History
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.
From the Cholas, then to the 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 Palayakkarars, 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 region being ruled by Mysore. At this time Coimbatore was still a village of around 3000 people.
In the 1760s, the Mysore throne was usurped in a coup by General Hyder Ali. Ali was hostile to the British, 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. The village dwindled to 1500 by Tipu's death.
Coimbatore played a prominent role in the Second Poligar War against the British in 1801, when the first attack was done against the British Columns stationed in Coimbatore by the Poligars of Salem, Coimbatore and Dindigul region along with some Malabar and Mysore rebels.
In 1804 Coimbatore was established as a capital for the newly formed Coimbatore district and in 1848, it was accorded the municipality status. Sir Robert Stanes, a British entrepreneur and philanthropist, became the first Chairman of the Coimbatore City Council and also founded the Stanes School in 1862, a major higher secondary school that has stood until the present day as a jewel of the city.
In 1981 Coimbatore became a corporation with annexation of the Singanallur municipality.
Geography
Coimbatore is situated in the extreme west of Tamil Nadu, near the state of Kerala. It is surrounded by mountains on the west, with reserve forests and the (Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve) on the northern side. The eastern side of the district, including the city is predominantly dry. The entire western and northern part of the district borders the Western Ghats with the Nilgiri biosphere as well as the Anaimalai and Munnar ranges. A western pass to Kerala, popularly referred to as the Palghat Gap provides its boundary.
Because of its close proximity to the Western Ghats, the district is rich in fauna.
Coimbatore is situated on the banks of river Noyyal. Many lakes and ponds were constructed near the river during ancient periods. The Coimbatore city alone has nine lakes (wetlands). In most of the urban ecosystems, these wetlands are the major life-supporting component. They support high concentrations of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrate species. The Coimbatore Urban wetlands harbours more than 125 species of resident and migratory birds, with August – October being the peak season. Spot-billed Pelican, Painted Stork, Open Billed Stork, Ibis, Spot-billed Duck, Teal, Black Winged Stilt are some of the migratory birds that visit Coimbatore wetlands regularly. [43]
Apart from the species common to the plains, wild elephants, wild boars leopards, tigers, bison, various species of deer, Nilgiri Tahr, sloth bear and black-headed Oriole can also be found. The Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary (88 km) in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1,400 meters covers an area of 958 km². Among the region’s livestock animals are Kangeyam breed bulls (cross-bred by Mandradiar family in 17th century to suit the terrain). This breed, which helped the region gain a foothold in the dairy industry, are found only in Coimbatore and neighbouring districts. More than 20% of the district is classified as forest, lying in the west and north. The forests here are abundant in commercially significant trees such as teak, sandalwood, rosewood and bamboo. 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 the high altitude regions of Western ghats, most of the forest area has come under Lantana invasion. The locals refer to it as Siriki chedi.
Excellent Climate
Coimbatore has a very pleasant, salubrious climate. Other towns in South India reach unbearable temperatures, while Coimbatore does not feel the heat as much. Situated in the Western part of the state of Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore is situated at an elevation of about 398 meters. The temperature in this part of India is quite pleasant throughout the year. The temperature during both summers and winters varies anywhere between 37 'C to 14 'C. The best time to visit Coimbatore is between the months of July to February, Highest temperature is 41°C and lowest is 12°C.
Due to the presence of the mountain pass, major parts of the district benefit from the south-west monsoon in the months from June to August. After a warm, humid September, the regular monsoon starts from October lasting till early November. These monsoons are brought about by the retreating North-eastern monsoon. Annual rainfall is 61cm
Although this rainfall is not enough to sustain the needs of the city for the entire year, small rivers like the Siruvani and Atthikadavu fulfill the city's water needs. The Siruvani water is the second sweetest water in the world. People who come to Coimbatore will like to stay here forever due to its ever cool weather and the sweet Siruvani water. This is because of large numbers of Amla trees present in the mountains where the Siruvani river originates; thus making the Siruvani river one of the greatest assets of Coimbatore.
