Salem pronunciation (help·info) is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Salem, which is also called Mango city, is located about 160 kilometres (99 mi) northwest of Coimbatore and about 340 kilometres (211 mi) southwest of the state capital, Chennai in the North Central part of the state. Salem is the fifth largest city in Tamil Nadu in terms of population after Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli respectively. The area of the city is 100 km2 (39 sq mi). It is the fifth Municipal Corporation and Urban agglomeration commissioned in Tamil Nadu after Chennai (year 1919), Coimbatore (1981), Madurai (1971) and Tiruchirappalli (1994) respectively. Salem Corporation consists of 60 wards categorized under 4 Zonal Offices, namely Suramangalam Zonal, Hasthampatty Zonal, Ammapet Zonal, and Kondalampatty Zonal.
Salem in general is characterised with scanty rainfall and a dry climate. Salem has moderate-dry weather throughout except during the monsoon season. Generally the first two months of the year are pleasant, but in March, the mercury gains an upward trend which persists till the end of May. The highest temperature is normally recorded during May. The scanty showers during this period do not provide any relief from the oppressive heat. There is a light improvement in the climate during June–July period. During this pre-monsoon period, the mercury reverses its trend and by August, the sky gets overcast heavily but the rains are meagre. the north-east monsoon sets in vigorously only during September–November and by December, the rains disappear rendering the climate clear but pleasant.
Salem later became part of the Western Ganga Dynasty . With the Southern invasion of Tamil Nadu by the Vijayanagar empire, it came under the Madurai Nayaks. Later, it was ruled by Gatti Mudalis Poligars who built some temples and forts in and around the city. In the early 18th century, after a long feud known as the Mysore-Madurai war, it came under the rule of Hyder Ali . Subsequently, Salem was taken from Hyder Ali by Colonel Wood at the beginning of 1768. It was recaptured by Hyder Ali towards the end of the year 1772. Under Lord Clive in 1799, it was again occupied by a detachment of the regiment stationed at Sankagiri Durg and remained a military station until 1861 when the troops were withdrawn.
Salem Airport (IATA: SXV, ICAO: VOSM) is located on Salem-Bangalore Highway (NH-7) in a place called Kaamalapuram near Omalur, which is about 20 km from the city. Though the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had spruced up the airport and made it ready for operation in 1993, airlines did not show interest to fly fearing low patronage. Kingfisher Airlines did provide a service from Chennai, Initially it was daily service but due to low patronage it was reduced to five days a week, but terminated the service in 2012 owing to its financial problems. In recent times however, SpiceJet has shown some interest in starting flights to Salem. But Till now no signs of date of service.
Salem is one of the major producers of traditional silver anklets, which are popular among women. It boasts large textile,steel,automotive, poultry and sago industries. Salem also has one of the largest magnesite deposits in India. Companies like Dalmia and TANMAG have mines here. It has also got rich bauxite & mineral reserves. The Leigh Bazaar market is a large regional market for agro products. It also has rich industrial base with the Salem steel plant, SISCOL, MALCO, CHEMPLAST and the Thermal & Hydel power plant at Mettur contribute towards power supply to the state.
Silk and cotton fabrics from Salem are sold throughout Tamil Nadu and are a big buy. The Indian Institute of Handloom Technology, the second of its kind in India, is found here. Salem is one of the chief producers of customary silver anklets, which are a rage with the women-folk here. The Leigh Bazaar market is known for selling agricultural produce and is usually abounding with visitors and shoppers. Fabric exporting has been the oldest business in Salem, going back to the 30s. Salem has always been known for exporting fabrics and clothes and is still consistently doing so.
Salem Junction Railway station is located in the suburb of Suramangalam, 5 km to the west of Salem. Salem is a divisional headquarters in the Southern Railway which was carved out of the existing Palakkad and Tiruchchirapalli divisions in the year 2007. Salem Junction is a very important railway station in the Southern Railway. Salem is connected by rail to all important cities and towns in the rest of the country. The station is well connected by buses to other parts of the city around the clock.
