The strategic location of Coimbatore near the Palghat gap within the Western Ghats has made this region an area of conflict between different southern kingdoms since ancient times. Not much is known about the prehistory of this region. However, during the Vedic age (1500 BC-600 BC) Dravidians are supposed to have inhabited this region, like most other areas of south India.

The region around Coimbatore was amongst the first places in Tamil nadu, where the local Tamil speaking people set up territorial states. In the ancient period the region around Coimbatore was known as Kongu Nadu (Kongu country) and was ruled by local Velir chiefs, who were of Tamil origin.

In course of time Kongu country witnessed a long drawn out struggle between the different kingdoms of south India: the Cholas (who ruled the area of Tanjore), the Pandyas (who ruled in the region of Madurai) and the Cheras or Keralas (who ruled the Kerala coast). The region ruled by these kingdoms was known as the land of the Tamils, as Tamil was the language spoken here. The information we get about these three states is mainly based on Tamil literature also called the "Sangam literature".

This region became a part of the great Vijayanagar Empire in the medieval period. After the disintegration of the Vijaynagar Empire the local Nayaka rulers of Madurai ruled it. For a short period of time this region came under the rule of the Mughal Empire when Emperor Aurangzeb annexed large areas of Southern India, during his famous Deccan campaign. However, the Mughal Empire could not hold on to its newly acquired territories for long. The decline of the Mughal hold in this region created a political vacuum, which led to a renewal of conflicts between different states. The British finally annexed this region in the 18th century.

The total land area of Coimbatore is 23.5 square kilometers. The population of this city is 1,446,034 during the year 2001. The altitude is 411 meters above mean sea level. The clothing here is tropical and the season to visit the city is all through the year. The people of various states line here and they speak Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, English and Marathi. The STD code for Coimbatore is 0422. This is one of the top most industrial cities of Tamilnadu. The city is situated on the banks of the River Noyyal. There are proper facilities of transportation through air (peelamedu airport), through bus and through rail (Coimbatore Junction and Podanur Junction).

The climate of Coimbatore city is moderate and pleasant throughout the year with not much temperature fluctuations between summers and winters. Summers are hot with the maximum temperature reaching 39°C, the minimum temperature in summer is 21°C. Winters are mild with the maximum temperature hovering around 30°C and the minimum temperature rarely going below 15°C. Coimbatore being in Tamil Nadu, does not receive monsoon rains between the months of June and September. However, it experiences rains in October-November, which is brought about by the retreating monsoons (north-eastern monsoon).

The best time to visit Coimbatore is between December and March. Cotton clothing is apt for summers and light woollens are required for winters.

The city"s primary industries are engineering and textiles. The district also houses the country"s largest amount of hosiery and poultry industries. Most of the industries are run by entrepreneurs, often indigenous with family based or community financing. The city"s industrial growth started in 1920’s and accelerated after independence, without any government assistance or the entry of external industrial houses. The city serves as the homeground for most of the well known industrialists from Tamil Nadu. Of late, information technology companies have started opening offshore development centres in the city.

The Anamalai wildlife sanctuary has various kinds of fauna like Panther, Elephant, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Tiger, Deer, Wild Bear, Porcupine, Wild Dog, Flying Squirrel, Jackal, Civet Cat, Pangolin and birds like Rocket-tailed Drongo, Red Tree Pie, Whiskered Bulbul, Spotted Dove, Black Headed Oriole, Pigeon etc. There is a reservoir (the Amaravati reservoir) in the Anamalai, having a large number of crocodiles.