94-555: Main Bazaar is an important shopping locality in Ooty , Tamil Nadu , India . It forms part of Ward number 30 of the Ooty constituency. The bazaar features both government-run shops and privately owned shopping outlets. All the produce from in and around Ooty are sold in this bazaar. The different produce sold are different varieties of Tea, groceries and cutlery items. The other items sold in
188-606: A Roman trade route that extended from Muziris to Arikamedu . The medieval Cholas conquered the Kongu Nadu in the 10th century CE. A Chola highway called Rajakesari Peruvazhi ran through the region. Much of Tamil Nadu came under the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire by the 15th century. In the 1550s, Madurai Nayaks who were the military governors of the Vijaynagara Empire took control of
282-418: A banana leaf . North Indian , Chinese and continental cuisines are also available. Mysore pak (a sweet made from lentil flour and ghee ), idly , dosa , Halwa (a sweet made of different ingredients like milk, wheat, rice). Biryani is also popular among the locals. Apart from this Coimbatore has a very active street food culture, thanks to the migratory North Indian population that settled down here
376-475: A 20-million-year-old fossilized tree. The Government Rose Garden , situated on the slopes of Elk Hill at an altitude of 2,200 m (7,200 ft), has more than 20,000 varieties of roses from 2,800 cultivars and is the largest rose garden in India. A deer park was established along the edges of the lake in 1986 and is the second-highest altitude zoo in India. There are a few traditional Toda dogles (huts) on
470-866: A business newspaper also brings out a Coimbatore edition. Tamil newspapers include Dina Malar , Dina Thanthi , Dina Mani , Dinakaran (all morning newspapers) and Tamil Murasu and Malai Malar (both evening newspapers). Two Malayalam newspapers – Malayala Manorama and Mathrubhumi also have considerable circulation. A Medium wave radio station is operated by All India Radio , with most programs in Tamil , English and Hindi . Five FM radio stations operate from Coimbatore – Rainbow FM from All India Radio , Suryan FM from Sun Network , Radio Mirchi , Radio City , and Hello FM . All these private radio stations air exclusively Tamil based programs, including film music. Television relay started in 1985 from Delhi Doordarshan . In 1986, after inception of
564-729: A feature of Ooty since the British Raj and continue to operate currently, including some of the most expensive schools in India. A boat house located alongside the Ooty Lake offers boating facilities to tourists and is a major tourist attraction in Ooty. Similar boating facilities are also available at the Pykara falls and dam. The Government Botanical Garden, laid out in 1842, has several species indigenous and exotic plants , and hosts an annual flower show in May. The garden also hosts
658-458: A few generation ago. Ariseemparuppu or arisi paruppu satham (literally translated as Rice and dal) originated from Coimbatore and the people of the city celebrate January 8 as national Aruseemparuppu day, after given light by a popular influencer and food consultant. Kaalaan is a dish that originated in Coimbatore and is prepared by simmering deep fried mushrooms (usually chopped mushroom ) in
752-417: A large and a diversified manufacturing sector facilitated by the presence of research institutes like Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, SITRA and large number of engineering colleges producing about 50,000 engineers annually. Coimbatore is one of India's major manufacturers of automotive components, with car manufacturers Maruti Udyog and Tata Motors sourcing up to 30% of their automotive components from
846-645: A magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale on 8 February 1900. The first three decades of the 20th century saw nearly 20,000 plague-related deaths and an acute water shortage. The district experienced an economic boom in the 1920s and 1930s due to the decline of the cotton industry in Mumbai . The region played a significant role in the Indian independence movement . Post independence, the district has seen rapid growth due to industrialisation . In 1927, Karur taluk
940-500: A monthly output 75,000 units as of March 2005. and the term " Coimbatore Wet Grinder " has been given a Geographical indication . Coimbatore is also referred to as "the Pump City" as it supplies two thirds of India's requirements of motors and pumps . The Major Pump Industries Flowserve Pumps, Lakshmi Pumps, Suguna pumps, Sharp Industries, CRI Pumps, Texmo Industries, Deccan Pumps and KSB Pumps are renowned worldwide. The district
1034-597: A notable presence of defence forces, with units of the Army , Navy , Air Force and para-military forces like the Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force stationed in the district. Coimbatore district is in the western part of Tamil Nadu, bordering the state of Kerala . It is surrounded by the Western Ghats mountain range on the west and north, with reserve forests and
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#17327731899871128-406: A prominent industrial center. Coimbatore has trade associations such as CODISSIA , COINDIA, SITRA and COJEWEL representing industries in the city. Coimbatore also has a 160,000 square feet (15,000 m ) 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