The Population is predominantly Hindu, and there are sizeable numbers of Christians and Muslims. Sikhs and Jains are also present in smaller numbers. The language spoken in Salem is predominantly the Kongu Tamil dialect of Tamil. Salem also has a significant number of Sourashtra, Telugu and Kannada speaking people spread throughout the district. Salem is said to have the largest Kannadiga population in Tamil Nadu. There is also a large number of Malayalees and North Indians in Salem.
The city of Salem is surrounded by hills on all sides viz. Nagaramalai to the north, Jarugumalai to the south, Kanjamalai to the west, Godumalai to the east and the Shevaroy Hills to the north east. The Kariyaperumal Hill is situated within the city to the southwest. The Thirumanimuthar river flows through the city, dividing it into 2 parts. The fort area is the oldest part of the town. Salem local planning area extends up to 100 km2 (39 sq mi) within the city.
In present day politics, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has mostly had an upper hand in the city. The Present MP of Salem is S. Semmalai from AIADMK. Former agriculture minister Late Veerapandy S. Arumugam of (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. V. Thangkabalu also hail from Salem. Famous politicians like Mohan Kumaramangalam and Rangarajan Kumaramangalam had their origins in Salem.
One can find places like Mac Donald’s Choultry renamed now as Magudanchavadi. During the times of Dheeran Chinnamalai, places like Salem and Sankagiri were the scene of battle between Kongu forces and British allied forces. The legendary Kongu chieftain Theeran Chinnamalai was hanged infamously in the Sankagiri fort on Aadi Padhinettu day which later became the army headquarters of the British.
The city is headed by a Mayor, the Deputy Mayor and several councilors representing the administrative wards; as well as a corporation Commissioner of the rank of IAS to administer the city. The district is headed by the District Collector of the rank of IAS. The District court is the highest court of appeal in Salem. The city’s police force is headed by a City Police Commissioner.
cheralam , Shalya, Sayilam and Sailam are found in inscriptions referring to the country around the hills. Salem and the hilly region around it were part of the Chera and The city was ruled by Kings who were known as the Kurunila Mannargal of ancient Tamil Nadu. Inscriptions from the Ganga dynasty have been recovered from parts of the district.
All major Tamil newspapers like Dina Thanthi, Dinakaran, DinaMalar, Dinamani, Malai Malar etc., are published from Salem. A popular Tamil daily, Kalaikathir, has its head office in Salem. English newspapers read in Salem are The Hindu (Coimbatore Edition), The New Indian Express (Coimbatore Edition) and The Times of India (Coimbatore Edition).
Salem city is on NH7 (which connects the two major cities Coimbatore and Bangalore), NH47 from Coimbatore to Salem making it a transit hub. The North-south corridor (express highway project in India) makes the city easy to reach from Bangalore and Coimbatore (on average, 2.1 hours from Coimbatore and 3 hours from Bangalore).
There is an exclusive Electrical and Electronics Industrial Estate in the Suramangalam area of Salem town. Coimbatore-Erode-Salem stretch was well known for Industries and Textile processing and it is announced as Coimbatore-Salem Industrial Corridor and further development works are carried by SIPCOT Linking Scheme.
Salem cuisine is predominantly South Indian, with rice as its base. Salem flavours are generally fairly mild to spicy. Salem people still retain the traditional flavour, with many restaurants serving food on a banana leaf. North Indian, Chinese and continental cuisines are also available in the city restaurants.
As of the 2001 Indian Census the Salem Urban Agglomeration had a total population of 751,438, encompassing the town of Salem (696,760), Kondalampatti (16,808), Kannankurichi (14,994), Neykkarappatti (9,869), Mallamooppampatti (6,783) and Dalavaipatti (6,224). The population in 1991 was 499,024.
Modern Theatres Ltd., a motion picture movie studio was started by Thiruchengodu Ramalingam Sundaram (aka TRS) in 1935. The studio produced over more than 150 movies until 1982 in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Sinhalese and even English of which Tamil movies were the majority.
According to an Indian legend, Sukavana Isvarar Puranam, the city, Cheralam, was founded by Cherarnan Peruman, a leader of the Chera Dynasty, because he wanted to bathe in the river Thirumanimuthu Aru and worship the god Isvarar there. Cheralam translates to “mountain range”.
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