Not too long ago, Coimbatore - and its airport - was merely a transit halt for holidaymakers en route to Ooty, one of South India's beloved hill stations. Not anymore. Often called the Manchester of South India, Tamil Nadu's second-largest city has now emerged as a weekend destination in its own right. With the iconic Adiyogi Shiva statue at the Isha Yoga Centre and a food scene that is rooted in Kongunad traditions, Coimbatore (aka Kovai) has more than earned its spot on the map. Here is a 36-hour food and culture guide to help you make the most of your time in the city.
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Day One
9:30 am - Breakfast at Annapoorna (Avinashi Road)
Start your Coimbatore trip with a breakfast pit stop at Annapoorna (opposite KMCH Hospital) on Avinashi Road, conveniently close to the airport. Order their legendary ghee roast dosa - comfort food for most true-blue Coimbatoreans - and pair it with an invigorating tumbler of filter coffee.
10:30 am - Textile nostalgia or vintage wheels
Coimbatore's textile legacy (hence the 'Manchester of South India' tag) comes alive at Lakshmi Mills. This historic textile brand has repurposed its central mill into a dynamic urban space through a redevelopment by Studio Lotus. Now called The Lakshmi Mills, it houses Lulu Hypermarket, restaurants, cafes, and weekend family-friendly activities.
Automobile buffs can make a pit stop at Gedee Car Museum (entry fee: Rs 125), home to over 110 vintage cars. The museum added a special Indian car section in 2023, making it one of South India's top car collections.
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Photo Credit: Gedee Car Museum
12:30 pm - Check-in and lunch
Check in at The O by Tamara, a sleek new business hotel near the airport. The hotel features a robust selection of Kongunad dishes, a regional cuisine native to Southwest Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore, Salem and Erode. Think fresh turmeric, coconut slivers, and signature chicken dishes using free-range poultry.
Also consider Welcomhotel Coimbatore in the elegant Race Course area, an urban retreat with interiors inspired by the city's textile heritage. You can dine in or head to the iconic Annalakshmi, a vegetarian favourite since 1989, known for its elaborate South Indian thalis.
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Photo Credit: Welcome Hotel, Coimbatore
3:00 pm - Drive to Isha Yoga Centre
A 90-minute drive from the city will take you to the Isha Yoga Centre. While the 34-metre-tall Adiyogi Shiva statue - certified by Guinness World Records as the world's largest bust sculpture - is the headline act, there is plenty more to experience at this serene site.
Begin with a bullock cart ride to the Sarpa Gate, followed by a stop for their much-loved hot butter bun. Take a dip in the sacred water bodies - the Suryakund (for men) or Chandrakund (for women) - before visiting the Linga Bhairavi and Dhyanalinga shrines. End your visit with the spellbinding light and sound show near the Adiyogi statue (usually around 7:00 pm).
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Photo Credit: Isha Yoga Centre
9:00 pm - Dinner at KOVE or Rasanai
Wrap up your evening with dinner at KOVE (a blend of 'Kovai' and 'Love'), one of Coimbatore's finest fine-dining restaurants focusing on progressive vegetarian cuisine and artisanal cocktails. Highlights include curd rice arancini, yam galouti, and baked brie.
Alternatively, head to Rasanai at The Lakshmi Mills, where regional street food takes centre stage. Try the standout Rameshwaram-style potlam saadam - a banana leaf-wrapped one-pot meal combining rice and meat.
Photo Credit: Studio Lotus
Day Two
7:30 am - Visit to Marudhamalai Temple
Early mornings and sunsets are the best times to visit the 12th-century Marudhamalai Temple, dedicated to Lord Murugan. Located about 45 minutes from the city centre, this sacred hill shrine offers sweeping views of Coimbatore from its elevated perch.
If you are up for a longer drive, head to Bhavanisagar Dam (also known as the Lower Bhavani Dam) - a 90-minute journey. It was one of Independent India's first major irrigation projects, launched in 1948.
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12:30 pm onwards - Lunch trail through Coimbatore's culinary map
You could skip breakfast or try the coriander-flavoured malli pongal at Shree Anandhaas, a crowd-favourite vegetarian chain, before heading to the temple. Once back, make room for a food crawl showcasing Coimbatore's unique local cuisine.
Begin at Valarmathi Mess in the Race Course area and order their Pallipalayam chicken - pan-fried chicken with zesty masala and coconut slivers. Next stop: Covai Anganan Biryani House (Avinashi Road) for mutton biryani prepared with fragrant short-grain rice.
Photo Credit: iStock
Head to Haribhavanam (Avinashi Road) for their fluffy karandi omelette, cooked in a ladle, and then try the butter appam - a crisp-edged take on the classic - at Tiffen House in RS Puram.
Mushrooms are an essential part of Kongunad cuisine. Sample Coimbatore-style mushrooms - batter-fried and coated in secret masala - at Lovely Mushroom Stall in Saibaba Colony.
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Before heading to the airport, stop by Shree Krishna Sweets for their famous Mysupra or pick up karupatti Mysore Pak (made with palm jaggery) from Shree Anandhaas. You might find yourself opening the box mid-flight as you think back to Coimbatore's unexpected mix of spiritual calm and culinary thrill.