1222-466: A record belonging to Hoysala king Vishnuvardhana and his general Punisa, dated 1117 CE. It was also ruled by various dynasties like Pallavas , Satavahanas , Gangas , Kadambas , Rashtrakutas , Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara empire . Tipu Sultan captured Nilgiris in the eighteenth century and the region came into possession of British in 1799. It became part of Coimbatore district of
1316-403: A repeater tower at Kodaikanal , telecast from Madras Doordarshan commenced. Currently 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. The district has a well connected communications infrastructure. Till the 1990s the state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
1410-499: A river located 19 km (12 mi) from Ooty, rises at Mukurthi peak and flows through a series of cascades with the last two falls of 55 metres (180 ft) and 61 metres (200 ft) known as Pykara falls. Kamaraj Sagar Dam is located 10 km (6.2 mi) from the Ooty. Emerald Lake , Avalanche Lake and Porthimund Lake are other lakes in the region. Ooty features a subtropical highland climate ( Cwb ) under Köppen climate classification . Because of its high altitude,
1504-884: A spicy broth, until it reaches a porridge like consistency and served sprinkled with chopped onions and coriander leaves. Coimbatore is an educational hub of south India. As of 2010, the Coimbatore district is home to 7 universities, 78 engineering colleges , 5 medical colleges , 2 dental colleges , 35 polytechnics , 150 arts and science colleges and schools. The city has reputed universities like Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (est. 1971), Bharathiar University (1982), Anna University Coimbatore (2007) and Avinashilingam university (1987). Coimbatore also houses research institutes like Central Institute for Cotton Research , Sugarcane Breeding Institute , Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB) , Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and Tamil Nadu Institute of Urban Studies. There are also plans to establish
1598-760: A tea factory and museum displays the process of tea processing and the machines used. The Ooty Radio Telescope was completed in 1970 and is part of the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics (NCRA) of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), funded by the Government of India through the Department of Atomic Energy . Snooker originated on the billiard tables of the Ootacamund Club, invented by Neville Chamberlain . There
1692-603: A world class university in the region. District is also home to renowned multi-campus, multi-disciplinary private Deemed university , Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham . The first college opened in the district was the Government Arts College (1875–76). The forest college and research institute was opened in 1916. The first engineering college in the city was started by G.D. Naidu as the Arthur Hope College of Technology in 1945. Later it became
1786-536: Is 9,760 feet (2,970 m) in length and is capable of handling wide-bodied and "fat-bellied" aircraft used for international flights. Sulur Air Force Station , located at Kangayampalayam near the periphery of the city, is an air base of the Indian Air Force . Train service in Coimbatore district started in 1863, upon construction of the Podanur – Madras line connecting Kerala and the west coast with
1880-484: Is a crispy and crusty cookie snack popular in Ooty. A number of films have been shot in Ooty. The town was used as a setting in David Lean 's 1984 movie, A Passage to India , which was based on E. M. Forster 's novel of the same name . Coimbatore district TN-37Z(Sulur), TN-38(Coimbatore North), TN-40(Mettupalayam), TN-41(Pollachi), TN-41Z(Valparai), TN-66(Coimbatore Central), Coimbatore district
1974-572: Is about 1,100 millimetres (43 in) of precipitation annually. Ooty forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the largest protected forest area in India. It was declared as a protected reserve in 1986 and is part of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme . Mudumalai National Park and tiger reserve lies on the north-western side, about 31 km (19 mi) from Ooty and was established in 1940 as
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#17327731899872068-580: Is also based in Coimbatore. The city also houses two of the Centers of Excellences (COE) for technical textiles proposed by Government of India , namely Meditech , a medical textile research centre based at SITRA, and InduTech based in PSG College of Engineering and Technology . The neighbouring city of Tirupur is home to some of Asia's largest garment manufacturing companies, exporting hosiery clothes worth more than ₹ 50,000 million. Coimbatore
2162-550: Is called the " Manchester of South India" due to its extensive textile industry , fed by the surrounding cotton fields. The city has two special economic zones (SEZ), the Coimbatore Hi-Tech Infrastructure (CHIL) SEZ at Saravanampatti and the TIDEL Park near Peelamedu , and at least five more SEZs are in the pipeline. As of 2006–07, before the bifurcation of Tirupur district , Coimbatore
