Salem

For other places with the same name, see Salem (disambiguation).

Salem
Metropolis
Clockwise from top left: Mookaneri Lake, Modern Theatres, Trumpet Exchange Flyover, Salem Collectorate and Salem Steel Plant
Nickname(s):  Steel City Mango City
Salem
Coordinates: 11.65°N 78.16°E / 11.65; 78.16
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Salem district
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Body	Salem City Municipal Corporation
• Mayor	vacant
Area
• Metropolis	124 km2 (48 sq mi)
• Rank	5
Elevation	289 m (948 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Metropolis	917,613
• Rank	45th
• Metro	1,032,336
• Metro rank	51st
Demonym(s)	Salemians, Salethar
Languages
• Official	Tamil
• Spoken	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	636xxx
Telephone code	+91-427
Vehicle registration	TN-27, TN-30, TN-54, TN-90
Website	www.salemcorporation.gov.in

Salem (pronunciation ) (Tamil: சேலம்) is a major city in Salem district, located on the banks of Thirumanimutharu river in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located about 140 kilometres (87 mi) northwest of Tiruchirappalli, 170 kilometres (106 mi) northeast of Coimbatore, 206 kilometres (128 mi) southeast of Bangalore and about 340 kilometres (210 mi) southwest of the state capital, Chennai. Salem is the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the state by population next to Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy and the fifth largest city in Tamil Nadu by area covering 124 km² (48 sq mi).

The city has been a part of Chola Dynasty. A lot of religious places are located with in the city. A mosque in the city is believed to be built by Tipu Sultan the ruler of Mysore Kingdom in the present day of Karnataka. The town and the surrounding hilly regions were part of the Chola dynasty and was part of the trade route with the Roman empire. It was later governed by Poligars, who built temples and forts in and around the city. It was part of the Vijayanagara empire before being captured by Hyder Ali during the early 18th century, after the Mysore-Madurai war. It was ceded to the British in 1768 and the area became part of the struggle between Kongu Nadu led by Dheeran Chinnamalai and the British. Salem became part of Salem district since independence in 1947. Salem district was the first district to be formed in India on 4 April 1792 that spread over 7,530 sq km comprising the present-day Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri. Alexander Reed was the collector of the Salem district from 1792 to 1799.

History

Main article: History of Salem, Tamil Nadu

Early period

During the 3rd century BCE, there was period of Bogar – a notable Tamil Siddhar and at that time Jainism and Buddhism arrived. Around the beginning of the common era, the existence of a culturally and economically advanced society in Salem two thousand years ago is evident from the discovery of silver coins of the Roman Emperor Tiberices Claudices Nero (37–68 CE) in Koneripatti of Salem in 1987. Later Pandya dynasty started ruling the region around Salem. Later Pallava dynasty rises in Salem. After that Mahendra Varma Pallava came to Salem and Saivite principles rise. After Mahednra Varma Pallava, Narasimha Varma Pallava came. Soon Pandya dynasty came to Salem. The Hoysala rule established in Salem and parts of few Salem remained under Pandya dynasty.

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Salem

Salem is located at 11.67°N 78.14°E / 11.67; 78.14, at an average elevation of 278 m (912 ft.). The city is surrounded by hills: Nagaramalai on the north, Jarugumalai on the south, Kanjamalai on the west, Godumalai on the east and the Shevaroy Hills on the northeast. Kariyaperumal Hill is in southwestern Salem. The Thirumanimutharu River flows through the city, dividing it in two. The fort area is the oldest part of Salem.

Salem lies in the foothills of Shevaroy hills which houses the famous hill Station 'Yercaud'.

Salem has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). January and February are generally pleasant; the hot summer begins in March, with the year's highest temperatures during April. Pre-monsoon thunderstorms occur during April and May. The Southwest monsoon season lasts from June to September. The northeast monsoon occurs from October to December.

