Coimbatore

Coimbatore also known as Kovai is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the banks of the Noyyal River surrounded by the Western Ghats, it is the second largest city in the state after Chennai and 16th largest urban agglomeration in India. It is the largest city in the Kongunadu region. It is administered by the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation and is the administrative capital of Coimbatore district.

It is one of the fastest growing tier-II cities in India and a major hub for textiles, industries, commerce, education, information technology, healthcare and manufacturing in Tamil Nadu. It is often referred to as the "Manchester of South India" due to its cotton production and textile industries. Coimbatore is also referred to as the "Pump City" and it supplies nearly half of India's requirements of motors and pumps. The city is one of the largest exporters of jewellery, wet grinders, poultry and auto components with "Coimbatore Wet Grinder" and "Kovai Cora Cotton" recognised as Geographical Indications by the Government of India.

An exquisite region, which always takes pride on abundant varieties of industrialization, was once ruled by the Sangam Cheras dynasty. It has now turned to be one of the most happening districts in the textiles, industrial, commercial, educational, Information technology, and healthcare sectors. Coimbatore is proudly referred as the manufacturing hub of Tamil Nadu. The Southern Manchester Kongu Nadu served as the Eastern entrance to the gap of Palakkad. The trade between Muziris and Arikamedu in South India was extended by the Roman Coimbatore. In the 10th century CE, Medieval Cholas conquered the Kongu Nadu. During the 15th century, the region came under the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire. To enhance the trade, Cholas constructed “Rajakesari Peruvazhi”, a highway. In the 17th century, when Vijayanagara Empire fell, Madurai Nayaks reigned the power and established the “Palayakkar system”, an independent kingdom, where Kongu Nadu region was divided into 24 Palayams.

Following a series of wars between the Madurai Nayak Dynasty and the Kingdom of Mysore in the 18th century, Coimbatore was annexed to the Madras Presidency in 1799 by the British East India Company after defeating Tipu Sultan in the Anglo-Mysore wars. Under Dheeran Chinnamalai’s area of operations, the region played prominent role in the second Poligar war (1801).