Visiting Coimbatore: temples, the Adiyogi statue and the Western Ghats

Coimbatore is a working city first, and a comfortable base for the hills around it.

• Coimbatore is on the banks of the Noyyal River and is surrounded by the Western Ghats.[1]
• It is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu by population, after Chennai.[1]
• As a hub of the textile industry, it is referred to as the Manchester of South India.[1]

The temples are spread across the city and its edges, so a car saves a lot of time.

• Major Hindu temples in the city include the Perur Patteeswarar Temple, Koniamman Temple, Eachanari Vinayagar Temple and Marudamalai Murugan Temple.[1]
• The Adiyogi Shiva statue at the Isha Yoga Centre is a steel bust 34 m (112 ft) tall, recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest bust sculpture in the world.[2]
• The statue was inaugurated on 24 February 2017.[2]

The hills begin at the edge of the city.

• The Western Ghats lie to the west and north of the city, with reserve forests of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve on the northern side.[1]
• Singanallur Lake is a popular place for bird watching.[1]

• Plan temple visits for the morning and the Adiyogi statue for late afternoon, so you are not driving out of the city twice.
• If you are going on to a hill station, ask for the hill-station charge to be included in your quote.
• A day rental suits a round of the temples; a round trip suits an overnight stay in the hills.