2256-568: Is connected to the plains by the Nilgiri ghat roads and Nilgiri Mountain Railway . The region was earlier known as Ottakal Mandu , with Otha-Cal meaning "single stone" in Tamil , a reference to a sacred stone revered by the local Toda people and Mandu , a Toda word for "village". This later became Udagamandalam which was anglicised to Ootacamund by the British , with the first part of
2350-548: Is divided into three revenue blocks, namely, Coimbatore North, Coimbatore South and Pollachi and eleven taluks, viz., Annur , Anaimalai , Coimbatore North taluk , Coimbatore South taluk , Kinathukkadavu , Madukkarai , Mettupalayam , Perur , Pollachi , Sulur and Valparai . The district is administered by the District collector . The Coimbatore Rural District police is headquartered at Coimbatore headed by Superintendent of police (India) . The Coimbatore City Police
2444-579: Is headed by a Commissioner of Police in the rank of Inspector General Of Police and is independent of the district police. The district central prison is located in Coimbatore. Coimbatore North Revenue Division : Coimbatore North , Annur , Mettupalayam Coimbatore South Revenue Division : Coimbatore South , Perur , Madukkarai , Sulur Pollachi Revenue Division : Pollachi , Kinathukadavu , Anaimalai , Valparai The district consists of 3 parliamentary constituencies, namely, Coimbatore , Pollachi and Nilgiris . The assembly segments included in
2538-749: Is home to the Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park . The park and sanctuary are the core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is under consideration by UNESCO as part of the Western Ghats World Heritage Site . The park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna typical of the South Western Ghats. There are over 2000 species plants of which about 400 species are of prime medicinal value. The animals in
2632-425: Is one of the 38 districts in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Coimbatore is the administrative headquarters of the district. It is one of the most industrialized districts and a major textile, industrial, commercial, educational, information technology, healthcare and manufacturing hub of Tamil Nadu. The region is bounded by Tiruppur district in the east, Nilgiris district in the north, Erode district in
2726-490: Is one of the largest exporters of jewellery renowned for making cast jewellery and machine made jewellery . It is also a major diamond cutting center in South India. The city is home to about 3000 jewellery manufacturing companies and to over 40,000 goldsmiths. Coimbatore district has a large number of poultry farms and is one of the major producers of chicken eggs and processed meat amounting to nearly 95% of
2820-600: 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 . Coimbatore houses a large number of medium and large textile mills . It also has central textile research institutes like the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) and Sardar Vallabhai Patel International School of Textiles and Management. The South Indian Textiles Research Association (SITRA)
2914-547: Is part of the Udagamandalam Assembly constituency which forms part of the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency . The town is administered by Udagamanadalam municipality which was established in 1866 and the town is divided into 36 wards. The municipality is responsible for water services, sewage disposal and maintenance of public infrastructure. Ooty is a market town for the surrounding area, which
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3008-533: Is still largely dependent on agriculture . Vegetables cultivated include potato , carrot , cabbage and cauliflower and fruits include peach , plum , pear and strawberry . There is a daily wholesale auction of these products at the Ooty Municipal Market . Dairy farming has long been present in the area, and there is a cooperative dairy manufacturing cheese and skimmed milk powder . Floriculture and sericulture are also practised, as
3102-422: Is the cultivation of mushrooms . The local area is known for tea cultivation. Nilgiri tea is a black tea variety unique to the region. The Human Biologicals Institute , established in 1999, is involved in vaccine manufacturing. Other manufacturing industries located on the outskirts include Ketti (manufacture of needles) and Aruvankadu (manufacture of cordite ). Ooty is connected by roads known as
3196-471: Is the second largest software producer in Tamil Nadu , next only to Chennai . IT and BPO industry in the city has grown greatly with the launch of TIDEL park and other planned IT parks in and around the city. It is ranked at 17th among the global outsourcing cities. Software exports stood at ₹ 710.66 crore (7.1 billion) for the financial year 2009–10, up 90% from the previous year. Coimbatore has
3290-514: Is the second most urbanized district in Tamil Nadu after Chennai . 71.37% of the district's population at the 2011 Census was urban, while 29.63% was rural. The urbanized areas of Coimbatore district include the city of Coimbatore , Karamadai , Podanur , Madhukkarai , Ettimadai , Thondamuthur , Mettupalayam , Annur , and a few other regions. Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya founded by Mahatama Gandhi 1934. The region around Coimbatore
