History - The city is situated on the Banks of the river Noyyal. Coimbatore existed prior to the 2nd century AD as a small village capital called Kongunad until it was brought under the Chola control in the 2nd or 3rd century AD by Karikalan, the first of the early Cholas. The other great rulers of this city were the Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Pandiyas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagara kings. The small village was also named as 'Covanpudur' after the leader of this group, whose name was 'Covan' According to the 'Cholan Poorva Pattayam' in the Madras Oriental Manuscript Library, this Covanpudur later changed as Coimbatore when Kongunad fell to the hands of British along with the rest of the state. Its name was changed to Coimbatore and it is by this name that it is known today.