My Favorite City for Living: Coimbatore [CBE]
My favorite city: Coimbatore [CBE]. Did you expect me to say Chennai, where I live? Or Bangalore, where I used to live? NO WAY. Hopeless traffic and long commute times take large cities out of my radar. And the cost of living: forget owning a house, even paying rent in large cities for a tiny house without open space/garden, is a large pain.
There is a charm with living in small towns and cities. You’ll understand when you live in one. Of course, if you hate large cities, like me, it’s even better.
When I returned to Chennai after living in Bangalore and Coimbatore, I realized my favorite city for living is Coimbatore. Make no mistake – I didn’t say working. Bangalore has the best work culture among the three. I said living. Living in a house in a city, without having to work in that city. My profession enables me to do that.
Coimbatore is unique in many ways. It’s neither a big city, nor a small one. It has the best of both worlds.
Drive? Traveling from one corner of the city to another takes less than an hour. Heck, I even used to drive to nearby towns – Tiruppur, Pollachi & Palakkad within an hour. I was initially nervous when people in CBE were talking about how ‘peak’ traffic was ‘exasperating’. But while on the road, I realized they had no clue what peak traffic was. They should try driving in Bangalore for a day!
Hotel food, and even food in small messes and bakeries, is tasty & excellent. Although I would give the crown of the best(est) food to Madurai, Coimbatore is not far behind. While I hated eating out in Bangalore, I loved eating out in CBE 😀
Coimbatore is a gift for travelers. A certified lazy person who used to love to sleep or read or browse on the weekends (me) suddenly started traveling. I now feel I should have traveled even more 🙁 Ooty, Kunoor, Valparai, Annamalai mountain range, Pala-malai . . . these are a partial list of just the hill stations around CBE. There are many more tourist attractions in/around Coimbatore.
Connectivity? Roads are wide and smooth, for a change. The city has four bus stands for outstation travelers, in four directions. It has a neat and a busy railway station. And an airport which it shares with its neighboring twin-city Palakkad – another heaven! 🙂
Climate? Not as hot as Chennai and not as cold as Bangalore. Just the right weather you’d dream of having in a city. The city is green, and the surroundings are greener. The Siruvani water is tasty, Tea from Ooty is fresh, CODISSIA exhibition halls are awesome.
CBE is the place to BE.
So what’s your favorite city for living?
Destination Infinity
This post was written for #madeofgreat zonal war contest organized by Tata Motors and indiBlogger. I am representing the South Zone, of course.
Palakkad it is for me… Near to your CBE…
Bangalore is awesome for climate… And Chennai for its culture…
Palakkad for everything 😛
I too like Palakkad, but wish it was in TN though 😛 The climate in Bangalore is fine for around 6 months in summer. After that, it becomes unbearably cold, at least for a person born and brought up in hot Chennai!
Destination Infinity
I quite agree with you on the living condition of town and small cities. It is a dream for me to live in a town with basic amenities esp. the less polluted environment and cost of living attracts me there. Among the cities I have visited and passed, I felt Bangalore has the worst driving condition. I think except the heart of the city or bazaar area, CBE doesn’t seem to hold traffic – as I passed the city during my journey from Ooty to Valparai last year.
If you ask me my favourite city of living, I couldn’t answer. Because I haven’t lived in any other city other than Chennai except visited as a traveler.
Chennai is also not that bad. I like many aspects of the city. I just wish it was smaller and had a more tolerable summer, and now rains. And better roads 😛
Destination Infinity
Everything is good about Kovai except for ground water!!! I love the climate, the less crowd, the bordering mountains, the respect given etc… I’ve lived there 2 months a year, every year (thanks to my granny & summer holidays)!!! Siruvaani water gets supplied twice a week. Storing it for the rest of the week in indeed a pain in the rear!!! Having a family, esp with infants, is difficult without ground water…
My Travelogue, Fashion Panache
In the place where I lived, groundwater was not an issue. We used to get enough water through the motor. I wish I could go off to CBE for two months a year now!!
Destination Infinity
I liked Bangalore when we lived there in the 80’s, not anymore. Now, it is our own Chennai.
I have visited CBE, 2-3 times for attending some function. My husband’s favourite is CBE!
I have heard many good things about the Bangalore of yesteryear. Although it’s a great place to work, I won’t prefer to live in that city now!
Destination Infinity
Coimbatore is a nice city. But, in my opinion, Trichy is the best.
I’ve been to Trichy many times, but have not lived there. I liked it, while I was there. The city is relatively well maintained.
Destination Infinty
I like coimbatore…
So do I 🙂
Destination Infinity
I have never visited Coimbatore so cannot comment. But I have spent my entire life living in big cities so I have no idea what it is like to live in a smaller city.
Maybe you could try living in one sometime… 🙂
Destination Infinity
Then why the F**K you write here ???
Good question. I like Switzerland also, adhukkaga anga poi ezhuthava mudiyum? Veedu yenga irukko ange irundhu than ezhutha mudiyum! 🙂
Destination Infinity
never visited coimbatore, but my dad did. He said it was a good place to visit. for one thing, i know the dresses and sarees there are of good quality and they are exported too!
Someone told me Rajnikanth also has a home in CBE because he prefers it to Chennai!
😛
Oh, Rajnikanth is also like me 😛
Destination Infinity
Superb, That’s Great So beautiful also like It.
Yea, thanks 🙂
Destination Infinity
Never been to coimbatore.. but maybe one day go there 🙂
How are you Rajesh Sir.. all ok .. Thank you for the EMAIL reply 🙂
Bikram’s
Given any day, my home town Salem. It was a small town when I grew there but now it is almost a city. Nice calm place surrounded by hills, monthly drive to Yercaud, seasonal dip in river kaveri in mettur dam..all heaven.
Now living in Bangalore is lot more sophisticated but there is no charm as Salem.
Wanted to go back to Salem and live.
I too want to explore the tourist places around Salem. But due to laziness, I have not ventured even to Vellore!!
Destination Infinity
M frm odisa.want to live in coimbatore.is it sfe fr a singĺe woman?
Yes, it is a safe city.
Destination Infinity
It is the second largest city and urban agglomeration in the state after Chennai
nice sharing, nice blog colour