thirumoorthy Hills near the Dam which has the same name. A stream flows by the side of the temple and there are some waterfalls nearby. The scenic location is becoming more and more popular and the Tourism Department has realized its worth recently.

Tiruppur

This is a textile city, 50 km from Coimbatore, with hundreds of hosiery production centres. Tirupur is a textile hub and a vast generator of employment for unskilled temporary workers. Exports from Tiruppur, which provides employment to over six lakh people, have crossed the Rs.12,000 crore mark last year in FOREX earnings exports and another INR 100 billion in Indian domestic market, making the city a INR 220 billion market. As the products of Tiruppur are mostly exported, it is called also 'Dollar City'.

Vaideki Waterfall

The perennially water-rich Vaideki fall is situated 30 km from Coimbatore, near Narasipuram Village. People who go on trekking and picnics would surely love this place for its scenic beauty.