3384-561: The Government College of Technology, Coimbatore . PSG College of Technology was established later in 1951. The Air Force Administrative College was established in 1949 to train Indian Air Force personnel. Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT) was started in the 1950s. Coimbatore Medical College was opened in 1966 and the Government law college started functioning from 1978. The agricultural school established in 1868
3478-563: The Kurunji flower, which used to give the slopes a bluish tinge. The earliest reference to Nilgiri hills is found in the Tamil Sangam epic Silappathikaram from the 5th or 6th century CE. The region was a land occupied by various tribes such as Badagas , Todas , Kotas , Irulas and Kurumbas . The region was ruled by the three tamil kingdoms of Cheras , Cholas and Pandyas during various times. The Todas are referenced in
3572-589: The Madras Presidency . In 1818, J. C. Whish and N. W. Kindersley, assistants to John Sullivan , then collector of Coimbatore district, visited Kotagiri nearby and reported on the region's potential to serve as a summer retreat. Sullivan established his residence there and reported to the Board of Revenue on 31 July 1819. He also started work on a road from Sirumugai which was completed in May 1823 and extended up to Coonoor between 1830–32. By 1827, it
3666-482: 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. The district borders Palakkad district of Kerala in the west, Nilgiris district in
3760-704: The Moyar river in the north and from the Anaimalai and Palani hills in the south by the Palghat Gap . It is situated at an altitude of 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. The total area of the town is 30.36 km (11.72 sq mi). Doddabetta is the highest peak (2,623 m or 8,606 ft) in the Nilgiris, about 10 km (6.2 mi) from Ooty. Ooty Lake is an artificial lake covering 65 acres (26 ha) created in 1824. The Pykara ,
3854-629: The Nilgiri Ghat Roads . It is situated on NH 181 . The municipality maintains roads in the town. Public bus services are operated by the Coimbatore division of TNSTC . SETC , KSRTC (Karnataka) and KSRTC (Kerala) connect to distant towns in Tamil Nadu and neighboring states. Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a 1,000 mm ( 3 ft 3 + 3 ⁄ 8 in ) metre gauge railway in Nilgiris district , connecting Udagamandalam and Mettupalayam . The Nilgiri Railway Company
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3948-478: The Pakshiraja Studios in 1945. Coimbatore and its people have a reputation for entrepreneurship . Though it is generally considered a traditional, Coimbatore is one of the diverse and cosmopolitan cities in Tamil Nadu. Art , dance and music concerts are held annually during the months of September and December (Tamil calendar month – Margazhi). The World Classical Tamil Conference 2010
4042-762: The Palayakkarar 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 following the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Anglo-Mysore Wars , the British East India Company annexed Coimbatore to the Madras Presidency in 1799. The Coimbatore region played a prominent role in the Second Poligar War (1801) when it
4136-435: The defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Anglo-Mysore Wars , the British East India Company annexed Coimbatore to the Madras Presidency in 1799. The Coimbatore region played a prominent role in the Second Poligar War (1801) when it was the area of operations of Dheeran Chinnamalai . In 1804, Coimbatore district was newly carved out and Coimbatore was established as the capital of the newly formed district. The district court
4230-664: The ( Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve ) on the northern side. The Noyyal River runs through Coimbatore and forms the southern boundary of the old city limits. The city sits amidst Noyyal's basin area and has an extensive tank system fed by the river and rainwater . The eight major tanks/ wetland areas of Coimbatore are Singanallur , Kallimadai , Valankulam , Ukkadam Periyakulam, Selvampathy, Narasampathi, Krishnampathi, Selvachinthamani, and Kumaraswami tanks. Sanganur pallam, Kovilmedu pallam, Vilankurichi-Singanallur Pallam, Karperayan Koil pallam, Railway feeder roadside drain, Tiruchy-Singanallur Check drain and Ganapathy pallam are some of
4324-478: The Moyar River. Deer include sambar deer , chital , Indian spotted chevrotain , Indian muntjac , four-horned antelope and blackbuck . Monkeys , including the endangered Nilgiri langur , bonnet macaque and gray langur are also found in the region. Nilgiri tahr is an endangered ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiris and is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Bats are found in darker caves in
4418-632: The Nilgiri Mountain Railway as an extension to the World Heritage Site of Mountain Railways of India . The nearest airport is Coimbatore International Airport , located 96 km (60 mi) from the town. The airport has regular flights from and to major domestic destinations and international destinations like Sharjah , Colombo and Singapore . Ooty has three helipads, one at Theettukal and two at Kodanad with
