Salem, natively spelt as Selam, is a major city in Salem district, located on the banks of the Thirumanimutharu river in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu surrounded by mountains. Salem is the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the state, exceeded by Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Third largest metropolitan region in the state only after to Chennai and Coimbatore metropolitan regions. The city is 124 km2 large.