Coimbatore

Coimbatore, a major textile and engineering manufacturing hub sometimes called the 'Manchester of South India', sits at the foot of the Western Ghats, its industrial economy giving it a somewhat different character from Tamil Nadu's more heritage-focused cities. The city serves as a practical gateway to the Nilgiri hill stations, including Ooty and Coonoor, making it a significant transit point for visitors heading into the surrounding hills.

Beyond its industrial identity, Coimbatore retains several temples and a growing contemporary food and cultural scene, and its position at the base of the Palakkad Gap, a significant break in the Western Ghats, has historically made it an important trade and transport corridor between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Coimbatore's development as a major textile manufacturing centre accelerated through the 20th century, drawing on the region's cotton-growing agricultural hinterland to become one of South India's most significant industrial cities.

Coimbatore has its own airport and is a major railway junction.