Coimbatore 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 is predominantly black, which is suitable for cotton cultivation, but it also has some red loamy soil. Coimbatore falls under the Class III/IV Seismic Zone, having experienced a 6.0 Richter scale earthquake in 1900. The Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History is located at Anaikatty in Coimbatore district.
Demographics
As of the 2001 census, Coimbatore had a population of 1,461,139 in city limits . 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.
The city's population is predominantly Hindu, along with sizable Muslim and Christian populations. Sikhs and Jains are also present in smaller numbers.The Kongu Vellalar community living here is the majority and the city has a large number of Telugu Kamma Naidus(also called as Naicker,Chowdary) and few Telugu Chettiars who settled during Vijayanagar Empire, Malayalees / Keralites (Palghat Brahmins), Kannadigas (Gowda’s and Chettiars) who migrated and settled in and around Coimbatore during the 16th century. There is also a large population of Gujarathis and Marwaris settled more than 100 years ago. Also people from Konkan coast of Konkani and Tulu origins have settled in the city.Apart from the above the ancient habitants were kongu vellala gounders who also form a major population. Tamil is the most widely spoken language of Coimbatore. The dialect of the Tamil language spoken here is referred to as "Kongu Tamil", often addressing younger person and strangers with respect, irrespective of class. Coimbatore's inhabitants have a satirical sense of humor, known in Tamil Nadu as "Coimbatore Kusumbu."
Culture
The city has a multi-cultural society, mostly of cosmopolitan nature. Its inhabitants are largely conservative and traditional, retaining their roots in their native villages.
There are numerous temples in the city including the Perur Temple, the Konniamman temple and the Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple. The Mariamman festivals, at the city’s numerous Amman temples, are a major event in summer. A replica temple of Tirupathi is located in Valparai and another near Mettupalayam. A famous ISKCONtemple is also located 9 km from the city. It is a famous temple dedicated for Lord Krishna.Marudamalai, a well known shrine to Murugan, is close to the city. Coimbatore has also been an abode for many siddhars or rishis, who were also experts in medicine, alchemy and astrology. The most prominent of them was Pambatti Siddhar who is said to have lived in Marudamalai. Many of his findings are recorded as poems. The mosques on Oppanakara Street and Big Bazaar Street date back to the period of Hyder Ali. Christian missions date back to 1647 when permission was granted by the Nayak rulers to set up a small church in Karumathampatti (12 km). It was 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. Sikh Gurudwaras and Jain Temples are also present in Coimbatore. Many locations in the city including Kottaimedu have Muslims and Hindus living together which is also considered very sensitive as these locations become the prime target of crime during communal riots as witnessed earlier in the city.
Coimbatore cuisine
Coimbatore cuisine is predominantly south Indian with rice as its base. Coimbatore flavours are generally fairly mild, with variations to suit the local palette. Most locals still retain their rural flavour, with many restaurants serving food over a banana leaf. North Indian, Chinese and continental cuisines are also available. Mysorepa (a sweet made from lentil flour and ghee), idly, dosa, Halwa (a sweet made of different ingredients like milk, wheat, rice) and vada-sambar and Biryani are popular among the locals. The recent influx of coffee shops and pizza shops has increased and serving as hangout locations for the youth.
Administration
The city is a Municipal Corporation as well as the district Headquarters. The city has two Members of Legislative Assembly representing the Coimbatore east and west constituencies, but about 20% of the city's territory is represented by the Nilgiri constituency which runs into the northern part of the city. The city has a Mayor, Deputy Mayor and several councillors elected by people representing administrative wards, as well as a corporation Commissioner to administer the city headed by the District Collector. The District court is the highest court of appeal in Coimbatore. Despite being the largest revenue earning districts, insufficient state government funds have resulted in the city's basic infrastructure being underdeveloped.
Transport and Infrastructure
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, 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, 747-300 ER, 747-400 and 747-200.
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-47 (Kanyakumari–Salem),
- NH-67 (Mysore–Nagappattinam) and
- NH-209 (Bangalore–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.
