Vellalore village in Coimbatore district is one of the Asia's largest villages. It is located on the southern banks of the Noyyal River. In the past, it has functioned as a very important trade center associated with the Ancient Roman economy. According to Mr.Jagadeesan, an official of the Kongu Kalai Kalanjiyam, among Roman coins that were excavated in Tamil Nadu, 80% of them were unearthed from Vellalore alone. He further adds that trade between the two centers has been happening even prior to the 1st Century.
Historical inscriptions that speak about the region indicates that the village has been called with names such as 'Vallalore' and 'Annadana Sivapuri'. In two of the old temples located in the village, the names of the Chera kings, Kokandan Veera Narayanan and Kokandan Ravikothai can be seen, indicating that the region must have been under the Chera rule for some period of time.
The Vellalore lake adjoins areas like Podanur, Chettipalayam Village, and Singanallur. With a perimeter of 4.5 km, the lake has an irrigational spread of over 617 acres. It receives water through 'Raja Vaaikkaal', a canal that flows from 'Sunnaambu Kaalvaai'. Today, the canal bed and sides of Raja Vaaikkaal remains encroached, and more than two thousand houses have been built on these encroached lands. The situation is such that, only if the encroachments on Raja Vaaikkaal are removed, water flow into the lake is possible.
Our forefathers built this very wonderful canal with a width of around 80 ft. It passes through Podanur, Sai Nagar, Nadar colony, Konavaaikaal Paalayam and finally reaches Vellalore Lake. Whenever water flows in the Noyyal River, water is supposed to flow into the lake as well. But in the last 30 years, only twice the lake has received water from Noyyal and that too just partially. The reason is, the entire water path to the lake is now filled with muck and garbage. If the existing canal, which runs to a distance of about 6 km is desilted, the level of underwater tables in nearly 20 adjoining villages will rise substantially. But then, in order to bring the lake 'back to life', support of people from nearby villages and help of Coimbatore Corporation are required.