Climate data for Salem, Tamil Nadu (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2012)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	37.2 (99.0)	39.4 (102.9)	41.7 (107.1)	42.8 (109.0)	42.8 (109.0)	42.8 (109.0)	40.6 (105.1)	39.9 (103.8)	38.9 (102.0)	37.9 (100.2)	35.6 (96.1)	35.6 (96.1)	42.8 (109.0)
Average high °C (°F)	32.1 (89.8)	34.7 (94.5)	37.0 (98.6)	37.8 (100.0)	37.2 (99.0)	35.0 (95.0)	34.0 (93.2)	33.4 (92.1)	33.2 (91.8)	32.1 (89.8)	31.0 (87.8)	30.7 (87.3)	34.0 (93.2)
Average low °C (°F)	19.2 (66.6)	20.4 (68.7)	22.5 (72.5)	25.0 (77.0)	25.0 (77.0)	24.1 (75.4)	23.4 (74.1)	23.0 (73.4)	22.8 (73.0)	22.4 (72.3)	21.1 (70.0)	19.6 (67.3)	22.4 (72.3)
Record low °C (°F)	12.8 (55.0)	11.1 (52.0)	14.4 (57.9)	16.5 (61.7)	18.3 (64.9)	19.3 (66.7)	18.9 (66.0)	18.1 (64.6)	18.5 (65.3)	15.5 (59.9)	12.8 (55.0)	12.8 (55.0)	11.1 (52.0)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	4.4 (0.17)	3.4 (0.13)	17.3 (0.68)	55.5 (2.19)	109.7 (4.32)	72.4 (2.85)	108.0 (4.25)	140.6 (5.54)	176.5 (6.95)	185.5 (7.30)	110.2 (4.34)	35.0 (1.38)	1,018.5 (40.10)
Average rainy days	0.3	0.3	0.8	3.2	6.3	4.8	6.3	8.1	8.6	9.9	6.4	2.6	57.6
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST)	45	36	33	40	49	55	57	58	61	69	66	56	52
Source: India Meteorological Department

Administration and politics

Municipal corporation officials
Mayor
Commissioner	ChristuRaj
Deputy Mayor	vacant
Member of Legislative Assembly
Salem North	Rajendiran
Salem West	Arul Ramadoss
Salem South	Balasubramanian
Member of Parliament
Salem	Thiru S.R.Parthiban

Salem is the headquarters of Salem district. The town was constituted as a municipality in 1867, and was upgraded to a special-grade municipality in 1979 and to a municipal corporation on 1 April 1994. The Salem municipal corporation has 72 wards, each with an elected councillor. The functions of the municipal corporation are divided into six departments: general administration and personnel, engineering, revenue, public health, city planning and information technology (IT). All six departments are governed by a municipal commissioner. Legislative power is vested in the 60-member council, headed by an elected chairperson and assisted by a deputy chairperson.

Law and order is maintained by the Salem city subdivision of the Tamil Nadu Police, headed by a Deputy superintendent. Special units include prohibition enforcement, district crime, social justice and human rights, district crime records and a district-level special branch headed by a superintendent of police.

Salem is a part of the Salem North, Salem West and Salem South assembly constituencies delineated in 2008. The city elects the three members to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years. Present MLAs are R. Mohan Raj (Salem North) from Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam, M. K. Selvaraju (Salem West) and G. Venkatachalam (Salem South) from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Until 2008, the city was part of the Salem I and Salem II assembly constituencies. Since 1977, the ADMK party won the Salem I assembly seat five times (1977, 1980, 1984, 2001 and 2006); Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam won twice (1989 and 1996), and the Indian National Congress (INC) won in 1991. Since 1977, the ADMK won the Salem II assembly seat three times (1980, 1984 and 1991) and the DMK also won three times (1989, 1996 and 2006); the Janata Party (JP) won in 1977 and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) won in 2001.

The city is part of the Salem Lok Sabha constituency consisting of six assembly constituencies: Omalur, Salem North, Salem South, Salem West, Veerapandi and Edappadi. Since 1952, the Salem parliament seat was held by the Indian National Congress eight times (1952, 1957, 1962, 1984, 1989, 1991 and 2004), by the ADMK four times (1977, 1991, 2009 and 2014), by DMK three times (1967, 1971 and 1980), and once each by an independent (1998) and the Tamil Maanila Congress (1996). The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is S. R. Parthiban from the DMK.