History of Coimbatore: November 24, 1804: The British elevated Coimbatore as a district headquarters. The District Collector then was: H.S. Greame (i/c) (1803-1805). “Long before the dawn of history, in the dim mists of antiquity, the region at present comprising the Coimbatore district was inhabited by primitive people who belonged to the Neolithic age.” This is known from a number of pandavakulis or veerakals, found in various parts of the district. The Kurumbars, Eiynars or the vedars, the ancient pastoral and hunting tribes, once occupied almost the whole of this region, including the Coimbatore and Salem districts. And, in the first three centuries of the Christian Era, the Coimbatore district of today formed part of what was called the Kongu country, which comprised Kollegal, Salem district, part of Kulittalai Taluk and portions of Dindigul and Palani. It was inhabited by the Malavar, Kosar and Kongar. The Kosars seem to have originally come from the North under the pressure of the Mauryan invasion. It was from the name of their capital – Kosanputtur – that Coimbatore probably got its name. The Kongars from whom the name Kongu itself came to be applied to the whole of the region seem to have come from Kodagu (Coorg). Coimbatore, which commanded approach to Palghat on the west and Gazzalhatti Pass on the north, was of strategic importance. It was originally part of the Chera Kingdown. But was captured by the Nayaks of Madurai and was considered as one of their strongholds. Later, it fell into the hands of the rulers of Mysore. During the wars of the British with Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan it changed hands many times. In 1799, it was ceded to the British. Hyder and Tipu stayed in Coimbatore frequently and occupied a palace situated on Madaraja Mahal Street. There were hardly any well-laid roads in the district when it was handed over to the British by the end of the 18th century. However, from 1800 a number of roads were formed. In 1885-86, the Coimbatore District Board maintained 1,179 miles of roads and spent Rs. 1,43,148 on construction and maintenance of roads. The Chief Broad Gauge line opened in 1862 between Madras and the West Coast passed through Tirupur and Coimbatore. In 1939, a chord line was laid between Coimbatore and Singanallur and in 1953, one was laid between Irugur and North Coimbatore. The Gazetteer also mentions about the ropeway that served the plantations in Anaimalai. Constructed in 1928, this nine-and-a-half mile ropeway between Vannanthorai Bridge and Iyerpady estate helped transport the produce from the plantations to the plains. Source: The Hindu
Posted on: Fri, 02 Aug 2013 18:36:19 +0000
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