Coimbatore also known as Kovai is the third largest city in the state of Tamil Nadu.It is the administrative headquarters of Coimbatore District. It is known as Manchester of South India. It is also a part of Kongu Nadu region of Tamilnadu.It is also known as the cotton city.
Coimbatore is known for its textile factories, engineering firms, automobile parts manufacturers, health care facilities, educational institutions, pleasant weather, hospitality and for its Kongu Tamil. Situated on the banks of the Noyyal River, Coimbatore's name comes from the king rules in coimbatore his name Kovan so its called kovanputur later is come coimbatore. In modern times the name is sometimes abbreviated as CBE.
Information about the origins of Coimbatore is scarce. During the early period it was ruled by the Karur Sangam era Chera. Later, the region passed to the Kongu Rattas and was the heartland of the Ganga kingdoms. 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.
The city has an airport (Coimbatore Airport) at Peelamedu (11 km from the city) and an air-force base at Sulur (15 km). The Coimbatore airport caters to domestic flights to all the major Indian cities and international flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Sharjah and Colombo.
The Extended Runway is now ready at Coimbatore airport.It now runs to 9,760 feet and is capable of handling wide bodied and fat bellied aircraft, especially those operating on the international sector with the extended runway, airlines can operate aircraft types such as 747 SP, A 330, 747-300B, 747 to 300 ER, 747 to 400 and 747 to 200.
The word Marudhachalapathy or Maruthamalai Andavar means Master of Hills, abounding in Marudha trees. The name has also a legendary origin. A Siddha, overcome by excessive thirst and tiredness, sought shelter under the shade of a Marudha tree and prayed to the mercy of the Lord Muruga for a shower of water, which sprang at once as though by a miracle from beneath the tree.
As water gushed out from the roots of the marudha tree, the Siddha leaped in joy, glorifying Muruga as the Lord of Marudha and Jalam (water) with the passage of time, Marudhajalapathi became Marudhachalapathy. Broad gauge trains connect Coimbatore to all parts of India and Tamilnadu, with a meter gauge line connecting the city to Dindigul (this is now under gauge conversion).
The Coimbatore Junction is well connected to major Indian cities like Chennai, Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai, besides to the neighbouring State of Kerala. The city has six major arterial roads and three National Highways, NH to 47 (Kanyakumari to Salem), NH to 67 (Mysore to Nagappattinam) and NH 209 (Bangalore to Dindigul).
A new bypass highway completed in 1998 has helped reduce truck traffic in the city. The city has a very high vehicle to population ratio. Town buses started operation in 1921.Town bus services serve most parts of the city, as well as other towns and villages in the district.
Buses also connect the district to all towns in Tamil Nadu, North and central Kerala, South Karnataka and Tirupathi (Andhra Pradesh). The number of mofussil routes operated by Coimbatore division is 119 with 500 buses The number of town buses in the city is around 800 in 228 different routes.
The city is also served by auto rickhaws. However, rickshaw drivers have had a reputation for fleecing passengers, resulting in competition from call taxis. Trains first began serving Coimbatore in 1872, upon construction of the Podanur (Coimbatore South) Madras line connecting Kerala and the west coast with the rest of India