4512-518: The Nilgiris was separated from the Coimbatore district , and James Wilkinson Breeks was appointed its first commissioner. On 1 February 1882, Nilgiris was made a district, and Richard Wellesley Barlow, the then commissioner, became its first collector. By the early 20th century, Ooty was a well-developed hill station, with an artificial lake, various parks, religious structures, and sporting facilities for polo , golf , and cricket . It served as
4606-538: The Theettukal helipad, approved by the Airports Authority of India for defence and VIP services. Pawan Hans planned to start commercial services with Bell 407 , but the plan has been shelved. Government Arts College , established in 1955, is one of the oldest institutions in Ooty and is affiliated with Bharathiar University . There are a few other colleges in the town. Boarding schools have been
4700-472: The Western Ghats, the district is rich in fauna . The Coimbatore urban wetlands harbours around 116 species of birds. Of these, 66 are resident, 17 are migratory and 33 are local migrants. 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. Apart from the species common to
4794-612: The age of six, constituting 163,230 males and 156,102 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 15.5% and 0.82% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the district was 83.98%. The district had a total of 958,035 households. There were a total of 1,567,950 workers: 75,411 cultivators, 201,351 main agricultural laborers, 44,582 in house hold industries, 1,121,908 other workers, 124,698 marginal workers, 4,806 marginal cultivators, 28,675 marginal agricultural laborers, 5,503 marginal workers in household industries and 85,714 other marginal workers. Hindus formed
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#17327731899874888-601: The chicken meat exports from the country. It has some of the oldest flour mills in India. The large scale flour mills, which cater to all the southern states, have a combined grinding capacity of more than 50,000 MT per month. In the recent years, the city has seen growth in the hospitality industry with more upscale hotels being set up. Coimbatore is the largest non-metro city for e-commerce in South India. Four major English newspapers The Hindu , The Times of India , Deccan Chronicle and The New Indian Express bring out editions from Coimbatore. Business Line ,
4982-403: The city. India's first indigenously developed diesel engines for cars was manufactured in Coimbatore in 1972. The district also has a number of tier-I, II and III suppliers catering to the needs of the entire gamut of the automobile industry, ranging from two-wheelers and four-wheelers to commercial vehicles and tractors. Coimbatore district has more than 700 wet grinder manufacturers with
5076-441: The district are, namely, Coimbatore North , Coimbatore South , Kavundampalayam , Singanallur , Sulur , Thondamuthur , Kinathukadavu , Pollachi , Valparai , and Mettuppalayam . According to 2011 census , Coimbatore district had a population of 3,458,045 with a sex-ratio of 1,000 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. 75.73% of the population lived in urban areas. A total of 319,332 were under
5170-460: The district to other parts of the states: Town buses serve most parts of intra-city routes as well as other towns and villages in the district. Buses also connect the district with all major towns in Tamil Nadu , Kerala , Karnataka , Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh . The number of inter-city routes operated by Coimbatore division is 119 with a fleet of more than 500 buses. It also operates town buses on 257 intra-city routes. Coimbatore district
5264-489: The district. The other stations include Peelamedu , Singanallur , Irugur , Perianaikanpalayam , Madukkarai , Somanur, Kinathukadavu and Sulur Road . Coimbatore district is well connected by roads and highways. There are seven regional transport offices namely: Coimbatore South ( Peelamedu ), Coimbatore Central ( Gandhipuram ),Coimbatore North ( Thudiyalur ), Coimbatore West ( Kovaipudur ), Mettupalayam , Pollachi and Sulur . There are five National Highways that connects
5358-629: The eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap , the principal trade route between the west coast and Tamil Nadu . Coimbatore was in the middle of the Roman trade route that extended from Muziris to Arikamedu in South India. The medieval Cholas conquered the Kongu Nadu in the 10th century CE. The region was ruled by Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century followed by the Nayaks who introduced
5452-495: The first wildlife sanctuary in India. The region is part of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests ecoregion. Nilgiris harbours thousands of plant species including medicinal plants and endemic flowering plants . Stunted evergreen trees grow in shola forest patches above 1,800 m (5,900 ft) and are festooned with epiphytes . The native vegetation consisted of Meadows and grasslands on
5546-561: The headquarters of Nilgiris district. Situated in the Nilgiri hills , it is known by the epithet "Queen of Hill Stations ", and is a popular tourist destination. Originally occupied by the Toda people , the area came under the rule of the East India Company in the 18th century. It later served as the summer capital of Madras Presidency . The economy is based on the hospitality industry serving tourism and agriculture. The town
