Located between the Palani and Sirumalai Hills, Dindigul has a reserved forest area of 85 hectares. The beautiful lake and hills make this place a haven for bird-watching and gentle walking. Locks manufactured in Dindigul are sold in national and international markets. Silk, muslin and blanket manufacturing is common in Dindigul and after Coimbatore, the city has the second largest textile spindling capacity in the State. Dindigul was an important centre of trade in tobacco and manufacture of cigars during the British times. A favorite cigar of Winston Churchill called Churut, the `Light of Asia`, was produced in Dindigul. It has some very good home stays around the lake that make Dindigul an attractive stop for travelers interested in rural laid-back life .