Salem  (Tamil: சேலம்) is a city and a

corporation in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located

in the north central part of the southernmost state of India, it is the

fifth-largest city of Tamil Nadu, after Chennai,Madurai,

Coimbatore and Trichy .Almost completely surrounded by hills, Salem

is also a part of the Kongu Nadu (Coimbatore and Erode) region Salem is

at the base of the renowned tourist destination of Yercaud hills, which

offers breathtaking views both along the ride up the hill and from the

peak. There are also remote sites of beauty such as Kiliyur Falls.

Yercaud is at an altitude of 1600 m above mean sea level.

The city is surrounded by a natural amphitheater of hills formed by the

Nagaramalai to the north, the Jeragamalai to the south, the Kanjanamalai

to the west, and Godumalai to the east. It is divided by the

Thirumanimuthar in the main division. The fort is the oldest building in

town.