5640-556: The hills above the Botanical Garden. A Tribal Museum was opened in 1995 as a part of the Tribal Research Center, located about (10 km (6.2 mi) from the town and hosts rare artifacts and photographs of tribal groups of Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar , and other anthropological and archaeological finds on early human culture and heritage. The Stone House was the first bungalow constructed in
5734-403: The hills. More than 200 species of birds are found in the region. According to the 2011 census , Udagamandalam had a population of 88,430 with a sex-ratio of 1,053 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 7,781 were under the age of six, constituting 3,915 males and 3,866 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 28.98% and 0.30% of
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#17327731899875828-476: The hillsides with shola forests in the valleys. When the British populated the town, invasive species of pine , wattle and eucalyptus were planted along with tea plantations and they became the dominant species replacing the native vegetation. The region has one of the largest bengal tiger populations. The Indian elephant is the largest mammal in the region. The gaur is the largest ungulate in
5922-792: The majority of the population at 92.03% followed by Muslims at 4.10%, Christians at 3.50% and others at 0.37%. In rural areas Hindus are predominant. Languages of Coimbatore district (2011) At the time of the 2011 census, 69.13% of the population spoke Tamil , 16.32% Telugu , 6.97% Kannada , 4.90% Malayalam and 0.81% Hindi as their first language. The district is served by the Coimbatore International Airport at Coimbatore . The Coimbatore International Airport caters to domestic flights to major Indian cities like Chennai , Mumbai , Bangalore , Delhi , Hyderabad , Kolkata , Ahmedabad and international flights to Sharjah , Sri Lanka and Singapore . Its runway
6016-492: The name ( Ootaca ), a corruption of the local name for the region and the second part ( Mand ), a shortening of the local Toda word Mandu . The first known written mention of the place is given as Wotokymund in a letter dated March 1821, written to the Madras Gazette by an unknown correspondent. Ootacamund was later shortened to Ooty . Ooty is in the Nilgiri hills , meaning the "blue mountains", so named due to
6110-476: The neighboring states of Kerala and Karnataka and being a tourist destination, Malayalam , Kannada and English are also spoken and understood to an extent. According to the 2011 census, the most widely spoken languages in Udagamandalam taluk were Tamil, spoken by 88,896, followed by Badaga with 41,213 and Kannada with 27,070 speakers. Ooty is the headquarters of the Nilgiris district. The town
6204-549: The north, Erode district in the northeast and east, Idukki district of Kerala in the south and Dindigul district in the southeast. The district has an area of 7,649 square kilometers. The southwestern and northern parts are hilly, part of the Western Ghats , and enjoys pleasant climate all throughout the year. To the west is the Palghat Gap , the only major pass in the long stretch of the ghats abutting Tamil Nadu and Kerala . The Palghat Gap, connecting Coimbatore city and Palakkad , serves as an important transit link for both
6298-463: The northeast, Palakkad district , Idukki district and small parts of Thrissur district and Ernakulam district of neighboring state of Kerala in the west and south respectively. As of 2011, Coimbatore district had a population of 3,458,045 with a sex ratio of 1,000 and literacy rate of 84%. Coimbatore district was part of the historical Kongu Nadu and was ruled by the Cheras as it served as
6392-584: The park include tiger , leopard , sloth bear , elephant , Indian giant flying squirrel . The birds endemic to the Western Ghats residing here include Nilgiri wood pigeon , Nilgiri pipit , Nilgiri flycatcher , Malabar grey hornbill , spot-billed pelican etc. The Amaravathi reservoir and the Amaravathi river are breeding grounds for the mugger crocodiles . Coimbatore district houses more than 25,000 small, medium and large industries with primary industries being engineering and textiles . Coimbatore
6486-592: 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 (7.5 mi). Sikh Gurudwaras and Jain Temples are also present in Coimbatore. Coimbatore cuisine is predominantly south Indian with rice as its base. Most locals still retain their rural flavour, with many restaurants serving food over
6580-400: The place include paintings by local painters and clothing reflecting the local culture. Ooty Ooty ( listen ; officially Udagamandalam , anglicized : Ootacamund ( listen ), abbreviated as Udagai ) is a town and municipality in the Nilgiris district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu . It is located 86 km (53 mi) northwest of Coimbatore , and is
6674-531: The plains, wild elephants , wild boars leopards , tigers , bison , species of deer , Nilgiri tahr , sloth bear and black-headed oriole can be found. The Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary 88 km (55 mi) in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1,400 meters covers an area of 958 km . 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 of
