Coimbatore is the third largest city of Tamil Nadu, also an important district of the state. Due to its several textile industries, it is sometime called as the textile capital of south India or the Manchester of the South. The district city is situated on the banks of the river Noyyal.

Coimbatore is the gateway to neighboring Kerala and the ever popular hill station of Udhagamandalam (Ooty). The district is surrounded by mountains on the west, and with reserve forests and river basin (Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve) on the northern side, while the eastern side of the district starting from the city is predominantly dry.