Economy
The city's primary industries are engineering and textiles. The district also houses the country's largest amount of hosiery and poultry industries. Most of the industries are run by entrepreneurs, often indigenous with family based or community financing. The city's industrial growth started in 1920’s and accelerated after independence, without any government assistance or the entry of external industrial houses. The city serves as the homeground for most of the well known industrialists from Tamil Nadu. Of late, information technology companies have started opening offshore development centres in the city.
Early industrial developments
When the British occupied Coimbatore, the territory connected the Malabar ports with the rest of India (apart from Konkan coast). The British later expanded their railway network in 1862, passing through Podanur to Cochin for quicker transit of raw materials required in England.
In 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 thus kick starting the industrial journy of Coimbatore. The Stanes textile mill he started is the forerunner to the huge textile industry of world repute which Coimbatore has today. Sir Robert Stanes would later assist several others in setting up their ventures.He was to be awarded the Kaiser-I-Hind gold medal for services to Coimbatore and to education and was subsequently knighted in 1920 for his high sense of honour. Two more mills (Kalleeswara and Somasundra mills) were established in 1910. Lakshmi Mills Company commenced their operations in 1911 in Papanaickenpalayam. By the 1930s, several textile mills had been established around Coimbatore due to the cheap power offered by the Pykara power station.
In 1900, Swamikannu Vincent, a railway engineer, built the first cinema in South India, the "Variety Hall" (now Delite Theatres). His son Paul Vincent introduced talking motion pictures in South India. In 1922, Narayanaswamy Naidu started a workshop to repair cane crushers and cotton ginning machines. Two years later, he established the Dhandayuthapani Foundry. Around the same time, G.D.Naidu started his unique bus service. He is also credited for manufacturing the first electric motor in India. In 1931, Pollachi Nachimuthu Gounder stated his transport business which grew 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 1965 another Textile family of VLB Naidu group set up Mopeds India Ltd after a technical collaboration with Motobécane of France to manufacture their legendary Motobécane Mobylette 50cc moped under the name Suvega,but, only the cetral office was in Coimbatore while the plant was set up in Tirupathi.
The manufacture of Wet grinders, considered to be India’s only product and engineering invention, later spun-off into several variants. LMW and Pricol would commence operations later growing into a multi-crore group.
Coimbatore was also a major movie hub in 1930's and 1940's with two fully equipped studios, Central Studios and Pakshiraja Studios. Many laterday Tamil Movie stars started or spent their early career in these studios.
Industries today
Textool offered a prototype of Sten Guns to the Indian Government after independence. They developed the first in-house designed car in the 1960s, which never saw the light of day due to the license raj. They made several prototypes until the 1990s. They successfully manufactured India's first indigenously developed diesel engines in 1972 for cars and their own CNC lathes in 1982. Today their spin-off company, Jayem Automotives, offers R & D services to Mahindra, Tata Motors and Hindustan Motors.
Maruti Udyog and Tata Motors source up to 30% of their automotive components from Coimbatore. The city also houses numerous jewellers engaged in jewellery exports. L&T has opened a 400 acre plant on Eachanari bypass road. Wind Energy major Suzlon has planned to setup a foundry & machine shop in Coimbatore which could be the largest corporate facility of its kind so far in the southern city of Tamil Nadu.[citation needed] Along with it Hansen Transmission, a Belgian Company which manufactures gearboxes for windmills is setting up a plant here with an investment of Rs 940 cr.
Some of the major industries are Lakshmi Machine Works(LMW), Premier Instruments & Control Limited(PRICOL), ELGI Equipments, Revathi Equipment Limited(REL), Shanti gears, LGB, Roots Industries, Pump industries like Sharp Industries, CRI Pumps, Deccan Pumps, Texmo Industries, and Research and Development Organisations like Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, CONTRIVE Group [www.contrivegroup.com], South India Textile Research Association[www.sitra.org.in], contribute a lot to the city. other industries LMW, PSG, Sakthi group contribute a lot, and the now closed South India Viscose are one of the major employers in the city.