6768-488: The population respectively. The average literacy of the city in 2011 was 90.2%, compared to the national average of 72.99%. The city had a total of 23,235 households. There were a total of 35,981 workers, comprising 636 cultivators, 5,194 agricultural labourers, 292 in household industries, 26,411 other workers, 3,448 marginal workers, 65 marginal cultivators, 828 marginal agricultural labourers, 56 marginal workers in household industries and 2,499 other marginal workers. As per
6862-501: The region that frequent grasslands in the vicinity of water sources. Other mega-fauna include Indian leopard and sloth bear . Smaller fauna include Jungle cat , rusty-spotted cat , leopard cat , dhole , Golden jackal , Nilgiri marten , Small Indian civet , Asian palm civet , brown palm civet , ruddy mongoose , wild boar , Indian pangolin , Indian crested porcupine and Indian giant squirrel . Indian giant flying squirrel , Smooth-coated otter groups are observed along
6956-610: The region. After the Vijayanagara Empire fell in the 17th century, the Madurai Nayaks established their state as an independent kingdom. The Nayaks introduced the Palayakkarar system under which Kongu Nadu region was divided into 24 Palayams . In the later part of the 18th century, the region came under the Kingdom of Mysore , following a series of wars with the Madurai Nayak Dynasty . After
7050-423: The religious census of 2011, Udagamandalam had 64.36% Hindus , 21.25% Christians , 13.37% Muslims , 0.03% Sikhs , 0.3% Buddhists , 0.4% Jains , 0.28% following other religions and 0.02% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference. Tamil is the official language of Udagamandalam. Languages native to the Nilgiris including Badaga, Paniya , Irula and Kurumba . Due to its proximity to
7144-588: The rest of India. Broad gauge trains connect Coimbatore to all parts of India and Tamil Nadu. Meter gauge line existed between Podanur and Dindigul got closed in May 2009 and gauge conversion completely done . Coimbatore Junction is well connected to all the major Indian cities and the district comes under the Jurisdiction of the Salem Division . Coimbatore North , Podanur , Pollachi and Mettupalayam are other important railway stations in
7238-428: The states. The rest of the district lies in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats and experiences salubrious climate most parts of the year. The mean maximum and minimum temperatures for Coimbatore city during summer and winter vary between 35 °C to 18 °C. The average annual rainfall in the plains is around 700 mm with the northeast and the southwest monsoons contributing to 47% and 28% respectively to
7332-454: The streams that drain the city. The eastern side of the Coimbatore 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 proximity to
7426-581: The summer capital of the Madras Presidency and as a retreat for the British officials. Post-independence, the town developed into a popular hill resort and the nearby Wellington became the home of the Defence Services Staff College of the Indian Army . Ooty is located in the Nilgiri hills, which are part of the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve . It is separated from the neighboring state of Karnataka by
7520-416: The temperatures are generally lower than the surrounding plains with the average between 10–25 °C (50–77 °F) during summer and 0–21 °C (32–70 °F) during winter. The highest temperature ever recorded was 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) and the lowest temperature was −5.1 °C (22.8 °F). The town gets heavy rainfall during both South-West and North-East monsoons and the average rainfall
7614-505: The total rainfall. The major rivers flowing through the district are Bhavani , Noyyal , Amaravathi , Kousika River and Aliyar . The Siruvani dam is the main source of drinking water for Coimbatore city and is known for its tasty water. Waterfalls in Coimbatore District include Chinnakallar Falls , Monkey Falls , Sengupathi Falls , Siruvani Waterfalls , Thirumoorthy Falls and Vaideki Falls . Coimbatore district
7708-405: The town. St Stephen's Church , built in 1829, is one of the oldest churches in the Nilgiris district. St. Thomas Church, opened in 1871, hosts many famous graves in the churchyard including those of Josiah John Goodwin , William Patrick Adam , whose grave is topped by a pillar monument dedicated to St. Thomas , the tallest structure in Ooty. Spread over an area of nearly 1 acre (0.40 ha),
7802-611: Was also a cricket ground with regular matches played between teams from the Army and Indian Civil Service . There were riding stables and kennels at Ooty and the hounds hunted across the surrounding countryside and the open grasslands of the Wenlock downs . Horse racing is held at the Ooty Racecourse . Ooty Golf Course is at an altitude of 7,600 feet (2,300 m) and extends over 193.56 acres (78.33 ha). Ooty varkey
7896-532: Was converted into a full-fledged agricultural university ( Tamil Nadu Agricultural University ) in 1971 and the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History was opened in 1990. Several private engineering and arts & science colleges were started during the education boom in the 1990s. Few famous arts and science colleges are PSG College of Arts and Science , Dr G R Damodaran College of Science , Sri Krishna Arts and Science College . In 1867,
