Salem

Hill Country Destination Guide

Salem, a quaint town hiding in the laps of the verdant green hills, is showered aplenty with the bounties of nature. Known as a Geologists paradise, the place is abundantly blessed with large mineral deposits. Salem, now the fourth largest city in Tamil Nadu, sits amidst a natural amphitheatre of hills.  Claimed to be the birthplace of the legendary Tamil poetess Awayyar, Salem has a rich past as a hub for literature and culture. The modern city has been transformed to a center for textile and stainless steel industry.

Turning the pages of history one can glimpse the eventful past of Salem, of feuds, battles and grudges. As an integral part of the ancient feudal state of KonguNadu, the place has had a turbulent past. Salem has been ruled by a multitude of Dravidian dynasties and the Islamic rulers of Mysore, when finally Lord Clive captured the town from Hyder Ali and annexed it as part of the Madras presidency. It remained an important part of Madras presidency until it was added to the Union of India after independence.