Coimbatore also has a 160,000 square feet trade fair ground, built in 1999. It was named COINTEC due to its hosting of INTEC (Small Industries Exhibition). The Trade Fair complex, one of the country's largest, was built in six months, and is owned by CODISSIA (Coimbatore District Small Industries Association). It is also the country's largest pillar-free hall, according to the Limca Book of Records.
The IT industry in Coimbatore is nascent, with CSS Corp,Cognizant, Perot Systems, Robert Bosch.
Education
The first college was the Government Arts College (1875-76). The first engineering college was started by PSG (P.S. Govindasamy Naidu) and Sons (1926) as a polytechnic and industrial training institute, later offering graduate programmes including textile engineering.According to a survey by Outlook, PSG is the second best engineering institution in India. G.D. Naidu started Hope College (named after Sir Arthur Hope, then Governor of Madras Presidency), offering technical education in civil, mechanical, electronics, electrical, and automobile engineering. Later it became the Government College of Technology, Coimbatore (aka... GCT). The Coimbatore Institute of Technology(1956) was started by MIT and Sloan alumni P.R. Ramakrishnan.
Coimbatore Medical College (1966) started functioning on land granted by some industrial families. Later in 1987 PSG and Sons started PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (1971) has successfully developed several high yielding varieties of rice and millets. The University has seven constituent colleges, thirty two research stations and thirteen Krishi Vigyan Kendras spread over Tamil nadu. The University is responsible for teaching, research and extension activities related to Agriculture in the State. The University is situated in the Western Part of the city on Maruthamalai Road. Government Law College (1978) started functioning in order to fulfil the long felt need for legal education in the district.Tamilnadu College of Engineering was established in 1984. For the records, Tamilnadu College of Engineering has the distinction of being the First Self-Financing Engineering College in Tamil Nadu. Amrita Institute of Technology & Science and Kumaraguru College of Technology are also good institutions for Engineering education.VLB College of Engineering & Tech is one among the old Self-Financing Engineering College. Karunya Institute of Technology ( Karunya University ) started in the year 1986 was the first autonomous self financing college it is now a University. Sri Krishna College Of Engineering & Technology started in the year 1998 and Shri Krishna Arts and Science College started in 1997 is also worth mentioning. Besides these, there are also private cocahing centers for various professional entrance exams. For instance SHINE academy which is located in R S Puram, helps in getting through various entrance exams with a foucs on IIT. TIME, AIMS are a couple of others available in the city.
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 Dinakaran with two other dailies Tamil Murasu and Malar[www.maalaimalar.com] published in the evening. A short wave radio station is operated by All India Radio, with most programmes in Tamil, English and Hindi. Five FM radio stations operate from Coimbatore, Rainbow FM by All India Radio and Suryan FM by the Sun Network. Radio Mirchi, Radio City, and Hello FM started their operations recently.. All these private radio stations air exclusively Tamil based programmes, including film music. The range of these stations cover Coimbatore, Erode and Ooty districts of Tamil Nadu; Palakkad and Wayanad districts of Kerala.
Television relay started in 1985 from Delhi Doordarshan. In 1986, after inception of a repeater tower at Kodaikanal, telecast from Madras Doordarshan commenced. The people of Coimbatore witnessed the 1980 Olympics and 1983 Cricket World Cup on a giant screen in VOC Park when the city-based UMS developed a dish antenna for satellite signal reception. Television reception is through DTH or by Cable, while "Doordarshan" reception is still available using an external antenna. In 2005, Doordarshan opened its studio in Coimbatore.
Coimbatore has good communication infrastructure, with all major service providers involved. It is the headquarters for the Tamil Nadu circle of cellular service providers, with Aircel having its headquarters in Coimbatore. Services available are DOT landline, CDMA and GSM. Fiber optic cables were laid in 2001, improving internet access which had begun with the establishment of a dial-up connection in 1996.karunya institute of tech
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