7990-605: Was established as a sanatorium of the Madras Presidency and developed further at the behest of then Governor of Madras Stephen Lushington . The Government Botanical Garden , covering 51 acres (21 ha), was established in 1842 and a library was established in 1959. Ooty was made a municipality in 1866, and civic improvements including roads, drainage, and water supply from the Marlimund and Tiger Hill reservoirs were added through Government loans. In August 1868,
8084-526: Was first introduced in 1997. Coimbatore is the headquarters of the Tamil Nadu circle of cellular service providers. Mobile telephone services available in the city include both CDMA and GSM connections. Coimbatore is home to some of the oldest film studios in South India. Swamikannu Vincent , a film exhibitor, set up the first movie studios in the city. Rangaswamy Naidu established the Central Studios in 1935 while S. M. Sriramulu Naidu set up
8178-795: Was formed in 1885, and the Mettupalayam-Coonoor section of the track was opened for traffic on 15 June 1899. The railway was operated by the Madras Railway until 31 December 1907, when it was handed over to the South Indian Railway . The line from Coonoor to Ooty was completed in 1908. Operated currently by the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways , it is the only rack railway in India and operates on its own fleet of steam locomotives between Coonoor and Udagamandalam. In July 2005, UNESCO added
8272-1052: Was held in Coimbatore. The heavy industrialisation has also resulted in the growth of trade unions . The district's population is predominantly Hindu with minor Muslim population. Christians , Sikhs and Jains are also present in small numbers. There are numerous Hindu temples in the district including the Perur Patteeswarar Temple , Venkatesa Perumal Temple , Naga Sai Mandir , Konniamman temple, Thandu Mariamman temple, Masani Amman temple , Then Tirupati, Vana Bathrakali Amman temple, Karamadai Ranganathar temple, Sulakkal Mariamman temple, Vazhai Thottathu Ayyan temple, ISKCON temple, Eachanari Vinayagar Temple , Marudamalai Murugan temple , Loga Nayaga Shani Eswaran shrine , Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar Temple , Panchamuga Anjaneya temple, Anuvavi Subramaniar temple and Dhyanalinga Yogic temple. The Mariamman festivals are major events in summer. The mosques on Oppanakara Street and Big Bazaar Street in Coimbatore date back to
8366-599: Was initially at Dharapuram , which was later moved to Coimbatore . The district comprised present-day districts of Erode , Tiruppur , Niligirs and parts of Karur , Palakkad in Kerala , Chamarajanagar in Karnataka . Nilgiris district was segregated in 1868. The region was hard hit during the Great Famine of 1876–78 resulting in nearly 200,000 famine related fatalities. The city experienced an earthquake with
8460-521: Was ruled by the Sangam Cheras dynasty and it served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap , the principal trade route between the west coast and Tamil Nadu . The Kosar people mentioned in the second century CE Tamil epic Silappathikaram and other poems in Sangam literature is associated with the area in and around the present-day Coimbatore district. The region was in the middle of
8554-570: Was separated from the district and merged with Tiruchirapalli district . In 1956, Kollegal taluk was transferred to Mysore State . In 1979, Periyar district ( Erode district ) was formed after bifurcation of six taluks of Bhavani , Gobichettipalayam , Sathyamangalam , Erode , Perundurai , Kangeyam and Dharapuram . Further, Tiruppur district was formed in 2012 comprising parts of Erode district and Coimbatore district. With its strategic location in Southern India , Coimbatore has
8648-404: Was the area of operations of Dheeran Chinnamalai . In 1804, Coimbatore was established as the capital of the newly formed Coimbatore district. The district experienced a textile boom in the early 19th century due to the decline of the cotton industry in Mumbai . Post-independence, the district has seen rapid growth due to industrialisation . According to the 2011 Census, Coimbatore district
8742-399: Was the highest revenue earning district in Tamil Nadu. In 2010, Coimbatore ranked 15th in the list of most competitive (by business environment) Indian cities. The Coimbatore region experienced a textile boom in the 1920s and 1930s. Though, Robert Stanes had established Coimbatore's first textile mills as early as the late 19th century, it was during this period that Coimbatore emerged as
8836-560: Was the only telecommunication service provider. In the 1990s, private telecom companies too started offering their services. Currently besides BSNL, fixed line telephone services are offered by Reliance Communications and Bharti Airtel . Dial up internet connections were first introduced (by HCL and BPL) in 1996 and broadband internet (by BSNL) in 2005. As of 2010, BSNL, Reliance Communications, Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices all offer broadband service through fixed lines and mobiles; MTS offers mobile broadband alone. Cellular telephony
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