Gobichettipalayam (also known as Gobi) is a town and municipality in Erode District, Tamil Nadu. Gobichettipalayam is an important town in the northwestern part of the state and is the headquarters of the taluk of the same name.
Gobichettipalayam is a serene city located in the Kongu Nadu region bounded by Western Ghats. Agriculture contributes majorly to the economy of the region and the fertility can be owed to River Bhavani which traverses across the region. Paddy, sugarcane, plantain, tobacco and turmeric are the principal crops grown in the region and the city is known for its lush green paddy fields which attracts cine industry. Gobichettipalayam is well known for its plantain cultivation and the production of coconuts. There are regulated market places run by the Government of India for the trade of agricultural products mainly turmeric, copra and bananas. Gobichettipalayam is one of the leading producers of silk cocoon in the country. The area is also known as 'Chinna Kodambakkam' or 'Mini Kollywood' because of the film shooting that takes place here. Many films in Tamil and other languages have been shot here. The city also serves as an educational hub.
The city was named after Gobi Chetty Pullan, a scholar of older times. The place was a part of the country ruled by the great king Vēl Pāri, who is regarded as one of the Kadai ēzhu vallal (literally meaning, the last 7 of the lines of great patrons). Pariyur, a place with many temples near Gobichettipalayam was named after him. The temperature is moderately warm and the abundance of trees and vegetation surrounding the city makes its climate pleasant. Kongu Tamil, a dialect of Tamil is the language spoken by majority of the people. Gobichettipalayam cuisine is predominantly south Indian with rice as its base. Most locals retain their rural tradition, with many restaurants still serving food on a banana leaf.
Gobichettipalayam is well connected by major roads passing through the center of the city. The following are the arterial roads that connect the city with other major towns:
Highway | Connections |
---|---|
State Highway 81 | Tirupur, Coimbatore, Madurai |
State Highway 15 | Erode, Chennai |
State Highway 15 | Ooty, Mysore |
State Highway 15 A | Coimbatore |
MDR (Major District Road) | Bangalore |
Coimbatore Airport is 74 km from the city, connections are available through cabs, taxis and buses. The airport has two operational terminals: one for departure and one for arrival. Coimbatore airport has regular flights from many Indian cities, and some international destinations like Sharjah and Singapore. | | | | style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" | Domestic - Air India - Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Kozhikode - IndiGo - Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai - Spice Jet - - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai | style="vertical-align:top;width:50%;" | International - AirArabia - Sharjah - SilkAir - Singapore |
Erode Junction is about 38 km from the city. Erode junction is well connected by trains from all major cities including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram.
The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has a depot apart from a large central bus stand in Gobichettipalayam. Buses ply from the Central Bus Stand to all major towns and cities within Tamil Nadu and other states. A number of Karnataka State Roadways Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses ply to here due to its proximity to the state of Karnataka.
Getting around Gobichettipalayam is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and plenty of taxis available. Minimum charge for Cabs is ₹40 and ₹16/₹12 per km for different operators. The intra city transport is serviced through buses operated by state-owned TNSTC and other private operators.
Kodiveri Dam is in Gobichettipalayam Taluk, about 13 km west of Gobichettipalayam in the village of Periya Kodiveri. It was constructed by the Maharaja of Mysore in the 17th century. Kodiveri Dam is a popular tourist spot welcoming a large number of people from all over the state.
Another important dam that has been constructed over the Bhavani River is the Bhavanisagar Dam. It is about 35 km from the town. The dam was completed in 1953. There is a large park with various attractions drawing huge crowds towards this place.
The Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary and the reserve forests of Anthiyur are about 25 km away from Gobichettipalayam. The T.N. Palayam forest range comes within the Gobichettipalayam Taluk. Abundant flora and fauna thrive in these forests which form a part of the rich biosphere of the Western Ghats. The wildlife includes Indian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Black Buck, Spotted deer, Peacock, Porcupine and Gaur. The area has the largest elephant population in the country. The area has been proposed to be converted into a Tiger Reserve as per notifications from the Government of India.
There are many notable temples in and around Gobichettipalayam. The details of the various temples is given below:
There is a park run by local authorities which houses a play ground, children's play area and a temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh.
This is a huge marriage hall built more than 50 years ago with the capability of hosting 4 marriages simultaneously. The huge elephant statue is also an attraction to be visited.
Local textiles, turmeric, coconut products
Gobichettipalayam cuisine is predominantly south Indian with rice as its base. Most locals still retain their rural tradition, with many restaurants still serving food on a banana leaf. North Indian, Chinese and continental cuisines are also available. Mysorepa (a sweet made from lentil flour and Halwa (a sweet made of different ingredients like milk, wheat, rice) are famous. Idly, Dosa, Vada-Sambar and Biryani are popular among the locals. Coffee shops and Chat Centers have been on the increase, and serve as meeting places for young people.
Liquors cannot be found in the departmental stores or shopping malls. It is regularised by the state government of Tamil Nadu and it is available through retail outlets controlled by state owned body TASMAC and in some star hotels and Bars. These shops will be usually closed around 23:00 and it is hard to find some overnight party house in the city.
There are many hotels available both budget and luxury for overnight stay at the city.
While in the city it is advisable to drink only bottled water. Do not trust water from small local restaurants as it may be from the tap, and avoid cold or iced drinks that are not commercially sold (bigger chains of eateries and juice shops can be trusted to an extent). Eating fresh vegetables and fruits that have sat outside in the presence of insects can also be unhealthy, although bananas and coconuts are usually safe because they are opened only immediately before eating. Hot drinks in restaurants such as tea, coffee, and other local specialties are safe, as are packaged/bottled drinks such as Aquafina water, Frooti (a popular local mango drink) and others. If you have access to a stove, boiling tap water before drinking is also an option. Never eat from roadside shops as the food is prepared in the most unhygienic conditions.
BSNL, Airtel, Reliance and Tata, are main providers of terrestrial telephone lines in Chennai. You can make long-distance calls from one of the many booths that display NSD/ISD i.e. National Subscriber Dialling (National Long Distance) and International Subscriber Dialling (International Long Distance). Calling cards are also available with these providers which are considerably cheap.
Cell phone rates are one of the cheapest in the world. There are 10 GSM service providers:
You can buy a SIM card with a photo and a photo copy of your passport. Starter packs and top-up cards can be picked up from numerous outlets. Seemless roaming across the country is provided by all providers.
There are several internet cafes from where you can access the internet for sending email or uploading your digital photos. Apart from that you can access Internet provided in your hotel or if you are staying long you can buy Internet packs from all mobile providers.
2nd-order administrative division
Primary administrative division