| Location: | The central part of Tamilnadu |
| Temperature: | Max 37.9°C, Min 20°C |
| Clothing: | Light, airy and cotton |
| Languages: | Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and English |
| STD Code: | 0427 |
| Attractions: | Yercaud hills, Kailasanathar Temple, Mettur Dam, Kandashramam |
Salem is the headquarters of Salem district. The city lies at the base of Yercuda hills, a famous tourist destination that offers some of the most astounding scenic beauty. The name 'Salem' seems to have been derived from Sela or Shalya by which the term refers to the country around the hills, as in the inscriptions. And the place indeed has hills around its periphery.
The headquarters to Salem district, Salem is the fourth largest city of Tamilnadu and located in the central part of the state. The city is also a major textile hub of the country and famous for stainless steel.
Salem from the Pages of History
Local tradition claims Salem as the birthplace of Tamil poetess Avvaiyar. Inscriptions from Ganga dynasty have been recovered from parts of the district. Madurai Nayaks ruled Salem for quite some time. Late in the 18th Century, the Mysore Rajas captured Salem and after a long feud Colonel Wood took it over from Hyder Ali in 1768. Hyder recaptured it in 1772 and in 1799, Lord Clive annexed Salem and the place remained a military station till 1861.
Salem as a Tourist Destination
Leading to the picturesque trekking up Yercaud hills, Salem is an amphitheater of grand hills all around it. You have the Nagarmalai in the north, the Jeragamalai in the south, the Kanjanamalai on the west and Godumalai on the east.
Among the major tourists attractions you can visit Tharamangalam, which is situated about 27kms away from Salem and famous for Kailasanathar temple. Mettur dam is another popular picnic spot built across the river Cauvery. You can also savor the cascading Kiliyur Falls, a feast for your eyes.
Tourist Attraction :
Tharamangalam
Located at a distance of 27kms from Salem Tharamangalam is famous for Kailasanathar Temple. Housing beautiful statues and stone carvings, the temple walls and its granite roofs has figures of tortoise, fish, monkey, crocodile carved out. There are also statues of Rathi - Manmatha, Vali- Sukrive of the epic Ramayana and Yali with rotating stone ball in its mouth. There is a rotating lotus flower in the ceiling which is just one of the beautiful futures that adorn the Temple.
Mettur Dam
This is a major dam built across the river cauvery. Besides providing irrigation facilities to Erode, Trichy and Thanjavur Districts, Mettur dam also serves as a picnic spot. There is a beautiful park opposite to dam formed with Lawns, Parks and children play materials.
Mariamman Temples
Salem is home to several Mariamman temples. Mariamman, which is a Hindu goddess, an incarnation of Shakti, is celebrated with great religious fervor every year around July in the form of Mariamman festival for a fortnight. During this period you could witness devotees walking on fire chanting their prayers. This is the best time to visit Salem City. The festival is celebrated at temples, at Fort, Shevapet, Ammapet, Gugai, Andheripati etc., Shevapet Mariamman temple car is the biggest one among the cars of Amman temples across the state.
Kandashramam
Situated at 10 kms from Salem city Kandashramam is small hill temple dedicated to Lord Muruga.
Sitthar Koil
Salem is also home to the heritage temple of Sitthar Koil, which is located about 10 km from the city. It is a Shiva Temple based on the foot hills of Kanja Malai.
Aragalur
Situated approximately 21 km from Attur, Aragalur has 2 old temples and a large Buddha statue. It holds a one-day Temple Car festival in summer inviting a host of devotees in the region.
