Coimbatore is a contemporary metropolis nestled on the Noyyal River, where modern cinemas and shopping malls sit alongside silk traders and revered temples. The city’s heart is a shopping and dining mecca, while the outer reaches reveal waterfalls, a family-friendly water park and tiger reserve.

Things to do

Near the centre of Coimbatore, you’ll find a range of impressive Hindu temples, including the hilltop Murugan Temple and Thandu Mariamman Temple. Marudhamalai is a 12th-century hilltop temple that is slightly further away, but worth visiting for its intricate carvings, gilded shrines and panoramic valley vistas. It’s a short distance from the whitewashed Palamalai Ranganathar Temple, which is surrounded by undulating mountains.

Do you love getting up close with wildlife? Visit Anamalai Tiger Reserve to see numerous threatened species, including endangered Bengal tigers, lion-tailed macaques and Indian leopards. The kids will also love visiting the Black Thunder water park, where you can zip down twisting water slides, relax in the lazy river and ride on horses and camels.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a wealth of waterfalls around Coimbatore, including the popular Monkey Falls, which cascade into swimming pools surrounded by picnic areas. The Siruvani Waterfalls are about 35 kilometres away and treat you to refreshing swimming holes and verdant surrounding forest.

Discover India’s innovative side at the fascinating Gedee Car Museum, which is home to a range of automobiles from around the world, including a 1930s Volkswagen Beetle and 1880s Benz Motorwagen. Afterwards, check out the Gass Forest Museum to see historical exhibits on the city’s surrounding forest environments and the native wildlife.

Getting around

Coimbatore is about 20 minutes’ drive from Coimbatore International Airport and connected to major India cities via trains from the Coimbatore Junction station. You can get around using public buses, auto rickshaws and taxis.